Allah, the Best Deceiver (Qur'an 3:54)
Error creating thumbnail: Unable to save thumbnail to destination
| This article or section is being renovated. Lead = 3 / 4
Structure = 4 / 4
Content = 4 / 4
Language = 2 / 4
References = 4 / 4
|
The Qur'an states in several places that Allah is the best of l-mākirīna, a word sometimes mildly translated as planners, though also as schemers or plotters. The Arabic word used here is "ماكر" "maakir", coming from the root m-k-r م-ك-ر, with the word Makr "مكر" primarily meaning to practice deceit, guile, or circumvention.[1] The Quran elsewhere tells believers to shun "lying speech" (Quran 22:30) and not to give false testimony (Quran 25:72), and further describes believers as "the truthful" (Quran 3:17). Similar exhortations to truthfulness are found in hadiths, with exceptions in the case of warfare or to bring reconciliation between parties. Much scholarly thought has been devoted to the resolution of this seeming discrepancy.
Qur'an
In the followingverses, Allah is described as the best of l-mākirīna or faster in makran, or that all l-makru is Allah's.
Qur'an 3:54
Arabic: ومكروا ومكر الله والله خير الماكرين
Transliteration: Wamakaroo wamakara Allahu waAllahu khayru almakireena
Literal: And they cheated/deceived and God cheated/deceived, and God (is) the best (of) the cheaters/deceivers.[2]Qur'an 7:99
Arabic: افامنوا مكر الله فلايامن مكر الله الا القوم الخاسرون
Transliteration: Afaaminoo makra Allahi fala ya/manu makra Allahi illa alqawmu alkhasiroona
Literal: Did they secure God's scheme/deceit ? So no(one) trusts God's scheme/deceit except the nation the losers.[3]Qur'an 8:30
Arabic: واذ يمكر بك الذين كفروا ليثبتوك او يقتلوك او يخرجوك ويمكرون ويمكر الله والله خير الماكرين
Transliteration: Wa-ith yamkuru bika allatheena kafaroo liyuthbitooka aw yaqtulooka aw yukhrijooka wayamkuroona wayamkuru Allahu waAllahu khayru almakireena
Literal: And when those who disbelieved deceive/scheme at you to affix/affirm you, or kill you, or bring you out, and they scheme/deceive , and God deceives/schemes and God (is) best (of) the deceivers/schemers.[4]Qur'an 10:21
Arabic: واذا اذقنا الناس رحمة من بعد ضراء مستهم اذا لهم مكر في اياتنا قل الله اسرع مكرا ان رسلنا يكتبون ماتمكرون
Transliteration: Wa-itha athaqna alnnasa rahmatan min baAAdi darraa massat-hum itha lahum makrun fee ayatina quli Allahu asraAAu makran inna rusulana yaktuboona ma tamkuroona
Literal: And if We made the people taste/experience mercy from after calamity/disastrous distress touched them, then for them (is) cheatery/deceit/schemes in Our verses/evidences . Say: "God (is) quicker/faster (in) cunning/scheming , that Our messengers write what you cheat/ deceive/scheme."[5]Qur'an 13:42
Arabic: وقد مكر الذين من قبلهم فلله المكر جميعا يعلم ماتكسب كل نفس وسيعلم الكفار لمن عقبى الدار
Transliteration: Waqad makara allatheena min qablihim falillahi almakru jameeAAan yaAAlamu ma taksibu kullu nafsin wasayaAAlamu alkuffaru liman AAuqba alddari
Literal: And those from before them had cheated/deceived/schemed, so to God (is) all the cheatery/deceit/scheme. He knows what every self gains/acquires , and the disbelievers will know to whom (is) the house's/home's end/turn (result).[6]In Arabic, the word makir is typically used disparagingly and never in a positive context. It is often used to describe someone sly and dishonest who seeks to cheat others through deception. Allah attributing such a moniker to himself contrasts with other characterizations, particularly two of his other names, الحق (the truth) and الوكيل (the dependable).
Literal Meaning of Makr
This section cites numerous academic sources on the meaning of Makr.
Lane's Lexicon
Edward William Lane's Arabic-English Lexicon is the most authoritative scholarly English dictionary of the Arabic language. From Lane's Lexicon, p. 2728 (the full entry can be viewed here or here):
3. ماكرهُ He practised with him mutual deceit, guile, or circumvention; &c.; (A, * TA;) syn. خَادَعَهُ. (TA.)
4. see 1, in two places.
6. تماكروا They practised mutual deceit, guile, or circumvention; &c. (A, * TA.)
مَكُورٌ: see مَاكِرٌ.
مَكَّارٌ: see مَاكِرٌ.
مَاكِرٌ (S, A, Msb, K) and ↓ مَكَّارٌ (S, A, K) and ↓ مَكُورٌ (K) epithets from مَكَرَ: (S, A, Msb, K:) [the first signifying Practising deceit, guile, or circumvention; &c.: and the second and third, practising the same much, or frequently; deceitful, guileful, artful, crafty, or cunning; a trickster, or crafty knave.]
Lane's Lexicon, p: 2728Hans Wehr
The Hans Wehr dictionary is regarded as the standard scholarly dictionary of Arabic for English-speaking students and scholars of the language. It also confirms the meaning of the term:
Arabic Lexicon
Miscellaneous Dictionaries
Meanings from other dictionaries and sources are compiled below:
| Dictionary | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Google Translate | ماكر (Makir) | sly, cunning, deceitful (read more) |
| Babylon.com | مكر (Makr) | n. calculating, cunning, astuteness, craftiness, foxiness, craft, slyness, archness, deceit, double-dealing, artifice, deception, wiliness, artfulness, furtiveness, ploy, trick, guile, ruse, roguery |
| TranStar | مكر (Makr) | wiliness (means: "Full of wiles" Merriam-Webster) |
| ArabEyes.com | المكر (Al-Makr) | deception |
| Ibn Masr | المكر (Al-Makr) | deception |
| SYSTRAnet.com | مكر (Makr) | deception |
| Translated.net | مكر (Makr) | deception |
| ImTranslator.com | المكر (Al-Makr) | deviousness |
| ImTranslator.com | مكر (Makr) | wiliness |
| Ectaco | مكر (Makr) | deception |
Inaccurate translations
English translations of relevant passages in the Qur'an are compiled here. Many translators opt to emphasize the connotation of "planning" or "devising" in makir, even as a more accurate translation of the word's fuller meaning would emphasize deception.
Qur'an 3:54
Qur'an 7:99
Qur'an 8:30
Qur'an 10:21
Qur'an 13:42
Analysis
The translations of Yusuf Ali, Sarwar Hilali/Khan and Malik translate the same word differently in two places (in the same verse). They state that unbelievers "plotted and planned" but that Allah only "planned," leaving Allah clear of the more nefarious connotations of plotting.
Arberry and Qaribullah use the word "devised," Rodwell uses the word "plotted," Sale uses "devised a strategem" and Shakir, HK/Saheeh, QXP and Maulana Ali all use the word "planned" in reference to both the unbelievers and Allah. These translations also fail to capture the full range of the term's meaning, leaving out the connotation of devious scheming and deception.
Pickthal, Khalifa, Free Minds and Shakir opt to translate the word as "scheme." While "scheme" usually holds a negative connotation, this is not always the case, whereas makir is always used negatively. There is a similar dynamic at play in Palmer's use of the word "crafty."
Islamic Views on the Translation of Makir
Jamal Badawi
Dr. Jamal Badawi argues that despite makir's negative connotations, the word carries a different meaning when used to refer to Allah:
Answer: The terms that we use in our human language do not necessarily have the identical meaning when referring to Allah. For example, terms such as “hear” and “see” have totally different meaning when we speak about Allah, as He does not have eyes or ears like ours (Qur’an 42/11).
Likewise, the Arabic term “makr” for humans refers to conspiracy; for Allah, however, in reverence to Him, to [sic] means “plan”. Therefore, it means then that they conspire, but Allah has his own plans to thwart their evil schemes.Dr. Jamal Badawi, Reading Islam, April 16, 2007
Dr. Badawi draws evidence for this claim from Quran 42:11:
This verse, however, refers only to physical characteristics: although we have been created in pairs (male and female), Allah has no partner, no need for mates, and no likeness on earth. Reviewing the relevant portion of Kathir's Tafsir confirms this:
(The Creator of the heavens and the earth.) means, the Maker of them both and everything in between.
[جَعَلَ لَكُمْ مِّنْ أَنفُسِكُمْ أَزْوَاجًا]
(He has made for you mates from yourselves,) means, of your own kind. As a blessing and a favor from Him, He has made your kind male and female.
[وَمِنَ الاٌّنْعَـمِ أَزْوجاً]
(and for the cattle (also) mates.) means, and He has created for you eight pairs of cattle.
[يَذْرَؤُكُمْ فِيهِ]
(By this means He creates you.) means, in this manner He creates you, male and female, generation after generation of men and cattle.
[لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَىْءٌ]
(There is nothing like Him,) means, there is nothing like the Creator of these pairs, for He is the Unique, the Self-Sufficient Master, Who has no peer or equal.Tafsir 'ibn Kathir
The Qur'an also refers to its language as "clear":
Islam Q&A
Islam Q&A says that "plotting/deceiving" may be used to describe Allah, but only in a positive way:
“they were plotting and Allaah too was plotting”
[al-Anfaal 8:30]
“Verily, the hypocrites seek to deceive Allaah, but it is He Who deceives them”
[al-Nisa’ 4:142]?.
Answer: Praise be to Allaah.
The attributes of Allaah are all attributes of perfection, pointing to the best and most perfect of meanings. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“and for Allaah is the highest description. And He is the All-Mighty, the All-Wise”
[al-Nahl 16:60]
“His is the highest description (i.e. none has the right to be worshipped but He, and there is nothing comparable unto Him) in the heavens and in the earth. And He is the All-Mighty, the All-Wise”
[al-Room 30:27]
Al-Sa’di said in his Tafseer (commentary) – p. 718, 1065:
The highest description means the most perfect attributes.
Attributes are of three types:
1 – Attributes of perfection – in which there is no shortcoming whatsoever. These attributes apply to Allaah in absolute terms and are not limited or restricted in any way. Examples of that include His knowledge, power, hearing, seeing, mercy, etc.
2 – Attributes which imply imperfection and shortcomings. These can never be ascribed to Allaah, such as sleeping, being unable, doing wrong or oppressing, betraying, etc.
3 – Attributes which may be perfect or imperfect, depending on the context. These cannot be ascribed to Allaah in absolute terms, and they cannot be denied in the case of Allaah in absolute terms. If the context implies perfection then they can be ascribed to Allaah; if it implies imperfection then they cannot be ascribed to Allaah. Examples include: plotting, deceiving and mocking.
Plotting against, betraying and mocking the enemy are attributes of perfection, because that is indicative of complete knowledge, power and might, and so on.
But plotting against the sincere believers is an attribute of imperfection.
Hence these characteristics are not ascribed to Allaah in absolute terms, rather they are mentioned in such a context as to indicate that these are attributes of perfection.
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Verily, the hypocrites seek to deceive Allaah, but it is He Who deceives them” [al-Nisa’ 4:142]
This is deceiving the hypocrites.
And He says (interpretation of the meaning):
“And (remember) when the disbelievers plotted against you (O Muhammad) to imprison you, or to kill you, or to get you out (from your home, i.e. Makkah); they were plotting and Allaah too was plotting; and Allaah is the Best of those who plot”
[al-Anfaal 8:30]
This is a plot against the enemies of Allaah who were plotting against the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him).
Allaah says of the hypocrites (interpretation of the meaning):
“And when they meet those who believe, they say: ‘We believe,’ but when they are alone with their Shayaateen (devils — polytheists, hypocrites), they say: ‘Truly, we are with you; verily, we were but mocking.’
Allaah mocks at them and gives them increase in their wrong-doing to wander blindly”
[al-Baqarah 2:14-15]
This is mocking the hypocrites.
These attributes are to be regarded as indicating perfection in this context. Hence we say that Allaah mocks the hypocrites and deceives them, and that He plots against His enemies, and so on. But it is not permissible to describe Allaah as mocking or deceiving in absolute terms, because that does not indicate perfection.
Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) was asked: Can Allaah be described as plotting and named as such?
He replied:
Allaah cannot be described as plotting except in a limited sense; He cannot be described as such in absolute terms. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Did they then feel secure against the Plan of Allaah? None feels secure from the Plan of Allaah except the people who are the losers”
[al-A’raaf 7:99]
This verse indicate that Allaah has a plan or plot, which was to confound them without them realizing it. This is akin to the hadeeth narrated by al-Bukhaari: “War is deceit.”
If it is asked: How can Allaah be described as plotting when this seems to be something blameworthy?
The answer is that plotting in the right circumstances may be something praiseworthy that points to the strength of the plotter, and that he is superior to his enemy. Hence Allaah cannot be described as plotting in absolute terms, and we cannot say “Allaah is a Plotter.” Rather this attribute is mentioned in a context where it is positive, such as the verses (interpretation of the meaning):
“they were plotting and Allaah too was plotting”
[al-Anfaal 8:30]
“So they plotted a plot, and We planned a plan, while they perceived not”
[al-Naml 27:50]
And we cannot say in absolute terms that this cannot be ascribed to Allaah, rather in contexts where it is something positive it may be ascribed to Him, and in contexts where it is not something positive, it should not be ascribed to Him. So Allaah should not be called by a name which refers to this, so we cannot say that one of the names of Allaah is “the Plotter”. Plotting is one of His actions, because it has to do with the Will of Allaah.
Fataawa al-Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen, 1/170.
He was also asked: Can Allaah be described as betraying, or as deceiving, as in the verse (interpretation of the meaning):
“Verily, the hypocrites seek to deceive Allaah, but it is He Who deceives them” [al-Nisa’ 4:142]?
He replied:
With regard to betrayal, this is something that can never be ascribed to Allaah, because it is something shameful in all circumstances, and it is plotting at a time of trust, which is blameworthy. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“But if they intend to betray you (O Muhammad), they indeed betrayed Allaah before. So He gave (you) power over them. And Allaah is All-Knower, All-Wise”
[al-Anfaal 8:71]
And He did not say: So He betrayed them.
With regard to deceiving, it is like plotting. It may be ascribed to Allaah when it is something positive, but it cannot be ascribed to Him in absolute terms. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Verily, the hypocrites seek to deceive Allaah, but it is He Who deceives them” [al-Nisa’ 4:142]
Fataawa al-Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen, 1/171
And Allaah knows best.Islam Q&A, Fatwa No. 39803
Harun Yahya
Harun Yahya includes Al-Makir in his listing of Allah's 99 names:
The Planner
- When those unbelievers were plotting against you to imprison you or to kill or expel you: they were plotting and Allah was plotting, but Allah is the Best of Planners . (Surat al-Anfal, 8:30)
Those who plotted against the just religion throughout history strove to distance people from it for their own selfish desires (e.g., greed for power, personal interests, and so on). In the Hereafter, they will be told: “No, it was your scheming night and day when you commanded us to reject Allah and assign equals to Him.” (Surah Saba', 34:33) Yet there is a very important point that we need to remember here:
- Those before them plotted, but all planning belongs to Allah. He knows what each self earns, and the unbelievers soon will know who has the Ultimate Abode. (Surat ar-Ra‘d, 13:42)
As is related in the verse above, “all planning belongs to Allah.” Thus, against all of the unbelievers' plots, Allah devises the best plan. Allah calls attention to the deadlock facing unbelievers:
- They concocted their plots, but their plots were with Allah, even if they were such as to make the mountains vanish. (Surah Ibrahim, 14:46)
As this verse relates, Allah protects all believers from these plots. This is very easy for Allah, Who turns all plots against His Messengers and believers into failures and makes unbelievers suffer the ensuing dire consequences, for “… Allah is swifter at planning...” (Surah Yunus, 10:21)
No doubt, Allah creates every incident with a purpose and for the ultimate good. He uses the unbelievers' plots against believers to test them. He then extends His help to those servants who can discern the good and beauties in the events He creates, and turns all of these to their benefit.Harun Yayha
Elsewhere on his website,[17][18] the above verse refers to both Allah and unbelievers as "plotters," in contrast to the plotter/planner distinction here.
Allah Only Deceives Enemies
Some Quranic verses indicate that Allah did not confine his "deception" to his enemies:
Allah Deceives Muslims
In the above verses, Allah deceived Muhammad himself in a dream by portraying the forces opposing Muhammad as less numerous than they actually were, such that Muhammad would remain confident and continue fighting. Kathir's tafsir explores this:
(43. (And remember) when Allah showed them to you as few in your dream; if He had shown them to you as many, you would surely have been discouraged, and you would surely have disputed in making a decision. But Allah saved (you). Certainly, He is the All-Knower of that is in the breasts.) (44. And (remember) when you met, He showed them to you as few in your eyes and He made you appear as few in their eyes, so that Allah might accomplish a matter already ordained, and to Allah return all matters (for decision).)
Mujahid said, "In a dream, Allah showed the Prophet the enemy as few. The Prophet conveyed this news to his Companions and their resolve strengthened. Similar was said by Ibn Ishaq and several others. Allah said,
[وَلَوْ أَرَاكَهُمْ كَثِيراً لَّفَشِلْتُمْ]
(If He had shown them to you as many, you would surely, have been discouraged,) you would have cowardly abstained from meeting them and fell in dispute among yourselves,
[وَلَـكِنَّ اللَّهَ سَلَّمَ]
(But Allah saved), from all this, when He made you see them as few,
[إِنَّهُ عَلِيمٌ بِذَاتِ الصُّدُورِ]
(Certainly, He is the All-Knower of that is in the breasts.) [8:43].
Allah knows what the heart and the inner-self conceal,
[يَعْلَمُ خَآئِنَةَ الاٌّعْيُنِ وَمَا تُخْفِى الصُّدُورُ ]
(Allah knows the fraud of the eyes, and all that the breasts conceal) [40:19].
Allah's statement,
[وَإِذْ يُرِيكُمُوهُمْ إِذِ الْتَقَيْتُمْ فِى أَعْيُنِكُمْ قَلِيلاً]
(And (remember) when you met, He showed them to you as few in your eyes) demonstrates Allah's compassion towards the believers. Allah made them see few disbelievers in their eyes, so that they would be encouraged and feel eager to meet them. Abu Ishaq As-Subai`i said, that Abu `Ubaydah said that `Abdullah bin Mas`ud said, "They were made to seem few in our eyes during Badr, so that I said to a man who was next to me, `Do you think they are seventy' He said, `Rather, they are a hundred.' However, when we captured one of them, we asked him and he said, `We were a thousand. Ibn Abi Hatim and Ibn Jarir recorded it. Allah said next,
[وَيُقَلِّلُكُمْ فِى أَعْيُنِهِمْ]
(and He made you appear as few in their eyes,) Allah said,
[وَإِذْ يُرِيكُمُوهُمْ إِذِ الْتَقَيْتُمْ]
(And (remember) when you met. He showed them to you...), He encouraged each of the two groups against the other, according to `Ikrimah, as recorded by Ibn Abi Hatim.Tafsir 'ibn Kathir
Allah Created Christianity Through Deception
Allah however, makes it clear in the Qur'an that Jesus was not crucified, but that Allah also made it appear otherwis
Other Qur'anic Divine Scheming verses
Reynolds (2020) notes that despite the discomfort of later traditional Islamic commentators on the description of God as "deceiving" or "scheming," there are many terms and examples outside of the word makr and its variants of Allah deceiving/scheming in the Qur'an,[19] adding weight to this straightforward interpretation.
Other terms used to describe Allah’s trickery include khida‘ (4:142; elsewhere attributed to the unbelievers: 2:9, 8:62) and the Arabic verb aghwa. In Q 11:34 Noah declares to his opponents that God could lead them astray (yughwiyakum). Tellingly, Satan accuses God (perhaps rightly) of leading him astray on two occasions. In Q 7:16 Satan declares to God, “You have led me astray! (aghwaytani).” In Q 15:39 Satan says that because God has led him astray, he will lead others astray: “He said ‘O Lord, because you have led me astray (aghwaytani), I will surely glamorize [evil] for them on the earth, and I will surely lead all of them astray (la-ughwiyannahum).’” Muhammad Asad—clearly uncomfortable with the idea of a God who deceives—translates these two occurrences identically as “thou hast thwarted me.”..
See Also
Translations
- A version of this page is also available in the following languages: French. For additional languages, see the sidebar on the left.
External Links
- Allah the greatest deceiver of them all
- Allah: Truthful or Deceiver?
- Deceptive God, Incompetent Messiah
Resources
References
- ↑ Makr - Lane's Lexicon p. 2728
- ↑ 3. Ali-Imran - The Family Of 'Imran (سورة آل عمران) - Revealed in Madinah (English: Literal) - IslamicNature, accessed August 25, 2011
- ↑ 7. Al-A'raf - The Heights (سورة الأعراف) - Revealed in Makkah (English: Literal) - IslamicNature, accessed August 25, 2011
- ↑ 8. Al-Anfal - Spoils Of War (سورة الأنفال) - Revealed in Madinah (English: Literal) - IslamicNature, accessed August 25, 2011
- ↑ 10. Yunus - Jonah (سورة يونس) - Revealed in Makkah (English: Literal) - IslamicNature, accessed August 25, 2011
- ↑ 13. Ar-Ra'd - The Thunder (سورة الرعد) - Revealed in Makkah (English: Literal) - IslamicNature, accessed August 25, 2011
- ↑ 7.00 7.01 7.02 7.03 7.04 7.05 7.06 7.07 7.08 7.09 7.10 7.11 7.12 7.13 7.14 7.15 Islam Awakened - Qur'an 3:54
- ↑ Quran Browser - Quran 3:54
- ↑ 9.00 9.01 9.02 9.03 9.04 9.05 9.06 9.07 9.08 9.09 9.10 9.11 9.12 9.13 9.14 9.15 Islam Awakened - Qur'an 7:99
- ↑ Quran Browser - Quran 7:99
- ↑ 11.00 11.01 11.02 11.03 11.04 11.05 11.06 11.07 11.08 11.09 11.10 11.11 11.12 11.13 11.14 11.15 Islam Awakened - Qur'an 8:33
- ↑ Quran Browser - Quran 8:30
- ↑ 13.00 13.01 13.02 13.03 13.04 13.05 13.06 13.07 13.08 13.09 13.10 13.11 13.12 13.13 13.14 13.15 Islam Awakened - Qur'an 10:21
- ↑ Quran Browser - Quran 10:21
- ↑ 15.00 15.01 15.02 15.03 15.04 15.05 15.06 15.07 15.08 15.09 15.10 15.11 15.12 15.13 15.14 Islam Awakened - Qur'an 13:42
- ↑ Quran Browser - Quran 13:42
- ↑ The School of Yusuf - Harun Yahya
- ↑ The Prophet Yusuf - Harun Yahya
- ↑ Reynolds, Gabriel Said. Allah: God in the Qur'an (Chapter 8: The Avenger. Divine Scheming. pp. 184-191).Yale University Press. Kindle Edition.