ALLAH, A GREAT DECEIVER
Although there are many places in the Qur'an that use the same word (makir) in reference to Allah[1] this article will focus only on the verses in which Allah describes himself as the 'best deceiver'.
Contents
1 To deceive (definition)
• 2 Qur'an verses
o 2.1 Qur'an 3:54
o 2.2 Qur'an 7:99
o 2.3 Qur'an 8:30
o 2.4 Qur'an 10:21
o 2.5 Qur'an 13:42
• 3 Literal meaning of Makr
• 4 The deception of the translators
o 4.1 Qur'an 3:54
o 4.2 Qur'an 7:99
o 4.3 Qur'an 8:30
o 4.4 Qur'an 10:21
o 4.5 Qur'an 13:42
4.5.1 Analysis
• 5 Apologetics
o 5.1 Dr. Jamal Badawi
o 5.2 Islam Q&A
o 5.3 Harun Yahya
o 5.4 Allah only deceives enemies of Islam
5.4.1 Allah deceives Muslims
5.4.2 Allah created Christianity by his deception
5.4.3 Conclusion
• 6 See Also
• 7 External Links
• 8 References
To deceive (definition)
de·ceive (dē sēv′, di-)
transitive verb deceived -·ceived′, deceiving -·ceiv′·ing
1. to make (a person) believe what is not true; delude; mislead
2. Archaic to be false to; betray
3. Archaic to while away (time)
Etymology: ME deceiven < OFr deceveir < L decipere, to ensnare, deceive < de-, from + capere, to take.
intransitive verb to use deceit; lie
Related Forms:
• deceivable de·ceiv′·able adjective
• deceiver de·ceiv′er noun
• deceivingly de·ceiv′·ingly adverb
Deceive definition
Webster's New World College Dictionary
[ Qur'an verses
In the following Qur'an verses, Allah reveals to us that he is the "best deceiver".
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 Text/Transliteration 3:54
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 Text/Transliteration 7:99
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 Text/Transliteration 8:30
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 Text/Transliteration 10:21
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]
Qur'an Text/Transliteration 13:42
The word makir is always used disparagingly, and never in a positive context. It is often used to describe someone sly and dishonest. This is because of the way a makir deceives - they set out to cheat you by deception. It is highly inappropriate for Allah to use this word to describe himself; especially when two of his names are الحق (the truth) and الوكيل (the dependable).
Literal meaning of Makr
This section quotes numerous academic sources to study the meaning of Makr:
Miim-Kaf-Ra = To practice deceit or guile or circumvention, practice evasion or elusion, to plot, to excercise art or craft or cunning, act with policy, practice strategem.
makara vb. (1)
perf. act. 3:54, 3:54, 7:123, 13:42, 14:46, 16:26, 16:45, 27:50, 40:45, 71:22
impf. act. 6:123, 6:123, 6:124, 8:30, 8:30, 8:30, 10:21, 12:102, 16:127, 27:70, 35:10
n.vb. 7:99, 7:99, 7:123, 10:21, 10:21, 12:31, 13:33, 13:42, 14:46, 14:46, 14:46, 27:50, 27:50, 27:51, 34:33, 35:10, 35:43, 35:43, 71:22
pcple. act. 3:54, 8:30
LL, V7, p: 256
Lane's Lexicon: "Miim"
For more detail, see Lane-Lexicon for Makr
Hans Wehr dictionary also confirms the meaning of the term:
