المعنى الاصطلاحي

Non-fulfillment of what a person has promised or undertaken to do.

الشرح المختصر

"Ikhlāf" (breaking one's undertakings) is when a person declines to fulfill what he committed himself to through promises, oaths, covenants, conditions, etc. It is one of the characteristics of the hypocrites. The "mukhlif" (one guilty of "ikhlāf") falls into one of the four categories in his "ikhlāf": 1. Intending not to fulfill the promise or covenant from the very beginning. Such a person has combined both vice of lying and vice of "ikhlāf". This is the worst type of "ikhlāf". 2. Breaching or declining to fulfill what he has undertaken or promised to do. 3. Changing his initial promise to something better in Allah's sight, so he instead does something that brings him closer to the pleasure and obedience of Allah. 4. Being unable to fulfill the promise due to some reason, such as forgetfulness or so. Such a person is excused due to his inability.

التعريف اللغوي المختصر

"Ikhlāf": non-fulfillment of promises, pledges, etc. Opposite: "wafā’" (fulfillment, loyalty), "sidq" (truthfulness). "Khilāfah": representation. It is derived from "khalaf", which means compensation and reimbursement. Other meanings: lying, appointing a deputy, swapping, replacing.

التعريف

To go back on a pledge or to be in breach of a commitment.