🤍 Character & conduct between spouses · #30
My husband keeps making promises but never keeps them. Is breaking a promise to one's spouse a sin?
Yes, keeping promises is an obligation, and promises to one's spouse are no exception.
Allah commands that every promise be fulfilled, because promises will be asked about (al-Isra' 17:34). The Prophet ﷺ named breaking promises as one of the signs of a hypocrite, together with lying and betraying a trust (Sahih al-Bukhari 33). In a marriage, small promises broken again and again — "we will go out later", "I will pay next month" — erode trust faster than one big quarrel. If a promise cannot be kept because of a real obstacle, say so early and propose an alternative. It is better to promise little and keep it. A spouse who keeps being let down may calmly explain the effect and ask for promises involving money to be written down. See Emotional communication.
Allah commands that every promise be fulfilled, because promises will be asked about (al-Isra' 17:34). The Prophet ﷺ named breaking promises as one of the signs of a hypocrite, together with lying and betraying a trust (Sahih al-Bukhari 33). In a marriage, small promises broken again and again — "we will go out later", "I will pay next month" — erode trust faster than one big quarrel. If a promise cannot be kept because of a real obstacle, say so early and propose an alternative. It is better to promise little and keep it. A spouse who keeps being let down may calmly explain the effect and ask for promises involving money to be written down. See Emotional communication.
Sources
Surah al-Isra' 17:34Sahih al-Bukhari 33Surah al-Ma'idah 5:1