Trickster God

6:45 PM | BY ZeroDivide EDIT

Question

Makr or makir

Is Allah Subhanahu wa ta'ala referred to in Quran 3:54 and Quran 8:30 as "the best of planners" or "best of deceivers"? I'm debating a christian and they say it should be translated best of deceivers not planners. Is this true? What does it mean that Allah Subhanahu wa ta'ala deceives others when he is the truth? Christians argue that the God of the bible doesn't personally deceive others, and instead has demons or angels deceive on his behalf. How do we as muslims respond to these common arguments against Islam? Jaz?k All?hu Khayran

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) is His slave and Messenger.

The trait of Makr (translated as plotting, planning, or deceiving) is not a dispraised trait in all contexts; rather, it is dispraised only when directed against someone who does not deserve it. Ibn Al-Qayyim  may  Allaah  have  mercy  upon  him said in his book I‘laam Al-Muwaqqi‘een: "Makr is defined as causing something to others in a hidden manner, and it also conveys the meanings of plotting and deceit. However, it is of two types: blameworthy Makr, which means causing harm to someone who does not deserve it, and praiseworthy Makr, which means causing harm to someone who deserves it as a punishment. The first type is dispraised, and the second is praised. What is attributable to Allah, The Exalted, is the praiseworthy Makr, which is indicative of His justice and wisdom. He punishes and destroys the oppressors and transgressors whence they never expected it, unlike blameworthy Makr, which is practiced by the unjust oppressors against His slaves." [End of quote]

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen  may  Allaah  have  mercy  upon  him said: "These qualities are indicative of perfection when they counter the opponents’ evil schemes with their like, because they point to the doer’s strength, and his being superior to his enemy, and the ability to overcome him and counter his evil acts with their like or even more severe acts. They are indicative of imperfection in any other context. This is why Allah, The Almighty, never attributes such qualities to Himself in their absolute or broader sense. Rather, He only attributes Makr to Himself to mean a counterplot to frustrate the evil plots of those scheming against Him and His messengers  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ). For instance, He Says (what means):

• {And the disbelievers planned, but Allah planned. And Allah is the best of planners.} [Quran 3:54]

• {Indeed, they are planning a plan, But I am planning a plan.} [Quran 86:15-16]

• {But those who deny Our signs – We will progressively lead them [to destruction] from where they do not know.} [Quran 7:182]

• {Indeed, the hypocrites [think to] deceive Allah, but He is deceiving them.} [Quran 4:142]

• {… they say, “We believe,” but when they are alone with their evil ones, they say, “Indeed, we are with you; we were only mockers.” [But] Allah mocks them…} [Quran 2:14-15]

This is why Allah does not state that He betrayed those who betrayed Him. He Says (what means): {But if they intend to betray you – then they have already betrayed Allah before, and He empowered [you] over them. And Allah is Knowing and Wise.} [Quran 8:71] The term used was: "He empowered [you] over them," not, "He betrayed them" because betrayal means violation of trust, and it is an absolutely blameworthy quality in all contexts." [End of quote]

Finally, we would like to alert you, dear brother, to an important matter; if you do not have adequate religious knowledge to refute the misconceptions and malicious allegations raised by the enemies of Islam, then you should not read about such misconceptions and malicious allegations and rather distance yourself from them completely lest something thereof settles in your heart and it would be difficult for you to get rid of them later on. The texts of the Sharee‘ah indicate that the Muslims are urged to avoid misconceptions and to distance themselves from them for fear of getting affected by them. The Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) said in an authentic Hadeeth: "Let him who hears of the Dajjaal (Antichrist) go far from him, for I swear by Allah that a man will come to him thinking himself to be a believer and end up following him because of the misconceptions he (the Dajjaal) would rouse in him." [Abu Daawood]

Allah Knows best.


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).

SAHIH INTERNATIONAL
And those before them had plotted, but to Allah belongs the plan entirely. He knows what every soul earns, and the disbelievers will know for whom is the final home.

YUSUF ALI
Those before them did (also) devise plots; but in all things the master-planning is Allah’s He knoweth the doings of every soul: and soon will the Unbelievers know who gets home in the end.

ABUL ALA MAUDUDI
Those who lived before them also devised many a plot, but the master plot rests with Allah. He knows what everyone does. The deniers of the truth will soon come to know whose end is good.

MUHSIN KHAN
And verily, those before them did devise plots, but all planning is Allah’s. He knows what every person earns, and the disbelievers will know who gets the good end (final destination).

PICKTHALL
Those who were before them plotted; but all plotting is Allah’s. He knoweth that which each soul earneth. The disbelievers will come to know for whom will be the sequel of the (heavenly) Home.

DR. GHALI
And the ones who were even before them already schemed. Yet to Allah is the scheming altogether. He knows whatever every self earns, and the steadfast disbelievers will soon know to whom will be the (Ultimate) Outcome of the Residence!

ABDEL HALEEM
Those before them also schemed, but the overall scheme belongs to God: He knows what each soul does. In the end, the disbelievers will find out who will have the excellent home.

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.

SAHIH INTERNATIONAL
And when We give the people a taste of mercy after adversity has touched them, at once they conspire against Our verses. Say, “Allah is swifter in strategy.” Indeed, Our messengers record that which you conspire

YUSUF ALI
When We make mankind taste of some mercy after adversity hath touched them, behold! they take to plotting against Our Signs! Say: “Swifter to plan is Allah!” Verily, Our messengers record all the plots that ye make!

ABUL ALA MAUDUDI
No sooner than We bestow mercy on a people after hardship has hit them than they begin to scheme against Our signs. Tell them: ‘Allah is swifter in scheming. Our angels are recording all your intriguing.

MUHSIN KHAN
And when We let mankind taste of mercy after some adversity has afflicted them, behold! They take to plotting against Our Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.)! Say: “Allah is more Swift in planning!” Certainly, Our Messengers (angels) record all of that which you plot.

PICKTHALL
And when We cause mankind to taste of mercy after some adversity which had afflicted them, behold! they have some plot against Our revelations. Say: Allah is more swift in plotting. Lo! Our messengers write down that which ye plot.

DR. GHALI
And when We cause mankind to taste mercy even after tribulation has touched them, only then do they have a scheming against Our signs; Say, ” Allah is swifter at scheming; surely Our Messengers are writing down whatever you are scheming.”

ABDEL HALEEM
No sooner do We let people taste some mercy after some hardship has afflicted them, than they begin to scheme against Our revelations. Say, ‘God schemes even faster.’ Our messengersrecord all your scheming.

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.

SAHIH INTERNATIONAL
And [remember, O Muhammad], when those who disbelieved plotted against you to restrain you or kill you or evict you [from Makkah]. But they plan, and Allah plans. And Allah is the best of planners.

YUSUF ALI
Remember how the Unbelievers plotted against thee, to keep thee in bonds, or slay thee, or get thee out (of thy home). They plot and plan, and Allah too plans; but the best of planners is Allah.

ABUL ALA MAUDUDI
And recall how those who disbelieved schemed against you to take you captive, or kill you, or drive you away. They schemed and Allah did also scheme. Allah is the best of those who scheme.

MUHSIN KHAN
And (remember) when the disbelievers plotted against you (O Muhammad SAW) to imprison you, or to kill you, or to get you out (from your home, i.e. Makkah); they were plotting and Allah too was planning, and Allah is the Best of the planners.

PICKTHALL
And when those who disbelieve plot against thee (O Muhammad) to wound thee fatally, or to kill thee or to drive thee forth; they plot, but Allah (also) plotteth; and Allah is the best of plotters.

DR. GHALI
And as the ones who have disbelieved were scheming to confine you, or kill you, or to drive you out, and they were scheming, and Allah was scheming; and Allah is The Most Charitable of schemers.

ABDEL HALEEM
Remember [Prophet] when the disbelievers plotted to take you captive, kill, or expel you. They schemed and so did God: He is the best of schemers.

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.[4]

SAHIH INTERNATIONAL
Then did they feel secure from the plan of Allah? But no one feels secure from the plan of Allah except the losing people.

YUSUF ALI
Did they then feel secure against the plan of Allah?- but no one can feel secure from the Plan of Allah, except those (doomed) to ruin!

ABUL ALA MAUDUDI
Do they feel secure against the design of Allah None can feel secure against the design of Allah except the utter losers.

MUHSIN KHAN
Did they then feel secure against the Plan of Allah. None feels secure from the Plan of Allah except the people who are the losers.

PICKTHALL
Are they then secure from Allah’s scheme? None deemeth himself secure from Allah’s scheme save folk that perish.

DR. GHALI
So, do they feel secure against the scheming of Allah? Then none feels secure against the scheming of Allah except the people (who) are the losers.

ABDEL HALEEM
Do they feel secure against God’s plan? Only the losers feel secure against God’s plan.

Qur'an 3:54

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.[3]

SAHIH INTERNATIONAL
And the disbelievers planned, but Allah planned. And Allah is the best of planners.

YUSUF ALI
And (the unbelievers) plotted and planned, and Allah too planned, and the best of planners is Allah.

ABUL ALA MAUDUDI
Then they schemed (against the Messiah), and Allah countered their schemes by schemes of His own. Allah is the best of schemers.

MUHSIN KHAN
And they (disbelievers) plotted [to kill ‘Iesa (Jesus)], and Allah planned too. And Allah is the Best of the planners.

PICKTHALL
And they (the disbelievers) schemed, and Allah schemed (against them): and Allah is the best of schemers.

DR. GHALI
And they schemed, and Allah schemed, and Allah is The Most Charitable of schemers.

ABDEL HALEEM
The [disbelievers] schemed but God also schemed; God is the Best of Schemers.

MUHAMMAD JUNAGARHI
اور کافروں نے مکر کیا اور اللہ تعالیٰ نے بھی (مکر) خفیہ تدبیر کی اور اللہ تعالیٰ سب خفیہ تدبیر کرنے والوں سے بہتر ہے