Al-Qur'an Surah Al-Anfal Verse 58

Mufti Taqi Usmani

And if you apprehend a breach from a people, then, throw (the treaty) towards them in straight-forward terms. Surely, Allah does not like those who breach the trust.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

And if you ˹O Prophet˺ see signs of betrayal by a people, respond by openly terminating your treaty with them. Surely Allah does not like those who betray.

Ruwwad Translation Center

If you fear betrayal from any people, throw their treaty back at them openly, for Allah does not like the treacherous.

A. J. Arberry

And if thou fearest treachery any way at the hands of a people, dissolve it with them equally; surely God loves not the treacherous.

Abdul Haleem

And if you learn of treachery on the part of any people, throw their treaty back at them, for God does not love the treacherous.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

And shouldst thou fear treachery from any people cast back then unto them their covenant to be equal. Verily Allah approveth not the treacherous.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

If thou fearest treachery from any group, throw back (their covenant) to them, (so as to be) on equal terms; for Allah loveth not the treacherous.

Abul Ala Maududi

And if you fear treachery from any people (with whom you have a covenant) then publicly throw their covenant at them. Allah does not love the treacherous.

Ahmed Ali

If you apprehend treachery from a people (with whom you have a treaty), retaliate by breaking off (relations) with them, for God does not like those who are treacherous.

Ahmed Raza Khan

And if you apprehend treachery from a nation, then throw back their treaty towards them in reciprocity; indeed Allah does not like the treacherous.

Ali Quli Qarai

And if you fear treachery from a people, break off [the treaty] with them in a like manner. Indeed Allah does not like the treacherous.

Ali Ünal

If you have strong reason to fear treachery from a people (with whom you have a treaty), return it to them (i.e. publicly declare to them, before embarking on any action against them, that you have dissolved the treaty) so that both parties should be informed of its termination. Surely God does not love the treacherous.

Amatul Rahman Omar

And if you fear (and have reasons to fear) treachery from a people, then annul (their pact) on terms of equality. Indeed, Allâh loves not the treacherous.

English Literal

And if you fear from a nation betrayal/unfaithfulness, so discard/reject to them on straightness , that God does not love/like the betrayers/unfaithfuls.

Faridul Haque

And if you apprehend treachery from a nation, then throw back their treaty towards them in reciprocity; indeed Allah does not like the treacherous.

Hamid S. Aziz

And should you ever fear treachery from any people, then throw back to them their treaty in like manner (or in fairness); verily, Allah loves not the treacherous.

Hilali & Khan

If you (O Muhammad SAW) fear treachery from any people throw back (their covenant) to them (so as to be) on equal terms (that there will be no more covenant between you and them). Certainly Allah likes not the treacherous.

Maulana Mohammad Ali

So if thou overtake them in war, scatter by them those who are behind them, that they may be mindful.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

And if you fear treachery on the part of a people, then throw back to them on terms of equality; surely Allah does not love the treacherous.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

And if thou fearest treachery from any folk, then throw back to them (their treaty) fairly. Lo! Allah loveth not the treacherous.

Muhammad Sarwar

If you are afraid of the treachery of some of your allies, you may disregard your treaty with them. God does not love the treacherous ones.

Qaribullah & Darwish

If you fear treachery from any of your allies, you can dissolve with them equally. Allah does not love the treacherous.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

If you fear treachery from any people, throw back (their covenant) to them (so as to be) on equal terms. Certainly Allah likes not the treacherous.) make a heading, Allah says to His Prophet,

Wahiduddin Khan

And if you learn of treachery on the part of any people, throw their treaty back at them, so as to be on equal terms, for God does not love the treacherous.

Talal Itani

If you fear treachery on the part of a people, break off with them in a like manner. God does not like the treacherous.

Tafsir jalalayn

And if you fear, from any folk, who have concluded a pact with you, some treachery, in a pact, through some indication that comes to you, then cast it back to them, dissolve their pact, with fairness (`al saw' is a circumstantial qualifier), that is to say, while you and they have equal knowledge that the pact has been broken, by your apprising them thereof, lest they accuse you of treachery. Truly God does not love the treacherous.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

Allah says to His Prophet,

وَإِمَّا تَخَافَنَّ مِن قَوْمٍ

If you fear from any people,

with whom you have a treaty of peace,

خِيَانَةً

treachery,

and betrayal of peace treaties and agreements that you have conducted with them,

فَانبِذْ إِلَيْهِمْ

then throw back (their covenant) to them,

meaning their treaty of peace.

عَلَى سَوَاء

on equal terms,

informing them that you are severing the treaty. This way, you will be on equal terms, in that, you and they will be aware that a state of war exists between you and that the bilateral peace treaty is null and void,

إِنَّ اللّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ الخَايِنِينَ



Certainly Allah likes not the treacherous.

This even includes treachery against the disbelievers.

Imam Ahmad recorded that Salim bin `Amir said,

"Mu`awiyah was leading an army in Roman lands, at a time the bilateral peace treaty was valid. He wanted to go closer to their forces so that when the treaty of peace ended, he could invade them. An old man riding on his animal said, `Allahu Akbar (Allah is the Great), Allahu Akbar! Be honest and stay away from betrayal.' The Messenger of Allah said,

وَمَنْ كَانَ بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَ قَوْمٍ عَهْدٌ فَلَ يَحُلَّنَّ عُقْدَةً وَلَا يَشُدَّهَا حَتَّى يَنْقَضِي أَمَدُهَا أَوْ يَنْبُذَ إِلَيْهِمْ عَلَى سَوَاء

Whoever has a treaty of peace with a people, then he should not untie any part of it or tie it harder until the treaty reaches its appointed term. Or, he should declare the treaty null and void so that they are both on equal terms.

When Mu`awiyah was informed of the Prophet's statement, he retreated.

They found that man to be Amr bin Anbasah, may Allah be pleased with him."

This Hadith was also collected by Abu Dawud At-Tayalisi, Abu Dawud, At-Tirmidhi, An-Nasa'i and Ibn Hibban in his Sahih. At-Tirmidhi said, "Hasan Sahih.