سُوْرَةُ الْاَنْفَالِ

Surah Al-Anfaal (8) — Ayah 56

The Spoils of War · Medinan · Juz 10 · Page 184

ٱلَّذِينَ عَـٰهَدتَّ مِنْهُمْ ثُمَّ يَنقُضُونَ عَهْدَهُمْ فِى كُلِّ مَرَّةٍ وَهُمْ لَا يَتَّقُونَ ﴿56﴾
They are those with whom you made a covenant, but they break their covenant every time and they do not fear Allâh.
ٱلَّذِينَ alladhīna Those who
عَـٰهَدتَّ ʿāhadtta you made a covenant
مِنْهُمْ min'hum with them
ثُمَّ thumma then
يَنقُضُونَ yanquḍūna they break
عَهْدَهُمْ ʿahdahum their covenant
فِى [in]
كُلِّ kulli every
مَرَّةٍۢ marratin time
وَهُمْ wahum and they
لَا (do) not
يَتَّقُونَ yattaqūna fear (Allah)

Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

The tafsir of this verse may be read with the following verses.

Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan is a well-known Quran commentary by Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. This tafsir explains the meanings of the Quran in accordance with the methodology of the Salaf (early righteous generations), relying on authentic sources and straightforward language. Due to its reliability and adherence to sound Islamic scholarship, the Saudi government publishes and distributes this tafsir among the Hujjaj (pilgrims) visiting the Haramain. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

56. 1. This describes a habit of the disbelievers that every time they commit breach of covenant and do not fear its consequences at all. Some people have taken this to refer to the Jewish tribe of Banu Qurayza, with whom the Messenger of Allah ﷺ had a treaty that they would not help the disbelievers, but they did not uphold it.

Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

56. Those who made a covenant with youﷺ, then break their covenant every time [59], and they do not fear (Allah).

[59]
The Charter of Madinah, Its Clauses, and the Sequential Acceptance by the Jewish Tribes:

Among these worst of creatures are especially those people who repeatedly break their covenants. Here, these people refer to the Jews of Madinah. When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ arrived in Madinah, he initiated treaties with the Jews of Madinah and other polytheist tribes, which later became famous as the Charter of Madinah. The important clauses of the treaty made with the Jews were as follows:
1. Muslims and Jews will live together in peace and harmony. Neither will oppress or wrong the other. Their relations will be based on goodwill and mutual benefit.
2. If Madinah is attacked by an external enemy, both Muslims and Jews will jointly defend it and will share the expenses proportionally.
3. The Jews will decide their disputes themselves according to their own law. However, if they wish, they can bring their cases to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ for judgment. In that case, the decision made by him will be binding upon them.
4. The Quraysh and their supporters will not be given refuge.
5. No person will be held guilty because of his ally. 6. All participants of this treaty are forbidden from causing unrest and bloodshed in Madinah.
7. If any dispute arises among the parties to this treaty, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ will decide it. [ابن هشام ج اول 1: 503، 504]
There were three Jewish tribes settled in Madinah. All three accepted this treaty one after the other. But, according to their hereditary habit, they repeatedly violated this treaty. They tried to rekindle enmity between the Aws and Khazraj. They engaged in secret and hostile activities in collaboration with the hypocrites. Once, a Muslim woman went to a goldsmith in the market of Banu Qaynuqa‘, and they mischievously exposed her, which led to a riot between the two parties. After the Battle of Badr, Ka‘b ibn Ashraf himself went to Makkah and incited the polytheists of Makkah to war against the Muslims. On one occasion, the Jews tried to kill the Prophet ﷺ by dropping a stone on him from the roof. At the time of the Battle of Khaybar, they tried to serve him poisoned mutton at a feast. In short, their betrayals, covenant-breaking, and hostile activities are so numerous that it is not possible to mention them all here.