Tafsir of Al-Anfal 8:56

(Those with whom you made a covenant) is a substitute for the first relative pronoun, or an explanatory apposition, or an adjective, or the predicate of an omitted subject, or in the accusative case due to dispraise. It is said that the pronoun returning to the relative clause is the plural pronoun in the genitive case, and the intended meaning is "you made a covenant with them." The [preposition] "min" (from/of) is used to signal that the covenant—which consists of giving and receiving a pledge from both sides—is considered here from the perspective of the Prophet (may Allah grant him peace and blessings) receiving it from them, as that is the basis for the treachery he reproached them for, not his giving them his covenant. It is as if it were said: "Those from whom you took their covenant." To this returns the statement that "min" is for incorporating the meaning of "taking" into "covenant," meaning: "you made a covenant, taking [it] from them."

Abu Hayyan said that it is partitive, because the ones who directly engaged were some of them, not all. Abu al-Baqa mentioned that the prepositional phrase is in the position of a state (hal) for the omitted returning pronoun; that is, "those whom you made a covenant with, being from among them." It is also said that it is redundant, though that is not a strong view.

His saying (Exalted is He): "Then they break their covenant" is a conjunction connected to the relative clause. The use of the present tense (imperfekt) is to indicate the frequency and renewal of their breaking [the covenant], and that they are intent upon it in every instance; that is, they break the covenant that was taken from them every time, meaning in every one of the instances of the covenant, as is apparent—a view chosen by more than one scholar. It is also permitted that it means in every instance of warfare, though there is debate regarding this.

"While they do not fear [Allah]" is in the position of a state (hal) for the subject of "they break," meaning they persist in breaking it while they do not fear the stigma of treachery and its evil consequences, or they do not fear Allah (Exalted is He) in doing so. It is also said: they do not fear the support of the Muslims and their dominance over them.

According to a group of scholars, the verse was revealed concerning the Jews of Qurayza. They made a covenant with the Messenger of Allah (may Allah grant him peace and blessings) not to support [anyone] against him, but then they assisted the polytheists with weapons and said, "We forgot." Then the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) made a covenant with them, yet they breached it and supported [the polytheists] against him on the Day of the Trench, and Ka'b rode to Mecca and formed an alliance with them to fight the Messenger of Allah (may Allah grant him peace and blessings). Abu al-Shaykh extracted from Sa'id ibn Jubayr that it was revealed concerning six men of the Jews, among whom was Ibn Tabut; perhaps he meant by them the leaders who directly engaged in the covenant.