Is breaking a promise by being late?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : Does breaking a promise include one who does not fulfill his promise at all, and one who delays it slightly?
The Shaykh : In any case, customary delay is not considered breaking a promise. If he promised him at twelve o'clock and came at twelve ten and a quarter, this is not considered breaking a promise. But if he promised him at twelve o'clock and came at five o'clock, is this breaking a promise?
The student: Yes, it is clear.
The Shaykh : This is breaking a promise, unless he promised him a task that covers the entire day, and that there is no difference between coming at the beginning of the day or at the end of it; that is a different matter.
The Shaykh : In any case, customary delay is not considered breaking a promise. If he promised him at twelve o'clock and came at twelve ten and a quarter, this is not considered breaking a promise. But if he promised him at twelve o'clock and came at five o'clock, is this breaking a promise?
The student: Yes, it is clear.
The Shaykh : This is breaking a promise, unless he promised him a task that covers the entire day, and that there is no difference between coming at the beginning of the day or at the end of it; that is a different matter.