Tafsir of Al-Anfal 8:58

(And if you fear from a people betrayal) This is an exposition of the rulings concerning those who are inclined toward breaking a covenant, following the exposition of the rulings concerning those who have already broken it in action. "Fear" is a metaphor for knowledge; that is, "And if you come to know from a people with whom you have a covenant that they will break it in the future, through the signs that appear to you from them, then cast back to them"—that is, discard their covenant toward them. In this there is a metaphorical and imaginative invocation.

(On equal terms) That is, on a level path and a state of intentionality, such that you manifest the termination to them and inform them openly that you have severed the connection between you and them. Do not engage them in war while they remain under the illusion that the covenant still stands, so that there may be no trace of treachery on your part at all. Thus, the prepositional phrase is connected to an omitted predicate that functions as a state (hal) for the pronoun hidden in "cast back"—that is, "cast back to them while remaining on equal terms." It is also permitted that it be a state for the pronoun "them," or for both pronouns together; that is, a state in which they are on equal footing regarding the knowledge of the breaking of the covenant, such that both their distant and near members are equal in it, or that you and they are equal in that knowledge.

The requirement of notification is held by most prominent scholars when the period of the covenant has not expired, or when their breach of it has not become widespread and established with certainty. As for when the period has expired or the breach has become widespread and known to the people, there is no need for what has been mentioned. For this reason, the Prophet (may Allah exalt him and grant him peace) waged war against the people of Mecca without casting back [the covenant], and he did not notify them, because they had broken the covenant openly by assisting the Banu Bakr against the Khuza'a, the allies of the Prophet (may Allah exalt him and grant him peace).

(Indeed, Allah does not love the treacherous) This is a justification for the command to cast back the covenant, considering that it necessitates the prohibition of sudden attack, which is an act of treachery; thus, it serves as a warning to the Prophet (may Allah exalt him and grant him peace) against it. It is also permitted that it be a justification for the same command considering that it leads to fighting in the end; thus, it is an exhortation to the Prophet (may Allah exalt him and grant him peace) to first cast back the covenant, and then to fight them—as if it were said: "And if you come to know of treachery from a people, then cast back to them, then fight them; indeed, Allah does not love the treacherous," for they are among them [the treacherous] because of what you know of their state. The first [interpretation] is what is immediately apparent. In both estimations, the intended meaning of the negation of love is the affirmation of hatred, as there is no middle ground between love and hatred in relation to Him, the Exalted.