The second kind is the covenant made with Allah’s servants. This comprises all agreements concluded between people—between a person and his Muslim brother, between Muslims and non-Muslims, and every other recognized pact. Allah the Exalted has commanded that such covenants be fulfilled. He says, “And fulfil the covenant; indeed, the covenant will be questioned about” (17:34), meaning that on the Day of Resurrection a person will be asked about his covenant: did he keep it or not? He also says, “Fulfil the covenant of Allah when you have pledged one” (16:91), that is, do not break it. And He says, “O you who believe, why do you say what you do not do? It is most hateful in the sight of Allah that you say what you do not do” (61:2–3). Whoever makes a covenant and then fails to honour it has, in effect, spoken words he does not act upon. For example, you might say to someone, “I covenant with you that I will not divulge the secret between us,” or, “I covenant with you that I will not reveal what you did regarding such-and-such,” and then you violate the pledge and disclose it. This is exactly what Allah condemns: “Why do you say what you do not do?” As for His statement, “It is most hateful in the sight of Allah,” it means that nothing is more detested by Allah than for you to say what you do not do. Allah abhors this behaviour, whereas He loves those who keep their covenants once they have made them.