The above verse refers to a very important Islamic instruction which is ``fidelity to promise'':ِ

      ``Be faithful to Allah's covenant when you have made it, and break not the oaths after confirming it.''

      The phrase or clause, ``Do not take your oath as a means of deception among you.'' Has been repeated in the above verse (NO.92 and 94). In its general sense of meaning it may include a covenant, or the oath of fidelity which the prophet took at, ``AQABA'' fourteen months before the Emigration to Medina, or any other kind of oath, swear, or promise.

      Therefore in the firstcase the immediate reference might be to the incident of Aqaba, and in the second case it may be taken in general, and, as any oath or promise. But we should forget not that, every oath taken, or covenant made, is a covenant before and with surety of Allah. Therefore it should faithfully be observed.

      In the next verse (NO.92) the reference is made to an Arab old woman, named, ``RÄYETEH'' who lived in the Pagan Era, and whose foolishness has remained as an example, and has become a proverb. She worked hard every morning up to noon, and spun her yarn, and in the afternoon of the same day she untwisled her yarn, after it was spun to a strong thread! This twisting and untwisting, cost her much labour and skill, and proved her foolishness. So is our covenant with Allah when we observe it not. It makes us socially and spiritually strong like strands of thread twisted into a ropelike mass; and if we break our covenant after confirming it, we are not better than the old foolish woman who untwisted her yarn. Our covenant with Allah is a test and trial, in order to show to us the meansure of our faith and submission to Allah. The trial is to make things clear to ourselves; that, God knows all things, and He is aware of whatever we do.

      In the above verses a two-fold stress has been put upon being faithful to our promises, oaths, and covenants. This is to show the importance of the virtue of, ``FIDELITY'' and the vital role it plays in our social and religious life.

      The consequence of breaking our promises and taking our oaths and covenants as a means of fraud and deception, is being disgraced in this world, and untrustworthy among people, and to incur Allah's wrath in the life to come. This is because the observance of promises and being faithful to covenants is one of the most established principles of right and wrong in Man's behaviour. Therefore special emphasis has been repeatedly laid on observing oaths, promises, and covenants, in the religion of Islam. This virtue or principle, is so important in the doctrine of Mahammad (AS), that Salman Farsi his great disciple has said:ِ ``This Islamic nation of us may be perished through Muslim's break of promises and pledges.''

      Historians have written that; when Islamic army vanquished the forces of Persian kingdom, HORMOZÄN the general commander of the king's forces was taken captive and brought to OMAR the second KALIF.

      OMAR said to the commander:ِ ``You Persian repeatedly broke your solemn promises and covenants with us! Why was it so?'' After a pause, HORMOZAN said to OMAR; ``before I can answer your questions please let me have some water to drink.'' As per order of OMAR a pot of water was given to him; but he pretended to be fearful of drinking it! When he was asked why does he not drink the water, he said to OMAR:ِ ``Reports were given to me, that, you Muslims slay your captives while they are drinking. Now if you do not intend that, let me have your promise that you won't slay me before I have drank the water!'' OMAR said to the commander:ِ ``Don't worry! You have my promise for that.''

      As soon as HORMOZAN got OMAR's promise, he poured the water out over the floor! OMAR did not think that the commander did that intentionally, and therefore he ordered the guards to give him another cup of water! But the commander smiled, and said to OMAR:ِ ``I am not thirsty. I was sure that you Muslims do not break your promises, so I planned to obtain your promise, not to kill me! And now I have got it.'' OMAR said:ِ ``You have cheated me, and I did not promise not to slay you at all; and so I will kill you soon.''

      ANAS one of the prophet's disciples was there and said:ِ ``OMAR! You cannot slay him unless you break your promise because he has not drank that water.''

      OMAR said to the Persian General Commander; ``You did in fact deceive me, but I have the consolation of thinking that I was deceived through my expectation that I could make you a Muslim.''

      There was a relatively long pause of wonder and ponder! The commander went to a deep thought of how the Muslims were so bound to fulfil their promise and how faithful were they to their Only one God and to each other in their unique and sincere brotherhood. Then HORMOZAN came to himself and said to the KALIF, I am now willing to be a Muslim as you are. He sincerely became a Muslim and was given back his freedom, and remained faithful among Muslims until he died.