Tafsir of Al-Anfal 8:8

(That He might make the truth truth, and make void the false...)

This is an inaugural sentence brought forth to clarify the wisdom necessitating the choice of the party possessing power (the armed force) and granting them victory over it, despite their desire for the other. The "Lam" (particle of purpose) is connected to a hidden verb that follows it; that is: "For this dazzling wisdom, He did what He did, and for nothing else." There is no repetition in this, despite what preceded it, for the first was to explain the disparity between the two desires, while this is to explain the wisdom necessitating what was mentioned.

Al-Zamakhshari indicated that this is analogous to your saying: "You wanted to do the false, and I wanted to do the truth, so I did what I intended for such and such a reason, not according to the requirements of your desire." It is not analogous to your saying: "I wanted to honor Zayd for his sake, so that there would be what there would be." The meaning of making void the false follows the same pattern as what we indicated regarding making the truth truth.

(And though the criminals be averse.)

That is: the establishment of truth and the voiding of falsehood. The intent behind "the criminals" is the polytheists, not those who were averse to going out for the campaign, because their [aversion] is a crime on their part, as has been said.