Oaths, Vows and Promises
All through our lives we make promises – to ourselves and to
others – to start exercising, to attend a social event, to submit a report or
to buy our child a toy. A promise is a general term for a commitment. Some we
fulfill, some we cannot. The consequences of not keeping a promise are usually
simple emotions like personal embarrassment, losing another’s trust or perhaps
inspiring poetry as Dagh Dehlvi wrote ‘ghazab kya tere wade pe aitbar kya’ (It
was a disastrous mistake to put faith in your promise)
Vows, are a step up in making a commitment, a more solemn
promise, a sacred trust - wedding vows, religious vows or even vows of revenge.
A broken vow may lead to remorse, guilt or social embarrassment.
Oaths, on the other hand, are public declarations that carry
great weight. They invoke a higher power to hold the person accountable for a
solemn promise made before witnesses. Oaths are taken in professions where
public trust and ethical conduct are paramount, such as law, medicine, the
military, the police or people holding a public office. Oaths taken are a call
to service to others. There are no oaths administered to “serve ourselves”.
Public office and military oaths across the world are
similar. Public Servants in Pakistan
swear to discharge their duties honestly, in accordance with the Constitution “without
fear or favor, affection or ill- will”, not allowing personal interest to
influence decisions. Uniquely in Pakistan, the Military oath, along with the
customary upholding of the Constitution, defined as the will of the people,
also swear to not engage in any political activities whatsoever.
The failure of public office holders to do so could result
in impeachment, removal from position, fines or even prison time, while military
personnel face dishonourable discharge, imprisonment or even a charge of
treason punishable by death.
In reality, despite an overwhelming number of cases where
oaths are not upheld, few are held accountable. The 19th century Utilitarian
philosopher, Jeremy Bentham, in his book, Swear Not at All, held oaths to be
useless, since no one is ever punished for violating them, creating an
opportunity for perjury and moral corruption. The Quakers objected to oaths in
courts on the grounds that truth must be told at all times, not only under
oath.
The consequence of violating an oath in Islam does not carry
a legal punishment but requires a moral atonement, not dissimilar to the
Catholic Church which offers personal repentance as sufficient. Islam
identifies three kind of oaths: Qasam Laghu – an oath made without knowledge of
the true facts which is not considered a sin. Qasam Mun’aqidah is a promise to
do something in the future which one fails to do. Expiation is freeing of a
slave, or the feeding of ten needy people or clothing them. In case the person
has no means to do this, then fasting for three days.
However, an intentionally false oath - Qasam Ghamūs (literally
that which drowns), is a disaster for one's present and future life, for which
one is answerable on the Day of Judgement. No expiation is possible, however, sincere
repentance, Taubah, and seeking forgiveness, Istighfar, are recommended. The
sin lies in the intention not the act, being “accountable for what your hearts
have designed” (2:225).
The Quran itself is full of poetic oaths taken on tangible
aspects of creation rather than abstract ideas. Swearing by galloping horses
striking sparks of fire with their hoofs, the night when it is stillest, the
dependability of daybreak, the rotation of the earth, the winds carrying
rainclouds, the fig and the olive, every parent and child, by the witness and
what is witnessed.
Despite Bentham’s concerns, psychologists have found that making
a promise to be honest, especially in the form of a signed document, encourages
people to behave in an honest way, even when there's a temptation to lie.
However, group oath-takers easily succumb to peer pressure. Yet they find, people
are willing to forgive a broken oath if there is a genuine apology and a candid
explanation for the failure to fulfill a promise.
Community developer, Angela Blanchard, believes people
holding public office “are asked to be like mothers. To be a womb. To hold and
protect, to nourish and serve”. Society rests on trust and the expectation that
people will do what they say they will do. Phrases like “you’re only as good as
your word,” similar to "zaban dena" should be enough. Society itself judges those who do not keep
their promises.
Durriya Kazi
July 13,
2025
Karachi
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