Tafsir of Al-Anfal 8:27

"O you who have believed..."

The meaning of al-khawn (treachery): It means deficiency, just as the meaning of al-wafa’ (loyalty/fulfillment) is completeness. From this comes the expression takhawwanahu (he diminished it). It was then applied to the opposite of trustworthiness and loyalty, because when you betray a man in something, you have introduced a deficiency into it for him. It is used metaphorically, as in: "The bucket betrayed the rope" (when it breaks), and "The one drawing water betrayed the rope" (if it snaps, it is as if it did not fulfill its duty to him).

From this is the Almighty’s saying: {...and betray your trusts}. The meaning is: Do not betray Allah by neglecting His obligatory duties, nor His Messenger by not following his Sunnah. And {your trusts} refers to what is between you, by not safeguarding them {while you know} the consequences and the evil outcome of that. It is also said: "while you know that you are betraying," meaning that the treachery originates from you intentionally, not out of forgetfulness. It is also said: "while you are scholars," knowing the ugliness of the ugly and the beauty of the beautiful.

It is narrated: That the Prophet of Allah (ﷺ) besieged the Jews of Banu Qurayza for twenty-one nights. They asked for peace, just as their brothers, Banu al-Nadir, had made peace, on the condition that they depart for Adhru'at and Jericho in the land of Syria. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) refused, insisting they submit to the judgment of Sa'd ibn Mu'adh. They refused and said: "Send us Abu Lubaba ibn 'Abd al-Mundhir," who was a counselor to them because his family and wealth were in their hands. He sent him to them, and they asked him: "What do you think? Should we submit to the judgment of Sa'd?" He gestured toward his throat, indicating slaughter. Abu Lubaba said: "My feet had not yet moved before I knew that I had betrayed Allah and His Messenger." He descended and tied himself to one of the pillars of the mosque, saying: "By Allah, I will not taste food or drink until I die or Allah accepts my repentance." He remained for seven days until he collapsed unconscious, then Allah accepted his repentance. It was said to him: "Your repentance has been accepted, so untie yourself." He replied: "No, by Allah, I will not untie myself until the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) is the one to untie me." The Prophet (ﷺ) came and untied him with his own hand. Abu Lubaba said: "It is part of the completion of my repentance that I abandon the home of my people where I committed the sin, and that I divest myself of my wealth." The Prophet (ﷺ) said: "It is sufficient for you to give a third of it in charity."

Other interpretations:

• Al-Mughira said: It was revealed regarding the killing of Uthman ibn Affan (may Allah be pleased with him).
• It is said: {Your trusts} refers to what Allah has entrusted you with regarding His obligations and limits.

Grammatical Note: If you ask: Is {wa-takhunu} (and betray) in the jussive (jazm) or the subjunctive (nasb) mood? I say: It is possible that it is jussive, falling under the scope of the prohibition, or that it is subjunctive due to an implied an (to), like His saying: {...and conceal the truth} (Al-Baqarah: 42). Mujahid recited it as wa-takhunu amanatakum (in the singular).

{And know that your properties and your children are but a trial and that Allah has with Him a great reward.}