سُوْرَةُ الْاَنْفَالِ
Surah Al-Anfaal (8) — Ayah 58
وَإِمَّا تَخَافَنَّ مِن قَوْمٍ خِيَانَةً فَٱنۢبِذْ إِلَيْهِمْ عَلَىٰ سَوَآءٍ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلْخَآئِنِينَ ﴿58﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
If you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) fear treachery from any people throw back (their covenant) to them (so as to be) on equal terms (that there will be no more covenant between you and them). Certainly Allâh likes not the treacherous.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَإِمَّا
wa-immā
And if
تَخَافَنَّ
takhāfanna
you fear
مِن
min
from
قَوْمٍ
qawmin
a people
خِيَانَةًۭ
khiyānatan
betrayal
فَٱنۢبِذْ
fa-inbidh
throw back
إِلَيْهِمْ
ilayhim
to them
عَلَىٰ
ʿalā
on
سَوَآءٍ ۚ
sawāin
equal (terms)
إِنَّ
inna
Indeed
ٱللَّهَ
l-laha
Allah
لَا
lā
(does) not
يُحِبُّ
yuḥibbu
love
ٱلْخَآئِنِينَ
l-khāinīna
the traitors
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi
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.
(Ayah 58){وَ اِمَّا تَخَافَنَّ مِنْ قَوْمٍ خِيَانَةً … :} That is, breaking a covenant is betrayal, which is in no way permissible for a Muslim, even if there is a treaty with any nation, no action against them is allowed, whether those people are inside your state or outside. If, in reality, there arises a danger of them breaking the covenant or deceiving, which becomes apparent from signs, even then it is not permissible to take secret action or launch an open attack against them without informing them; rather, make a clear announcement and clarify that our treaty with you is over, so that you are not accused of breaking the covenant or deceiving, because Allah does not like those who betray. Thus, the conduct of the Caliphs of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) was also such that in case of danger of breach of covenant from the disbelievers, they would announce the termination of the treaty and then attack. However, when a nation has already broken the covenant, then attacking them by surprise is also permissible, as when the disbelievers of Makkah broke the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah by participating with Banu Bakr in the attack on the allies of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), Banu Khuza'ah, so the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) marched against them without informing them, and they only found out when the Islamic armies reached near Makkah. The extent to which Muslims honored their treaties is exemplified by the incident narrated by Salim bin Amir, that Muawiyah (may Allah be pleased with him) was marching towards the land of the Romans, while there was a treaty between him and them; he wanted to get close to them and, when the treaty period ended, attack them suddenly. Then he saw an elderly man riding a mount, saying, "Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, fulfill the covenant, do not break it, because the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: 'Whoever has a covenant with any nation, let him not untie any knot nor tie it until its term ends, or he throws their covenant back to them on equal terms.'" When this hadith reached Muawiyah (may Allah be pleased with him), he turned back. The elderly man narrating the hadith was Amr bin Abasah (may Allah be pleased with him). [ أحمد : 111/4، ح : ۱۷۰۱۷۔ أبو داوٗد : ۲۷۵۹ ]
