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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.