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yā-ʾayyuhā lladhīna ʾāmanū ʾawfū bi-l-ʿuqūdi ʾuḥillat lakum bahīmatu l-ʾanʿāmi ʾillā mā yutlā ʿalaykum ghayra muḥillī ṣ-ṣaydi wa-ʾantum ḥurumun ʾinna llāha yaḥkumu mā yurīdu
O you who have faith! Keep your agreements. You are permitted animals of grazing livestock, except what is [now] announced to you, disallowing game while you are in pilgrim sanctity. Indeed Allah decrees whatever He desires.
— Ali Quli Qarai
Surah Al-Ma'idah, Verse 1
Fulfilment of covenants -Obligations relating to Pilgrimage -Regulations regarding food -Perfection of the Faith -Islam chosen to be the Religion - Dealings with the non-Muslims.
1. "O' you who have Faith! Fulfil the contracts (made by you or people). The four-footed animals are lawful to you (for food) except those which will be recited unto you, pilgrim garb, and while you are in deem not game permitted to be hunted. Verily Allah decrees whatever He intends."
Muslims should earnestly fulfil any covenant and every kind of contract that they have made. These covenants are irrespective of the recorded contracts and the oral contracts, whether they are political, economical, social, and both with authorative and weak people, friend or enemy. The Holy Qur'an enjoins Muslims that the contracts with pagans should be fulfilled, too. Surah At- Taubah, No.9. verse 4 says:
According to a tradition from Imam Sadiq (as), recorded in Al-Kafi, vol. 1, p. 162 even the fulfilment of agreements with the sinners is necessary. These covenants may be with Allah (s.w.t.) (like vows and promises), or with people who can be an individual or a group, young or old. The contracts may be with the countries in neighbourhood, or those of international formation. However, as in the same manner that breach of promise and iniquity is the secret of deprivations,1 fulfilling the promises is the cause of gains and enjoyments.
And it ought to be noted that the heavenly Books are also Allah's covenants to which should we be loyal and fulfil them entirely. The Old Testament (the Torah), the New Testament (the Evangel) and the Present Testament (the Qur'an) all are referred to in the Islamic literature. In a tradition, Imam Sadiq (as) said:
"Al-Qur'an is the covenant of Allah unto His people…." 2
However, faith is the basis of fulfilling the promises and vows. The holy Prophet Muhammad (S) said:
"There is no religion for the person who does not fulfil his promise."
If the agreements and promises be not kept, the basis of the society and common confidence will fail, and, at that line, disorder comes forth.
Then, following the ordinance of fulfilling the promise, which involves the entire ordinances and divine covenants, the Qur'an states a number of Islamic ordinances. At first, it refers to the meat of some animals that can be lawful. It says:
But, in this ordinance, it has excepted the meat of two animals to be lawful. It says:
And Allah is wilful to decree whatever ordinance He pleases, since He is Omniscient and 'Omni competent. This means that He decrees whatever ordinance which is good for the servants, and His Wisdom requires it.
Footnotes