Major Principles of Islam: Wafa (loyalty and fullfilling commitments)

What is wafa?
Usually al wafa is translated as loyalty, but depending on the context, it can have more meanings. We will see this from examples from the Quran and the Sunnah and the practice of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). To define al wafa as loyalty is to restrict its meaning, as wafa has been translated differently by differently translators when it appears in the Quran. The range of meanings include fulfilling rights, rewarding kindness, fostering affection, keeping one’s covenant. All of these are translations of the word wafa in Arabic.
Wafa – bridge between us and others
Wafa is considered one of the highest moral values in Islam. It governs our relationship with Allah Almighty as well as our interactions with people around us. It is like a bridge between us and Allah Almighty, and us and our community and the people around us.
Wafa in the Quran
The first mention of wafa in the Quran comes in Surat at-Tawbah, Allah Almighty talks about wafa from Himself.
إِنَّ وَمَنْ أَوْفَىٰ بِعَهْدِهِ مِنَ اللَّهِ ۚ
And who is more faithful to his promise than Allah? (9:111)
Here Allah is asking rhetorically, ‘Who is more faithful to His promise than Allah?’ The verb awfa is from wafa. The answer to this question is, of course, Allah Almighty is the most faithful in keeping His promises. Thus one of the meanings of wafa is to fulfil a promise or covenant.
Here we have complete assurance that if Allah Almighty promises He will reward something, He will never break His promise; when He promises that He will give victory to the oppressed, He will give victory to the oppressed. It is guaranteed 100%.
When Allah Almighty says no one is better than Him in fulfilling His promise, it we should follow His example, and therefore we have to keep our promises – both to Allah Almighty and to people. This is the first lesson.
In Surat al-Baqarah, Allah Almighty says:
يَا بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ اذْكُرُوا نِعْمَتِيَ الَّتِي أَنْعَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَأَوْفُوا بِعَهْدِي أُوفِ بِعَهْدِكُمْ وَإِيَّايَ فَارْهَبُونِ. البقرة.
O Children of Israil! Remember My favours which I bestowed upon you, and fulfill your pledge to Me, and I will fulfill My pledge to you, and revere Me. (2:40)
Here Allah Almighty calls upon the Children of Israil (‘Ya Bani Israil’) reminding them of His favours and their duty to fullfill their pledge. The word used is awfu, meaning ‘Be faithful!’ is in a command form which is in the plural. The singular would have be fi biadihi, ‘Fulfil My covenant’. Allah Almighty is telling them and by extension us, to fulfil our covenant with Him to obey Allah Almighty.
The reward for wafa
In Surat al-Fatih, Allah Almighty mentions some of the rewards for those who fulfilled their promises:
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يُبَايِعُونَكَ إِنَّمَا يُبَايِعُونَ اللَّهَ يَدُ اللَّهِ فَوْقَ أَيْدِيهِمْ ۚ فَمَنْ نَكَثَ فَإِنَّمَا يَنْكُثُ عَلَىٰ نَفْسِهِ ۖ وَمَنْ أَوْفَىٰ بِمَا عَاهَدَ عَلَيْهُ اللَّهَ فَسَيُؤْتِيهِ أَجْرًا عَظِيمًا
Those who pledge allegiance to you, are pledging allegiance to Allah. Allah’s hand is above their hands. Whoever breaks his pledge, breaks it against himself. And whosoever fulfills what He promised Allah, He will give him a great reward. (48:10)
It is human nature that we are driven by our self-interests. It is common for us not to do something without thinking ‘what’s in it for me?’ is or ‘what would happen if I broke this covenant?’ So, Allah Almighty is highlighting the consequences for breaking the covenant, and the tremendous reward for abiding by it, which is the best practice.
The terms are clear – if you fulfil your promise to Allah Almighty, Allah Almighty will reward you. This is encouragement to be wafee, which means the one who is loyal in Arabic, as well as the one who does not break their promises, and consistently does the right thing.
In Surat ar-Ra’ad, Allah Almighty observes that only those who possess intellect, actually reflect.
Those who have intellect are wafee
إِنَّمَا يَتَذَكَّرُ أُولُو الْأَلْبَابِ الَّذِينَ يُوفُونَ بِعَهْدِ اللَّهِ وَلَا يَنْقُضُونَ الْمِيثَاقَ
Only those who possess intellect reflect. Those who fulfill the promise to Allah, and do not violate the agreement. (13:19-20)
Al baab in ayah 19, is the plural of lubb, which means intellect in Arabic, and a synonym for aql meaning comprehension or understanding. Allah Almighty is praising those who fulfil their promise as they are people of intellect. By contrast, those who break their promises lack intellect, because they are doing something which will bring them harm. One might say ‘Are you mad? What’s wrong with you? Why are you doing this?’ because their actions are detrimental to their own their selves.
Allah loves those who fulfil their pledges
In Surat Ale-Imran, Allah tells us that He loves those who fulfil their covenants:
بَلَىٰ مَنْ أَوْفَىٰ بِعَهْدِهِ وَاتَّقَىٰ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُتَّقِينَ. آل عمران.
Indeed, whoever fulfills his commitments and is cautious—Allah loves the reverent. (3:76)
Part and parcel of being a person of taqwa, (the one who is obedient to Him and continuously mindful of Him) is fulfilling your promise or promises. (Of course this refers to good promises, not bad promises). Allah Almighty loves those who fulfils their commitments and are obedient.
Honesty in financial transactions
An important part of wafa is being honest in financial obligations and having financial integrity – which includes repaying debts, not duping customers, honouring commitments etc etc.
In Surat al-Maida, which was revealed in Madinah, and contains the command to fulfil your financial obligations:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَوْفُوا بِالْعُقُودِ . المائدة.
O you who believe! Fulfill your agreements. (5:1)
In Surat al-An’am, Allah Almighty says,
وَلَا تَقْرَبُوا مَالَ الْيَتِيمِ إِلَّا بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ حَتَّىٰ يَبْلُغَ أَشُدَّهُ ۖ وَأَوْفُوا الْكَيْلَ وَالْمِيزَانَ بِالْقِسْطِ ۖ لَا نُكَلِّفُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا ۖ وَإِذَا قُلْتُمْ فَاعْدِلُوا وَلَوْ كَانَ ذَا قُرْبَىٰ ۖ وَبِعَهْدِ اللَّهِ أَوْفُوا ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ وَصَّاكُمْ بِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ. الأنعام.
And do not approach the orphan’s property, except with the best intentions, until he has reached maturity. And give full weight and full measure, with equity. We never burden a soul beyond its capacity. And when you speak, be fair, even regarding a relative. And fulfill your pledge to Allah. All this He has enjoined upon you, so that you may be mindful. (6:152)
‘And give full weight’ means that a seller must not cheat their customer by giving less than they paid for. Buying and selling requires trust. The sale contract is a covenant, to break it is a betrayal of the covenant and the trust. In the same verse, Allah Almighty says ‘And fulfil your pledge to Allah.’
In these 7-8 verses of the Quran, we see that Allah Almighty has made promises and He will fulfill them. In addition to our obligations to Him, we have obligations to others, including financial and contractual obligations, as well as social obligations. When individuals fulfil their responsibilities and grant the rights of others, we have a society built on trust, respect and cooperation. Whereas a society in which individuals break their word, breeds a society filled with mistrust, fraud, resentment and oppression.
The story of Yusuf (peace be upon him)
In the Quran we have the story of Yusuf (peace be upon him), a prophet of Allah Almighty and the son of Ya’qoob (peace be upon him). As a young boy, he was thrown into a deep well by his own brothers and then sold into slavery in Egypt, where he began working in the house of a governor. After many twists and turns in his life, Yusuf (peace be upon him) rose to become the governor of Egypt. Years later, during a severe famine, Yusuf (peace be upon him) was responsible for distributing wheat and other provisions to the people. It was during this time that his brothers, suffering from the food shortage, came to seek food. Although they did not recognise him, Yusuf (peace be upon him) immediately knew who they were despite the passage of so many years.
Yusuf (peace be upon him) was now in a position of great authority and could have taken revenge on his brothers for their betrayal. He could have denied them assistance or treated them harshly, and no one would have questioned his actions. However, because they were his family, Yusuf (peace be upon him) chose loyalty over vengeance. Instead of treating them with hatred or resentment, he displayed immense kindness and upheld the bonds of kinship. He even went further and showed them extra kindness, generosity and compassion. As Yusuf (peace be upon him) states himself, he does not shortchange anyone:
وَلَمَّا جَهَّزَهُم بِجَهَازِهِمۡ قَالَ ٱئۡتُونِي بِأَخٖ لَّكُم مِّنۡ أَبِيكُمۡۚ أَلَا تَرَوۡنَ أَنِّيٓ أُوفِي ٱلۡكَيۡلَ وَأَنَا۠ خَيۡرُ ٱلۡمُنزِلِينَأَلَا تَرَوْنَ أَنِّي أُوفِي الْكَيْلَ وَأَنَا خَيْرُ الْمُنْزِلِينَ
And when he had prepared for them their provisions, Joseph said: “Bring to me your other brother from your father. Do you not see that I give full measure and am most hospitable?” (12:59)
The reward for wafa
Beautifully, Allah Almighty mentioned the reward of those who have the attribute of wafa.
إِنَّ الْأَبْرَارَ يَشْرَبُونَ مِنْ كَأْسٍ كَانَ مِزَاجُهَا كَافُورًا
But the righteous will drink from a cup mixed with aroma.
عَيْنًا يَشْرَبُ بِهَا عِبَادُ اللَّهِ يُفَجِّرُونَهَا تَفْجِيرًا
A spring from which Allah’s servants will drink, making it gush abundantly.
يُوفُونَ بِالنَّذْرِ وَيَخَافُونَ يَوْمًا كَانَ شَرُّهُ مُسْتَطِيرًا
They fulfill their vows, and they dread a Day whose evil is widespread.
وَيُطْعِمُونَ الطَّعَامَ عَلَىٰ حُبِّهِ مِسْكِينًا وَيَتِيمًا وَأَسِيرًا
And they feed, for the love of Him, the poor, the orphan, and the prisoner. (76:5-8)
In these verses from Surat al-Insan, Allah Almighty says the righteous will receive all this reward in Jannah from Him, because they fulfilled their vows and commitments in dunya and they feared Allah Almighty.
He highlights two attributes which made them among al-abrar. Al-Abrar is a highly comprehensive term used to describe individuals who possess exceptional righteousness and an elevated standard of goodness. They reached this high level by being people of wafa.
The wafa of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)
Another example of wafa (loyalty and faithfulness) in the life of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) which is is when he agreed to buy a camel from the Bedouin after inspecting it. The Bedouin stated a price, and the Prophet (peace be upon him) agreed to pay the Bedouin with a certain amount of dates. When they arrived in Madinah, the Prophet (peace be upon him) went home to retrieve the agreed-upon amount of dates. However he discovered that the dates he had already been distributed. The Bedouin became upset, thinking the Prophet (peace be upon him) might not fulfil the agreement. However, the Prophet (peace be upon him), remained calm and reassured him, saying, “Calm down, I will give you your due. Just be patient.” After securing the dates, the Prophet (peace be upon him) not only fulfilled his obligation but also gave the Bedouin extra dates as an act of generosity. The Bedouin was overjoyed and expressed his gratitude to the Prophet (peace be upon him), saying: “JazakAllahu khairan, you have fulfilled your promise and even given me more.” In response, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
ما ألحد عندنا يد إال وقد
كافيناه ، ما خال أبا بكر ، فإن له عندنا يدا يكافيه هللا بها يوم القيامة .
In his biography, we see many many examples of wafa un-Nabi – the loyalty of the Prophet (peace be upon him).
We even see this quality acknowledged by his opponents. Abu Sufyan, before he embraced Islam, met Heraclius, the Byzantine Emperor, to Shaam (Greater Syria). The latter posed ten questions to Abu Sufyan about Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). This encounter is recorded in a beautiful and well-known hadith. Among the ten questions Heraclius asked, he asked:
“Does Muhammad betray?”
Abu Sufyan replied, “No, he does not betray.”
Herclious then commented:
“I asked you this question because if you had said that he betrays, I would have known that he is not a true Prophet. Likewise, the messengers do not betray.”
Heraclius recognised that betrayal is inconsistent with the qualities of messengers and true believers.
Another example from the seerah of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is the Treaty of al-Hudaibiyyah. When this agreement between the Quraysh and Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was signed an agreement in a place called Hudaibiyyah, it contained many articles, including the agreement that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) would not accept anyone who escaped from Quraysh to live in Madinah. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) accepted this condition and it proved to be very testing because though it stipulated there would be peace between for 10 years, it meant that those who accepted in Islam in Makkah had to remain there.
This condition was put to the test almost immediately. Abu Jandal, the son of Suhayl ibn Amr, who had represented the Quraysh during the negotiations, escaped to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) during the signing of the treaty. Abu Jandal had embraced Islam and sought refuge, pleading with the Prophet (peace be upon him), “O Prophet of Allah, accept me, I have come to you!” However, his father, Suhayl, reminded the Prophet (peace be upon him) of the treaty’s terms, saying, “Muhammad, this is the first test of the agreement. You signed that you would not accept anyone escaping from Quraysh.” The Prophet (peace be upon him), despite his compassion and desire to help Abu Jandal, honoured the agreement and replied, “Yes, I cannot accept you. Be patient, and Allah Almighty will help you.”
Abu Jandal, unwilling to return to his father, escaped again and formed a group that began intercepting Quraysh caravans, causing significant disruption. Eventually, the Quraysh grew desperate and pleaded with the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) to take Abu Jandal, saying, “Please take him! We cannot handle this anymore. Take him, and we release you from this condition.” Even then, the Prophet (peace be upon him) remained steadfast and said, “I am fulfilling my promise. I cannot take you. Go, and Allah Almighty will help you.” Ultimately, by fulfilling his promise, even though it seemed to be against his own interests at the time paid off and resulted in the conquest of Makkah.
The camel
فقال رسول الله ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ : أولئك خيار عباد الله عند الله يوم القيامة ، الموفون المطيبون
Those are the best servants of God in the sight of God on the Day of Resurrection, those who are loyal and pure. (Ahmad)
The messenger who accepted Islam
Abu Rafi’ (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated an incident from his life before he became a Muslim. At that time, the Quraysh sent him as their messenger to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in Madinah. Upon arriving, Abu Rafi’ (still not a Muslim at the time) recounted his experience:
“The moment I saw Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), I accepted Islam in my heart.”
He immediately perceived the light and truth when he saw in the Prophet (peace be upon him). With this newfound faith in his heart, Abu Rafi’ approached the Prophet (peace be upon him) and said:
“By Allah, I will not return to the Quraysh.”
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) replied:
“By Allah, I do not betray covenants, nor do I withhold messengers. Return to them. Fulfill your mission, and if you still feel the same way, then come back to me.”
Had he accepted Abu Rafi’ it would have tarnished his reputation and violated the trust placed in him, as it would have appeared that he had taken the messenger as a captive. So, Abu Rafi’ returned to the Quraysh as instructed. As his mission was fulfilled and his heart was certain of his faith in the Prophet (peace be upon him), he travelled back to Madinah, this time as a Muslim.
وعن الحسن بن علي بن أبي رافع أن أبا رافع أخبره قال : بعثتني قريش إلى رسول الله ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ فلما رأيت رسول الله ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ أُلقِيَ في قلبي الإسلام ، فقلت يا رسول الله : إني والله لا أرجع إليهم أبدا ، فقال رسول الله ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ : ( إني لا أخيس (أنقض) بالعهد ، ولا أحبس البُرْدَ(الرسل) ، ولكن ارجع فإن كان في نفسك الذي في نفسك الآن فارجع ، قال : فذهبت ، ثم أتيت النبي ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ فأسلمت .
Al-Hasan bin Ali bin Abi Rafi’ narrated that Abu Rafi’ told him:
Quraysh sent me to the Messenger of God (peace be upon him) and when I saw the Messenger of (peace be upon him) Islam was cast into my heart, and I said, O Messenger of God: By God, I will never return to them. Then the Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said: “I do not betray (break) the covenant, nor do I withhold (messengers), but go back, and if you have what is in your soul now, then return.” He said: So I went, then I came to the Prophet (peace be upon him). And I came to the Prophet (peace be upon him) and converted to Islam. (Abu Dawud)
The Ansar
In another narration, we see the loyalty of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) towards his Companions. He never forgot the sacrifices and support they provided. They stood by him in the most difficult times. They defended him, helped him convey the message of Islam, and endured immense hardships for the sake of Allah Almighty and His divine mission. As the representative of Allah’s message, the Prophet (peace be upon him) deeply appreciated their dedication.
To honour this loyalty, the Prophet (peace be upon him) reminded others of the high status of his Companions and instructed them to treat them with respect. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
احفظوني في أصحابي
“Take care of my companions for my sake.” (Ibn Majah)
لا تسبوا أصحابي
“Do not insult my companions.” (Bukhari)
من سبَّ أصحابي فعليه لعنة الله والملائكة والناس أجمعين
“Whoever insults my companions, upon them is the curse of Allah, the angels, and all of mankind.” (Tabarani)
He (peace be upon him) was acutely conscious of the invaluable support of Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him). He stated that he could never repay him or return all his favours. He said:
فقال صلى الله عليه وسلم: ( ما لأحد عندنا يد إلا وقد كافيناه ، ما خلا أبا بكر ، فإن له عندنا يدا يكافيه الله بها يوم القيامة )
“He (peace be upon him) showed loyalty to Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) and clarified his status and position to the Ummah. He (peace be upon him) said: ‘No one has done more for us without us having repaid them, except for Abu Bakr. He has done so much for us that Allah will reward him for it on the Day of Judgement.'” (Tirmidhi)
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) never forgot the Ansar—they had welcomed him, opened their city, hearts, and homes to him, and sacrificed so much for the sake of Islam. Madinah endured numerous attacks during his time, yet the Ansar stood firm in their support and defence of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and his mission.
A particularly emotional moment occurred when the Prophet (peace be upon him) conquered Makkah. The Ansar accompanied him, but some began to feel uncertain about their future. They whispered among themselves, saying, “Now that he has returned to his beloved city, the city dearest to his heart, he will stay in Makkah and leave us behind.”
The Prophet (peace be upon him) sensed their feelings and saw the concern in their faces. In response, he delivered a moving speech, expressing his deep bond and loyalty to them.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) demonstrated his commitment to the Ansar for their pledge of allegiance to him and their support for him. He smiled and said: “I am one of you, and you are of me. I will fight those you fight and make peace with those you make peace with.”
He also said to them: “If people were to take a valley or a path, I would take your valley and your path. You are my inner circle, while others are outer layers. If it were not for the migration (Hijrah), I would have been one of the Ansar.” Then, he raised his hands so high that I could see the whiteness of his underarms, and he said: “O Allah, forgive the Ansar, the children of the Ansar, and the children of the children of the Ansar!”
He added: “Are you not pleased that others leave with sheep and camels while you take the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) back to your homes?” The people cried until their beards were soaked, and they left, saying: “We are content with Allah and His Messenger as our share and portion.”
In his final illness, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) advised regarding the Ansar, saying:
“I advise you to care for the Ansar, for they are my inner circle and closest companions. They have fulfilled their obligations, and what remains is their due. Accept the good among them and overlook their shortcomings.” (Bukhari)
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) showed loyalty to those who supported him. His gratitude and devotion to the Ansar reflected his deep love and commitment to those who stood by him in times of need.
Khadija (may Allah be pleased with her)
The Prophet (peace be upon him) never forgot his loyal wife, Khadija (may Allah be pleased with her) who sacrificed so much for him – her money, her time and her health. He (peace be upon him) was so loyal to her, he (peace be upon him) never married anyone else in her lifetime. And after her death, he (peace be upon him) was so generous to anyone who was related to Khadija – her friends, her family, her cousins, etc. In fact, he mentioned Khadija (may Allah be pleased with her) so much that Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) was angry, and said Allah Almighty had replaced the old lady with someone better for him, as she was so jealous of Khadija. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was so angry with Aisha that he replied “No, no one is better than Khadija.” And Aisha never mentioned Khadija again.
Halima Sadiyya
Another example of the Prophet Muhammad’s (peace be upon him) profound loyalty is towards his foster mother, Halima Sadiyyah, who nursed him as a child. As a young boy, the Prophet (peace be upon him) was sent to the countryside of Banu Sa’d, where Halima Sadiyyah, from the tribe of Bani Sa’d, cared for him. This is why she is referred to as Sadiyyah. Halima breastfed him (peace be upon him) and raised him as one of her own children. Among her children was Ash-Shayma, the Prophet’s sister through breastfeeding (ukht fil-rida’a).
Years passed, and after the Prophet (peace be upon him) had migrated to Madinah, and in 8AH, the Battle of Hunayn took place. In this battle, the Muslim army defeated the troops of the Hawazin tribe, of which Banu Sa’d was a part. After their victory, the Muslims captured many from the defeated army, including Ash-Shayma, the Prophet’s foster sister.
Initially, the Prophet (peace be upon him) did not recognise her, but she recognised him. Ash-Shayma identified herself as the Prophet’s sister through breastfeeding and told others about her relationship with him, though many were sceptical. She was eventually brought to the Prophet (peace be upon him) and gave him signs that confirmed her identity. Upon realising who she was, the Prophet (peace be upon him) immediately released her.
Not only did he free Ash-Shayma, but out of loyalty to his foster mother Halima and her tribe, he also released all the captives from Banu Sa’d and returned all their belongings, including their property, goods, and camels—despite these being war booty, which the Muslims had every right to keep.
This act of loyalty moved Ash-Shayma and her people deeply. She embraced Islam, and many from her tribe followed her example and accepted Islam as well.
This incident shows the Prophet’s (peace and blessings be upon him) deep loyalty and gratitude to those who played a role in his upbringing, as well as his generosity and compassion, which won hearts and inspired devotion. When Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) received Ash-Shayma he (peace be upon him), he honoured her by taking off his cloak and putting it on the floor for her to sit on.
These are just some of the examples of his loyalty, and his wafa towards his family, towards his companions, towards the community. It inspires us to show loyalty and fulfil our commitments and covenants.
Delivered by Shaykh Haytham Tamim on 8th October 2024 to the Convert Club. Transcribed by S Jawaid.
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- Major Principles in Islam: Haya (modesty)
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- Islam and puberty in girls (part 2): the concept of beauty and modesty
- The focal point of the Ummah
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