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The [[Qur'an]] | 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.<ref>Makr - [http://www.studyquran.org/LaneLexicon/Volume7/00000256.pdf Lane's Lexicon p. 2728]</ref> 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== | ==Qur'an== | ||
In the | 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=== | ===Qur'an 3:54=== | ||
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'''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).<ref>[{{Reference archive|1=http://iknowledge.islamicnature.com/quran/surah/13/lang/englishliteral/|2=2011-08-25}} 13. Ar-Ra'd - The Thunder (سورة الرعد) - Revealed in Makkah (English: Literal)] - IslamicNature, accessed August 25, 2011</ref>}} | '''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).<ref>[{{Reference archive|1=http://iknowledge.islamicnature.com/quran/surah/13/lang/englishliteral/|2=2011-08-25}} 13. Ar-Ra'd - The Thunder (سورة الرعد) - Revealed in Makkah (English: Literal)] - IslamicNature, accessed August 25, 2011</ref>}} | ||
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== | ==Literal Meaning of Makr== | ||
This section | This section cites numerous academic sources on the meaning of ''Makr''. | ||
===Lane's Lexicon=== | ===Lane's Lexicon=== | ||
Edward William Lane's Arabic-English Lexicon is the most | 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 [[:File:Makr Lane-Lexicon-page Vol 7-pg. 256.jpg|here]] or [http://www.studyquran.org/LaneLexicon/Volume7/00000256.pdf here]): | ||
{{Quote|1=[http://www.studyquran.org/LaneLexicon/Volume7/00000256.pdf Lane's Lexicon p. 2728]|2=1. مَكَرَ, aor. مَكُرَ, (Msb, TA,) inf. n. مَكْرٌ; (S, A, Msb, K;) and ↓ امكر; (Msb;) He practised deceit, guile, or circumvention; or he practised deceit, guile, or circumvention, desiring to do to another a foul, an abominable, or an evil, action, clandestinely, or without his knowing whence it proceeded; syn. خَدَعَ; (Msb;) and of the inf. n. خَدِيعَةٌ: (S, A, K:) he practised an evasion or elusion, a shift, an artifice, or artful contrivance or device, a machination, a trick, a plot, a stratagem, or an expedient; he plotted; or he exercised art, craft, cunning, or skill, in the management or ordering of affairs, with excel-lent consideration or deliberation, and ability to manage according to his own free will; syn. of the inf. n. إِحْتِيَالٌ: (S, TA:) or to this explanation, conveyed by احتيال as the syn. of the inf. n., should be added secretly, or privately: (Lth, TA:) مَكْرٌ is praised or dispraised according to the nature of its object. (El-Basáir.) [For further explanation, see what follows.] It is trans. by means of بِ: and also, accord. to Z, by itself: (MF:) [but I know not any instance of its being trans. by itself: except as meaning he plotted a thing: see مَكْرَ السَّيِّئ in the Kur, xxxv. 41, cited voce سَيِّئٌ:] you say مَكَرَ بِهِ, (S, A, TA,) aor. and inf. n. as above, (S, TA,) meaning, He deceived, beguiled, or circumvented, him; or he deceived, beguiled, or circumvented, him, and desired to do him a foul, an abominable, or an evil, action, clandestinely, or without his knowing whence it proceeded: &c.: (S, A, TA:) syn. كَادَهُ: or it differs [somewhat] from كاده, accord. to Aboo-Hilál El-'Askeree: (TA:) some say, that مكر به signifies as above with the addition of feigning the contrary of his real intentions; which كاده does not imply: or this latter signifies “ he did him harm,” or “ mischief; ” and the former, he did him harm, or mischief, clandestinely. (MF, voce كاد.) See art. خدع. مَكَرَ also signifies He managed with thought, or consideration, or acted with policy, and practised stratagem, in war. (TA.) مَكَرَ اللّٰهُ and ↓ أَمْكَرَ are syn., (IKtt, Msb,) signifying, (tropical:) God recompensed, or requited, for مَكْر [or the practising deceit, &c.]: (Lth, * Msb, TA: *) or مَكْرُ اللّٰهِ signifies God's granting a man respite or delay, and enabling him to accomplish his worldly aims [so as to bring upon himself the punishment due to his evil actions]: (Er-Rághib, TA:) or, accord. to IAth, God's causing his trials to befall his enemies, exclusively of his friends: or his taking men by little and little, so that they do not reckon upon it, bestowing upon them renewed favours for acts of obedience which are imagined to be accepted whereas they are rejected. (TA.)<BR /> | {{Quote|1=[http://www.studyquran.org/LaneLexicon/Volume7/00000256.pdf Lane's Lexicon p. 2728]|2=1. مَكَرَ, aor. مَكُرَ, (Msb, TA,) inf. n. مَكْرٌ; (S, A, Msb, K;) and ↓ امكر; (Msb;) He practised deceit, guile, or circumvention; or he practised deceit, guile, or circumvention, desiring to do to another a foul, an abominable, or an evil, action, clandestinely, or without his knowing whence it proceeded; syn. خَدَعَ; (Msb;) and of the inf. n. خَدِيعَةٌ: (S, A, K:) he practised an evasion or elusion, a shift, an artifice, or artful contrivance or device, a machination, a trick, a plot, a stratagem, or an expedient; he plotted; or he exercised art, craft, cunning, or skill, in the management or ordering of affairs, with excel-lent consideration or deliberation, and ability to manage according to his own free will; syn. of the inf. n. إِحْتِيَالٌ: (S, TA:) or to this explanation, conveyed by احتيال as the syn. of the inf. n., should be added secretly, or privately: (Lth, TA:) مَكْرٌ is praised or dispraised according to the nature of its object. (El-Basáir.) [For further explanation, see what follows.] It is trans. by means of بِ: and also, accord. to Z, by itself: (MF:) [but I know not any instance of its being trans. by itself: except as meaning he plotted a thing: see مَكْرَ السَّيِّئ in the Kur, xxxv. 41, cited voce سَيِّئٌ:] you say مَكَرَ بِهِ, (S, A, TA,) aor. and inf. n. as above, (S, TA,) meaning, He deceived, beguiled, or circumvented, him; or he deceived, beguiled, or circumvented, him, and desired to do him a foul, an abominable, or an evil, action, clandestinely, or without his knowing whence it proceeded: &c.: (S, A, TA:) syn. كَادَهُ: or it differs [somewhat] from كاده, accord. to Aboo-Hilál El-'Askeree: (TA:) some say, that مكر به signifies as above with the addition of feigning the contrary of his real intentions; which كاده does not imply: or this latter signifies “ he did him harm,” or “ mischief; ” and the former, he did him harm, or mischief, clandestinely. (MF, voce كاد.) See art. خدع. مَكَرَ also signifies He managed with thought, or consideration, or acted with policy, and practised stratagem, in war. (TA.) مَكَرَ اللّٰهُ and ↓ أَمْكَرَ are syn., (IKtt, Msb,) signifying, (tropical:) God recompensed, or requited, for مَكْر [or the practising deceit, &c.]: (Lth, * Msb, TA: *) or مَكْرُ اللّٰهِ signifies God's granting a man respite or delay, and enabling him to accomplish his worldly aims [so as to bring upon himself the punishment due to his evil actions]: (Er-Rághib, TA:) or, accord. to IAth, God's causing his trials to befall his enemies, exclusively of his friends: or his taking men by little and little, so that they do not reckon upon it, bestowing upon them renewed favours for acts of obedience which are imagined to be accepted whereas they are rejected. (TA.)<BR /> | ||
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===Miscellaneous Dictionaries=== | ===Miscellaneous Dictionaries=== | ||
Meanings from other dictionaries and sources | Meanings from other dictionaries and sources are compiled below: | ||
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==Inaccurate | ==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 3:54=== | ||
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====Analysis==== | ====Analysis==== | ||
The translations of Yusuf Ali, Sarwar Hilali/Khan and Malik | 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 | 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== | ==Islamic Views on the Translation of Makir== | ||
===Jamal | ===Jamal Badawi=== | ||
Dr. Jamal Badawi argues that despite ''makir''<nowiki/>'s negative connotations, the word carries a different meaning when used to refer to Allah: | |||
{{quote |1=[{{Reference archive|1=http://replay.waybackmachine.org/20070624054812/http://www.readingislam.com/livedialogue/Browse.asp?hGuestID=8P66WT|2=2011-04-10}} Ask About Islam Q&A Session]<BR>Dr. Jamal Badawi, Reading Islam, April 16, 2007|2='''Question:''' The quran refers sometimes to the MAKR of Allah. Hos ''[sic]'' is possible to desscribe ''[sic]'' God as MAKIR? Wa yamkuruna wa yamkuru Allah | {{quote |1=[{{Reference archive|1=http://replay.waybackmachine.org/20070624054812/http://www.readingislam.com/livedialogue/Browse.asp?hGuestID=8P66WT|2=2011-04-10}} Ask About Islam Q&A Session]<BR>Dr. Jamal Badawi, Reading Islam, April 16, 2007|2='''Question:''' The quran refers sometimes to the MAKR of Allah. Hos ''[sic]'' is possible to desscribe ''[sic]'' God as MAKIR? Wa yamkuruna wa yamkuru Allah | ||
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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.}} | 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. Badawi | Dr. Badawi draws evidence for this claim from Quran 42:11: | ||
{{Quote|{{Quran|42|11}}| The Originator of the heavens and the earth; He made mates for you from among yourselves, and mates of the cattle too, multiplying you thereby; nothing like a likeness of Him; and He is the Hearing, the Seeing. }} | {{Quote|{{Quran|42|11}}| The Originator of the heavens and the earth; He made mates for you from among yourselves, and mates of the cattle too, multiplying you thereby; nothing like a likeness of Him; and He is the Hearing, the Seeing. }} | ||
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: | |||
{{quote |1=[http://www.qtafsir.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2109&Itemid=98 Allah is the Protector, Ruler and Creator (42:11)]<BR>Tafsir 'ibn Kathir|2= [فَاطِرَ السَّمَـوَتِ وَالاٌّرْضِ] | {{quote |1=[http://www.qtafsir.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2109&Itemid=98 Allah is the Protector, Ruler and Creator (42:11)]<BR>Tafsir 'ibn Kathir|2= [فَاطِرَ السَّمَـوَتِ وَالاٌّرْضِ] | ||
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(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.'''}} | (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.'''}} | ||
The Qur'an also refers to its language as "clear":{{Quote|{{Quran|16|103}}| And certainly We know that they say: Only a mortal teaches him. The tongue of him whom they reproach is barbarous, '''and this is clear Arabic tongue.''' }} | |||
===Islam Q&A=== | ===Islam Q&A=== | ||
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And Allaah knows best.}} | And Allaah knows best.}} | ||
===Harun Yahya=== | ===Harun Yahya=== | ||
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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.}} | 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.}} | ||
Elsewhere on his website,<ref>[http://www.harunyahya.com/books/faith/school/school2.php The School of Yusuf - Harun Yahya]<!-- {{Reference archive|1=http://www.harunyahya.com/books/faith/school/school2.php|2=2011-03-05}} --></ref><ref>[http://www.harunyahya.com/ysf03.php The Prophet Yusuf - Harun Yahya]<!-- {{Reference archive|1=http://www.harunyahya.com/ysf03.php|2=2011-03-05}} --></ref> the above verse refers to both Allah and unbelievers as "plotters," in contrast to the plotter/planner distinction here. | |||
===Allah Only Deceives Enemies=== | ===Allah Only Deceives Enemies=== | ||
Some Quranic verses indicate that Allah did not confine his "deception" to his enemies: | |||
====Allah Deceives Muslims==== | ====Allah Deceives Muslims==== | ||
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And when He showed them to you, when you met, as few in your eyes and He made you to appear little in their eyes, in order that Allah might bring about a matter which was to be done, and to Allah are all affairs returned.}} | And when He showed them to you, when you met, as few in your eyes and He made you to appear little in their eyes, in order that Allah might bring about a matter which was to be done, and to Allah are all affairs returned.}} | ||
In the above verses, | 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: | ||
{{quote |1=[http://tafsir.com/default.asp?sid=8&tid=20236 Some Details of the Battle of Badr (8:43)]<BR>Tafsir 'ibn Kathir|2= '''[إِذْ يُرِيكَهُمُ اللَّهُ فِى مَنَامِكَ قَلِيلاً وَلَوْ أَرَاكَهُمْ كَثِيراً لَّفَشِلْتُمْ وَلَتَنَـزَعْتُمْ فِى الاٌّمْرِ وَلَـكِنَّ اللَّهَ سَلَّمَ إِنَّهُ عَلِيمٌ بِذَاتِ الصُّدُورِ - وَإِذْ يُرِيكُمُوهُمْ إِذِ الْتَقَيْتُمْ فِى أَعْيُنِكُمْ قَلِيلاً وَيُقَلِّلُكُمْ فِى أَعْيُنِهِمْ لِيَقْضِىَ اللَّهُ أَمْراً كَانَ مَفْعُولاً وَإِلَى اللَّهِ تُرْجَعُ الأُمُورُ ] | {{quote |1=[http://tafsir.com/default.asp?sid=8&tid=20236 Some Details of the Battle of Badr (8:43)]<BR>Tafsir 'ibn Kathir|2= '''[إِذْ يُرِيكَهُمُ اللَّهُ فِى مَنَامِكَ قَلِيلاً وَلَوْ أَرَاكَهُمْ كَثِيراً لَّفَشِلْتُمْ وَلَتَنَـزَعْتُمْ فِى الاٌّمْرِ وَلَـكِنَّ اللَّهَ سَلَّمَ إِنَّهُ عَلِيمٌ بِذَاتِ الصُّدُورِ - وَإِذْ يُرِيكُمُوهُمْ إِذِ الْتَقَيْتُمْ فِى أَعْيُنِكُمْ قَلِيلاً وَيُقَلِّلُكُمْ فِى أَعْيُنِهِمْ لِيَقْضِىَ اللَّهُ أَمْراً كَانَ مَفْعُولاً وَإِلَى اللَّهِ تُرْجَعُ الأُمُورُ ] | ||
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(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. }} | (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. }} | ||
====Allah Created Christianity Through Deception==== | ====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 | |||
{{quote | {{cite quran|4|157|end=158|style=ref}}| And their saying: Surely we have killed the Messiah, Isa son of Marium, the messenger of Allah; and they did not kill him nor did they crucify him, '''but it appeared to them so (like Isa)''' and most surely those who differ therein are only in a doubt about it; they have no knowledge respecting it, but only follow a conjecture, and they killed him not for sure. | {{quote | {{cite quran|4|157|end=158|style=ref}}| And their saying: Surely we have killed the Messiah, Isa son of Marium, the messenger of Allah; and they did not kill him nor did they crucify him, '''but it appeared to them so (like Isa)''' and most surely those who differ therein are only in a doubt about it; they have no knowledge respecting it, but only follow a conjecture, and they killed him not for sure. | ||
Nay! Allah took him up to Himself; and Allah is Mighty, Wise. }} | Nay! Allah took him up to Himself; and Allah is Mighty, Wise. }} | ||
==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,<ref>Reynolds, Gabriel Said. ''Allah: God in the Qur'an (Chapter 8: The Avenger. Divine Scheming. pp. 184-191).''Yale University Press. Kindle Edition.</ref> adding weight to this straightforward interpretation.{{Quote|Reynolds, Gabriel Said. <i>Allah: God in the Qur'an (pp. 189-190).</i> Yale University Press. Kindle Edition. |..Makr is not the only term used for divine trickery. Elsewhere in the Qur’an (7:182–83, 68:45, 86:15–16) Allah is associated with kayd, sometimes rendered as “devising.” In Q 7:183 God’s giving a respite to the unbelievers is described as a sort of kayd: “And I will grant them respite, for My devising (kaydi) is indeed sure.” This same term is associated also with the stratagems of unbelievers and opponents of the prophets: it is used for pagans (7:195), the brothers of Joseph (12:5), sneaky women in the Joseph story (12:28), and other unbelievers (20:64, 52:46, 77:39). <br>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.”..}} | |||
== Other Qur'anic Divine Scheming verses == | |||
Reynolds (2020) notes that despite the discomfort of later traditional Islamic commentators on the description of God as | |||
==See Also== | ==See Also== | ||
* [[Taqiyya]] | |||
{{Translation-links-english|[[Allah le meilleur trompeur|French]]}} | {{Translation-links-english|[[Allah le meilleur trompeur|French]]}} | ||