The Deceiver in the Qur’an
Not very uplifting, but very clear. Who is the greatest deceiver?
Sūrah 3:54 – آل عمران
وَمَكَرُوا وَمَكَرَ اللَّهُ ۖ وَاللَّهُ خَيْرُ الْمَاكِرِينَ
Translation: And they devised plans, but Allah also devised plans, and Allah is the best of schemers.
Important words:
مَكَرَ (makara) = he deceived;
الْمَاكِرِينَ (al-mākirīn) = the schemers;
خَيْرُ (khayru) = the best of.
Sūrah 4:142 – النساء
إِنَّ الْمُنَافِقِينَ يُخَادِعُونَ اللَّهَ وَهُوَ خَادِعُهُمْ
Translation: Indeed, the hypocrites try to deceive Allah, but He is their deceiver.
Important words:
يُخَادِعُونَ (yukhādiʿūna) = they try to deceive;
خَادِعُhُمْ (khādiʿuhum) = their deceiver.
Sūrah 7:99 – الأعراف
أَفَأَمِنُوا مَكْرَ اللَّهِ ۚ فَلَا يَأْمَنُ مَكْرَ اللَّهِ إِلَّا الْقَوْمُ الْخَاسِرُونَ
Translation: Do they feel secure from the deception of Allah? No one feels secure from the deception of Allah except the losers.
Important words:
مَكْرَ (makr) = deception;
الْخَاسِرُونَ (al-khāsirūn) = the losers.
Sūrah 8:43 – الأنفال
إِذْ يُرِيكَهُمُ اللَّهُ فِي مَنَامِكَ قَلِيلًا
Translation: When Allah showed them to you in your dream as few.
Important words:
يُرِيكَ (yurīka) = He showed you;
قَلِيلًا (qalīlan) = few.
Sūrah 13:42 – الرعد
وَقَدْ مَكَرَ الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ ۖ فَلِلَّهِ الْمَكْرُ جَمِيعًا
Translation: And those before them had devised plans, but to Allah belongs all planning.
Important words:
الْمَكْرُ (al-makru) = deception;
جَمِيعًا (jamīʿan) = altogether
Sūrah 10:21 – يونس
إِنَّ رُسُلَنَا يَكْتُبُونَ مَا تَمْكُرُونَ
Translation: Indeed, Our messengers record what you are plotting.
Important word:
تَمْكُرُونَ (tamkurūna) = you are deceiving (verb form of makr).
Sūrah 27:50 – النمل
وَمَكَرُوا مَكْرًا وَمَكَرْنَا مَكْرًا وَهُم لَا يَشْعُرُونَ
Translation: And they plotted a plan, and We planned a plan, while they perceived not.
Important words:
مَكَرْنَا (makarnā) = We deceived;
مَكْرًا (makran) = a plan/deception.
Word List and Grammar
مَكَرَ (makara): verb, perfect tense, 3rd person singular – “he deceived” or “he devised a plan (of deception).”
مَكْر (makr): noun – “deception,” “plot,” “scheme” (negative meaning).
مَاكِر (mākir): active participle – “schemer,” “deceiver.”
خَدَعَ (khadaʿa): verb – “to intentionally deceive,” stronger negative than makr.
خَادِع (khādiʿ): active participle – “deceiver.”
خَدِيعَة (khadīʿa): noun – “deception,” “trap.
