Question
When a person makes a promise with the intention of fulfilling it, but he is unable to do so, does he resemble the hypocrites in breaking promises?
Answer
If a person makes a promise, then he breaks that promise, then no doubt this is from the characteristics of a hypocrite regarding promises, since the Prophet ﷺ said,
“… when they make a promise it, they break it.” (Bukhaary 33)
However, if his intention was to fulfil that promise at the time he made it, but he was prevented from doing so, then he has not resembled the hypocrites. Rather he only resembles them if he intended to break the promise at the time of making it, in which case he would indeed resemble them.