[al-Mā'ida: 1] Contracts are covenants. Allah Most High also says: “When you speak, be just, even if it concerns a close relative; and fulfil Allah’s covenant.” [al-Anʿām: 152] [al-Anʿām: 152] Allah Most High also says: “Fulfil the covenant, for the covenant will surely be called to account.” [al-Isrā': 34] [al-Isrā': 34] And Allah Most High says: “They had already covenanted with Allah that they would not turn their backs, and a covenant with Allah is something for which one will be held accountable.” [al-Ahzāb: 15] [al-Ahzāb]

Thus, Glorified is He, He commanded that contracts be fulfilled, and this command is general. Likewise, He commanded the fulfilment of Allah’s covenant and of covenants generally. This includes whatever a person has bound himself to, as demonstrated by His words: “They had already covenanted with Allah.” [al-Ahzāb: 15] This shows that Allah’s covenant includes whatever a person has bound himself to, even if Allah had not previously commanded the particular undertaking itself before the covenant was made, as with a vow or a sale; rather, He commanded that it be fulfilled.

This is why He coupled it with truthfulness in His words: “When you speak, be just, even if it concerns a close relative; and fulfil Allah’s covenant.” [al-Anʿām: 152] [al-Anʿām: 142] Speaking justly concerns assertions relating to the past and present, whereas fulfilling a covenant concerns speech relating to the future. Allah Most High says:

“Among them are those who covenanted with Allah: ‘If He gives us of His bounty, we will surely give in charity and be among the righteous.’ But when He gave them of His bounty, they withheld it, turned away, and remained averse. So He caused hypocrisy to remain in their hearts until the Day they meet Him, because they broke what they had promised Allah and because they used to lie.” [al-Tawba: 75–77] [al-Tawba]

Glorified is He, He also says: “Be mindful of Allah, in whose name you appeal to one another, and of the ties of kinship.” [al-Nisā': 1] [al-Nisā': 1] The exegetes—including al-Dahhāk and others—said that “you appeal to one another by Him” means that you make covenants and contracts with one another. This is because each contracting party requires from the other whatever the contract obliges, whether an act, an omission, property, a benefit, or something similar.

In this verse and throughout the rest of the surah, Glorified is He, He brought together the rulings governing the ties among human beings: those created, such as kinship, and those acquired, such as contracts, which include marital affinity, guardianship over an orphan’s property, and similar matters.

Glorified is He, He also says: “Fulfil Allah’s covenant when you make a covenant, and do not break oaths after confirming them, having made Allah your guarantor. Surely Allah knows what you do.” [al-Nahl: 91]