This chapter forbids ghadr, treachery and the breaking of one's word. A covenant, a trust, or a promise is meant to be kept, and betraying it is treated not as a small lapse but as a defining flaw of character.
Across these reports the warning sharpens. Breaking faith is listed among the traits of a hypocrite, marked out by a shaming banner on the Day of Resurrection, and counted among the wrongs Allah Himself will contend against, especially when a leader betrays the people in his care. The thread is simple: be someone whose word can be trusted.
Hadith 1584
'Abdullah bin 'Amr bin Al-'As (May Allah be pleased with them) said:
وعن عبد الله بن عمرو بن العاص رضي الله عنهما أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: " أربع من كن فيه، كان منافقًا خالصًا، ومن كانت فيه خصلة منهن، كان فيه خصلة من النفاق حتى يدعها: إذا اؤتمن خان، وإذا حدث كذب، وإذا عاهد غدر، وإذا خاصم فجر" ((متفق عليه)).
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Whosoever possesses these four characteristics is a sheer hypocrite; and anyone who possesses one of them possesses a characteristic of hypocrisy till he gives it up. These are: when he is entrusted with something, he proves dishonest; when he speaks, he tells a lie; when he makes a covenant, he proves treacherous; and when he quarrels, he behaves in very imprudent, evil, insulting manner." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
In plain words
Four traits mark a pure hypocrite: betraying a trust, lying when speaking, breaking a promise, and turning abusive in a dispute. Whoever has any one of them carries a streak of hypocrisy until he drops it.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1584 In-book reference : Book 17, Hadith 74
Hadith 1585
Ibn Mas'ud, Ibn 'Umar and Anas (May Allah be pleased with them) said:
وعن ابن مسعود، وابن عمر، وأنس رضي الله عنهم قالوا: قال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم : " لكل غادر لواء يوم القيامة، يقال: هذه غدرة فلان" ((متفق عليه)).
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "For every one who breaks his covenant, there will be a (huge) flag on the Day of Resurrection and it will be said: 'This flag proclaims a breach of covenant by so-and-so."' [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
In plain words
Everyone who breaks his word will be marked on the Day of Resurrection by a banner naming his betrayal. Breaking a covenant brings public disgrace before all.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1585 In-book reference : Book 17, Hadith 75
Hadith 1586
Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri (May Allah be pleased with him) said:
وعن أبي سعيد الخدري رضي الله عنه أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال : " لكل غادر لواء عند استه يوم القيامة يرفع له بقدر غدره، ألا لا غادر أعظم غدرًا من أمير عامة" ((رواه مسلم)).
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Every one who breaks a covenant will have a flag by his buttocks on the Day of Resurrection. It will be raised higher according to the nature of his breach. Behold, there will be no greater a sin with respect to breaking the covenant than that of a ruler who breaks his covenant with the Muslim masses." [Muslim].
In plain words
The breaker of a promise will be exposed by a raised banner, higher the worse the betrayal, and the gravest is a ruler who betrays the people under his charge. Public trust carries the heaviest responsibility.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1586 In-book reference : Book 17, Hadith 76
Hadith 1587
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: " قال الله تعالى: ثلاثة أنا خصمهم يوم القيامة : رجل أعطى بي ثم غدر، ورجل باع حرًا فأكل ثمنه، ورجل استأجر أجيرًا، فاستوفى منه، ولم يعطه أجره" ((رواه البخاري)).
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Allah, the Exalted, says: 'I will contend on the Day of Resurrection against three (types of) people: One who makes a covenant in My Name and then breaks it; one who sells a free man as a slave and devours his price; and one who hires a workman and having taken full work from him, does not pay him his wages."' [Al- Bukhari].
In plain words
Allah will personally oppose three on the Day of Resurrection: one who breaks a pledge made in His name, one who sells a free person and pockets the price, and one who takes an employee's full work yet withholds his wages.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1587 In-book reference : Book 17, Hadith 77