Tafsir of Al-Anfal 8:58

{And if you fear from a people} with whom you have a treaty {treachery} and a breaking of the pact, through signs that appear to you,

{then cast [the treaty] back to them}—meaning, discard the covenant toward them—{on equal terms}—meaning, upon a straight, direct path. This means that you must openly declare the termination of the treaty to them and inform them clearly and explicitly that you have severed what was between you and them. Do not engage them in war while they are still under the impression that the treaty remains, for that would be treachery on your part.

{Indeed, Allah does not like the treacherous}—so do not let the concealment of the treaty's termination or deception come from you.

It is also said: "On equal terms" means equality in the knowledge of the treaty's dissolution. It is also said: Equality in enmity.

The prepositional phrase {on equal terms} is in the position of a state (ḥāl). It is as if it were said: "Cast it back to them while remaining upon a straight, direct path," or "while both parties are equal in knowledge or enmity," assuming it is a state describing both the one casting the treaty and the one to whom it is cast.

{And let not those who disbelieve think that they have escaped; indeed, they cannot cause failure [to Allah].}