Breaking the treaty with polytheists under the pretext of war is a deception

Question:
Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success. A questioner says: Regarding the saying of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) , he asks: If we make a treaty with polytheists, is it permissible for us to break the treaty by deceiving them?

Answer:
No, no, it is not like that. In time of war, you deceive them. In time of war, it is not about treaties. This is not permissible. It is not permissible to break a treaty, for Allah commands fulfillment: “Fulfill the contracts.” Allah the Exalted says: “Fulfill the contracts.” This is not permissible. But in time of war, you show them defeat and then attack them without them thinking you have withdrawn, then you attack them and take revenge on them. You show that you want to go in a certain direction while you do not intend it, just as the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), when he wanted to go on an expedition, would feint in another direction.