- “If you fear treachery from any people, throw their covenant back to them on equal terms. Indeed, Allah does not love the treacherous.”
That is, if there is a covenant and solemn compact between you and a people to refrain from fighting, but you fear treachery from them because indications have appeared in their conduct that point to it, though they have not openly declared their treachery,
“Throw their covenant back to them”—that is, return it to them and inform them that no covenant remains between you and them. “On equal terms”—that is, so that you and they are equally aware of this. It is not lawful for you to betray them or undertake anything prohibited by the covenant until you have informed them of this.
“Indeed, Allah does not love the treacherous.” Rather, He detests them intensely. There must therefore be a clear declaration that absolves you of treachery.
The verse indicates that if actual treachery (1) on their part has been established, there is no need to throw their covenant back to them, because it is then no longer merely feared but known. Moreover, doing so would serve no purpose, and Allah says, “on equal terms,” whereas in this case their perfidy was already known to everyone.
Its converse implication also indicates that when no treachery is feared from them because they have shown no sign of it, it is impermissible to repudiate the covenant with them. Rather, it must be honored until its term expires.