Oaths

From Aryez

Book 54 of the Marfat

54: Oaths

1. The good warrior dies in battle or

2. takes his own life rather than face

3. torture or execution. He will be rewarded

4. with instant paradise with countless

5. fountains of water flowing around him and flowers

6. blooming everywhere. The good king

7. abdicates his throne in favor of a worthy

8. heir before his death. Cursed and

9. unworthy are the oath-breakers. Even the

10. normal penance of forty days will not

11. compensate for this sin. As the prophet

12. Jesus said: “Do not swear

13. oaths unless necessary, nor take vows,

14. nor make promises. Yes say yes or no, for

15. to break a vow is a terrible sin.”

16. But when an oath is made, it must

17. be kept unto the death. As the

18. prophet Muhammad said: “God will

19. not punish you for that which is inadvertent

20. in your oaths. But He will take you to

21. task over your oaths which you solemnly

22. swear.” Rather die trying to fulfill

23. your oath than face the flame as

24. punishment. God is Great. Men and

25. women who desire each other solely for their

26. bodies are also cursed. The best way

27. for a man and woman to act towards each other is to

28. form a deep emotional bond between each

29. other, and this is best done by talking.

Commentary: The book begins with a reminder of duty and an allegorical promise of reward. Good people do not hold on to power, but pass it to others when they must. Good warriors do not accept humiliation. When people give their word and say they will do something, their honor must compel them to live up to their word. Therefore, be very careful when making oaths and make them sparingly, because once you do, you must keep your word. The book also disapproves of lust and offers advice on relationship-building. The book says that emotional bonding is the best path to successful relationships and this is done by way of conversation.