Deception in Islam

This word “schemer” (maakir) is a very strong word Deception in Islam which Wehr and Abdel-Nour define as “sly, cunning, June 2007 version wily”. The Arabic-Arabic unjid defines it with khuda`a which means exactly the same thing (by Bill Etymology of the Word Makara...... 1 Campbell in his book The Qur'an and the Bible in Interpretation of Sura 3:54...... 1 the Light of History and Science p.217-218). The Context of Sura 3:54...... 1 Muslim Applications of Sura 3:54...... 1 Interpretation of Sura 3:54 Mohammed Endorsing Lies in the Hadiths...... 2 Muslims Can “Dissolve Obligations”...... 3 The person who is a makir (same form as the word Allah Deceived the Jews, and His Deception of kafir) speaking of the attribute of a person is one who Christians Has Been Complete Ever Since...... 3 would outwit someone else to cause them harm. It Allah “Causes to Err”...... 3 speaks of one who would reveal the opposite of what But What Does the Bible Say?...... 3 he plans to do. The reality is that he is scheming evil Allah Deceives Even Muslims...... 4 for that person. So yes there is the sense of planning Do not Follow Wrong Parts of the Qur’an...... 4 and scheming but mostly it means to trick, outwit Will Allah Deceive You Too?...... 5 and deceive for the purpose of overpowering and Satan will Not Impersonate Mohammed – but why? 5 conquering the other. A makir is one who devises a Appendix : English Translations of Sura 3:54...... 5 secret scheme against someone else. Synonyms would be cheating, defrauding, double-crossing, “and [they] deceived and Allah deceived deceiving, tricking, in all cases makara has the sense and Allah is the best of deceivers” of defeating the one you have tricked. Sura 3:54 The Context of Sura 3:54 Sura 3:54 Arabic: Wa Makaru wa makara Allah wa Allah Amkaru al Makireen. The context of this story is very important. Sura 3 is regarded to be the great dialogue of Muhammad with Likewise the phrase of Allah “being the best the Christians. Al-Tabari says here that the deceit of deceiver”. kheir ol makarein, is also used of Allah in Allah applies to the time where the Jews wanted to Suras 8:30 and 10:21. Sura 10:21 says Allah is the kill Isa the son of Mary. In order not to be killed fastest in planning/deceit Allah put the appearance of Jesus’ face on someone else, who was crucified instead of Jesus. This is how Other references to the plotting/deceit/scheming of Allah had everybody, even Jesus get deceived. Allah are Sura 7:99; 27:50; 13:42; 14:46; 43:79; 86:15f.; 7:100; 4:142 Strikingly when it comes to the cross, the very central part of biblical teaching, Allah is called khayr Yet English translations of the Qur’an typically have ulmakirin the most deceitful. Some one a softer phrase, as Appendix I shows. So in these wants to conceal that he lost the battle on the cross! verses, specifically how should this word be more Here the true nature of Allah is revealed! accurately translated, and generally, what is the role of deception in Islam? Muslim Applications of Sura 3:54

Etymology of the Word Makara During the Second Gulf War, the Iraqi Information minister justified his false reports of Iraqi victories Sura 3:54 says that Allah makara. The Arabic word by quoting Sura 3:54, saying that “Allah was the best makara means to deceive, scheme, or plan. The of deceivers”. So this is how this Muslim applied this Arabic Bible in Genesis 3:1 uses the same word for word and this verse. Satan. However, the Vand Dyck and Jerusalem Bibles use the root word hayala. Around 686 A.D. Za’idah bin Qudamah saw the deceiving plot of another and quoted “God is the best of plotters” (Sura 3:54) al-Tabari vol.20 p.188 Muslim, Allah will hide (his sins) in this world and http://www.thereligionofpeace.com/Quran/011- the Hereafter. (1)” taqiyya.htm says that on the transmission on 9-11 flight 93, the hijackers told the passengers there was Footnote (1) by the translator says, "Another a bomb on board, but that everyone will be safe if translation of this is: if anyone provides some clothe their demands are met. That was certainly a lie, but to a Muslims to cover his private parts. Hadith No. were the 9-11 hijackers being hypocrites here? No, 2546 supports this translation." they were not, because the hadiths said they could practice deception in war. But again, until the “Narrated Jabir : The Prophet said, ‘Who is ready to hijackers took over the plane, the men, and even kill Ka’b bin Ashraf (i.e. a Jew).’ Muhammad bin women and children on board had no idea their Maslama replied, ‘Do you like me to kill him?’ The fellow passengers were at war with them. Prophet replied in the affirmative. Muhammad bin Maslama said, ‘Then allow me to say what I like.’ Now Muslim scholars do not say Muslims can lie [i.e. to lie]. The Prophet replied ‘I do (i.e. allow any time the want to, but rather they can lie to non- you).’” Bukhari vol.4 book 52 ch.159 no.271 p.168. Muslims for purposes of war, safety, and advancing al-Tabari vol.7 p.95 likewise reports Jabir saying Islam. This last reason may explain why some “We shall have to tell lies.” and Mohammed telling (though not the majority) of Muslims I have him “Say what you like.” corresponded with will say false things in order to try to advance Islam. Bukhari vol.3 book 45 ch.3 no.687 p.415 “Narrated Jabir bin ‘Abdullah Allah’s Apostle said, ‘Who On one hand, I have received the following from a would kill Ka’b bin Al-Ashraf as has harmed Allah Muslim: “Telling a layman lies in order to convert to and His Apostle? Muhammad bin Maslama (got up Islam is Ha’ram (unlawful) and condemned by Allah and) said, ‘I will kill him.’ So, Muhammad bin but a layman is responsible for seeking knowledge Maslama went to Ka’b and said, ‘I want a loan of independently as prophet Muhammad also said: ‘It is one or two Wasqs of foodgrains.’” After dickering mandatory for all Muslims both (Male and Female) over what to hold as mortgage, they agreed that to seek knowledge before worshipping Allah’ Hadith Muhammad bin Maslama would mortgage his Qurisiy. But we can tell lies to settle a dispute or weapons. So he promised him that he would come conflict, that’s lawful and rewarding. I studied from with his weapons next time.” Then Jabir returned, various roots.” when Ka’b bin Al-Ashraf was expecting him to come peacefully, and Jabir deceptively killed him. On the other hand, I have seen blatant lies told by some Muslims about Christianity. But when the The following also discuss the assassination of Ka’b factual error is pointed out, they keep those same bin Al-Ashraf, and their narratives all match. things on their web site; they neither correct or Bukhari vol.5 book 59 ch.14 no.369 p.248; Sahih address their error, nor explain why they think it is Muslim vol.3 book 17 ch.744 no.4436 p.990-991; not an error after all. Abu Dawud vol.2 book 9 ch.1015 no.2762 p.775; Abu Dawud vol.2 book 13 ch.1110 no.2994 p.850. Mohammed Endorsing Lies in the Hadiths al-Tabari vol.9 p.121 says this occurred between the battles of Badr and Uhud. Telling flattering lies to make peace is OK! “He who makes peace between the people by inventing good War is guile. Ibn-i-Majah vol.4 book 24 (Jihad) information or saying good things, is not a liar.” ch.27 no.2833 p.181. War is deceit according to Bukhari vol.3 book 49 ch.2 no.857 p.533. Bukhari vol.4 book 52 ch.157 no.268,269 p.167. The trouble with applying this in Ka’b bin Al-Ashraf is See also Ibn-i-Majah vol.4 book 20 ch.5 no.2544 p.6 that Ka’b had no idea Jabir was at war with him. Thus if a Muslim decides he is “at war” with you (an “Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported infidel), he can with a clear conscience lie to you that Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessing of Allah while you think he is your friend and he comes to be upon him) said, 'If one hides (the sins of) a borrow something from you. Muslims Can “Dissolve Obligations” But What Does the Bible Say?

Bukhari vol.7 book 67 ch.26 p.309 Mohammed said, Nowhere in the Bible does God lie, deceive, or create “By Allah, and Allah willing, if I take an oath and a delusion, though God can send a delusion. For later find something else better than that, then I do people like Pharaoh who hardened their own heart what is better and expiate my oath.” God hardens their heart too. For those who themselves exchanged the truth of God for the lie, in Sura 9:3 Allah and His Messenger Dissolve Romans 1:25-31, God gives them over to vile obligations with Pagans. passions. In 2 Thessalonians 2:10-11 for those who did not receive the love of the truth, God will send Sura 66:2a says “Allah has already ordained For you, them a strong delusion. So God did not create the the expiation of your oaths” delusion, but He deliberately sent it their way. You can read a detailed account of one case of this in 1 Allah Deceived the Jews, and His Kings 22:19-23. Deception of Christians Has Been Complete Ever Since For Muslims there might be a similar concept of either allowing non-believers to stay deceived, or letting non-believers be further misled. Sura 5:41 When Allah allegedly had only the appearance of says “If any one’s trial [of unbelief] is intended by Jesus die on the cross, that deceived the Jews who Allah, thou hast no authority in the least for him thought they had crucified him. Now if Allah really against Allah. For such-it is not Allah’s will to purify did plot this “great switcheroo”, you would have to their hearts.” agree the effect to extremely successful at not only completely deceiving all the Romans, and Jews, but Sura 74:31 “…Thus does Allah leave to stray Whom the followers of Jesus also. He pleaseth, and guide Whom He pleaseth; and none Can know the forces of thy Lord,…” www.MuslimHope.com/WhatEarlyChristiansTaught. htm gives almost 80 writers, prior to the Nicene However according to Islam Allah deceived even His Council in 325 A.D., who taught, and in many cases own followers in Jesus time. In the next section, died for, the belief that Jesus died on the cross and Allah personally deceives even his own Muslim rose from the dead. followers too.

Allah “Causes to Err” Here is how God and Satan handle lying in the Bible. God Satan Sura 40:32: “O my People! I fear a Day when there Does not lie (Num 23:19; 1 lies from the beginning will be mutual wailing. No one shall defend you Sam 15:29) (Gen 3:4) against Allah. Any whom Allah causes to err, there is Impossible for God to lie Father of lies (Jn 8:44) no guide. That is how Allah leads the skeptic astray.” (Heb 6:18) Does not tempt (Jms 1:13) Tempts (Mt 4:1-10) Is Light (Jn 1:8; 1 Jn 1:5) Transforms himself into an Sura 40:32 says that Allah leads the skeptic astray. angel of light (2 Cor 11:14) The context of this is going to Paradise or Hell. So if Angels are his servants servants masquerade as a person bound for Hell is believing idols, if Allah (Heb 1:5) servants of righteousness a) Angry with them because they are not believing (2 Cor 11:15) what they are supposed to b) Happy that they are believing what they are The Bible warns us not to believe every spirit but to supposed to believe, because Allah led them to test the spirits (1 John 4:1) and to beware of false believe that. prophets (Matthew7:15). If a Muslim answers “a” (like they usually will), then why is Allah angry with people who followed where So how can someone tell if they are mistakenly He led them? following a spirit that lies? Allah Deceives Even Muslims So, despite what Muslims today might say, Bukhari says that Allah will have a true physical form in “...and then only this nation (i.e., Muslims) will Heaven, and Allah himself will also appear to remain, including their hypocrites. Allah will come Muslims in a false physical form, as sort of a to them in a shape other than they know and will say, temptation to them. ‘I am your Lord.’ They will say, ‘We seek refuge with Allah from you. This is our place; (we will not In contrast, James 1:13 says, “When tempted, no one follow you) till our Lord comes to us, and when our should say, ‘God is tempting me.’ For God cannot be Lord comes to us, we will recognise Him.’ Then tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone.” Allah will come to them in a shape they know and will say, ‘I am your Lord.’ They will say, (no doubt) Do not Follow Wrong Parts of the Qur’an You are our Lord,’ and they will follow Him.” Bukhari vol.8 book 76 ch.52 no.577 p.375. See also Bukhari vol.6 book 60 ch.9 no.8 p.10 “’Umar said, Sahih Muslim vol.1 book 1 ch.81 no.349 p.115. ‘Our best Qur’an reciter is Ubai and our best judge is ‘Ali; and in spite of this, we leave some of the Now one Muslim pointed out to me that the word statements of Ubai because Ubai says, ‘I do not leave “deceive” is not present in the quote, Allah did not anything that I have heard from Allah’s Apostle speak any lying words, and this occurs in Heaven, while Allah said, ‘What ever verse (Revelations) do not on earth. However, it is not required that the We abrogate or cause to be forgotten but We bring a word “deceive” be used to deceive people, as when better one or similar, to it … (2: 106)” Allah impersonated one who is not Allah. Those who believed Allah’s words when Allah chose to be in What do you think abrogated verses means? this false shape go to Hell. If this is not deception, a) Verses that are still in the Qur’an, but Muslims are then what is? We can all agree that this hadith not supposed to follow it? teaches that at a future time Allah will deliberately b) Verses that used to be in the [some say misrepresent himself to Muslims in a “shape other unalterable] Qur’an, but are no longer there anymore than they know”. c) We can find examples of both

What is Allah’s shape? I had not heard a Muslim say, It turns out that Muslim hadiths show us that c) is the until one Muslim told me Allah probably had a correct answer. humanoid shape. Here is what Bukhari vol.9 book 93 ch.24 no.532b p.396 tells us. “When there remain Example of a) Sura 73:2-3 is abrogated by Sura only those who used to worship Allah (Alone), both 73:20. Abu Dawud vol.1 book 2 ch.457 no.1299 the obedient ones and the mischievous ones, [and p.343 they will say] ‘and now we are waiting for our Lord.’ Then the Almighty will come to them in a shape An example of an abrogated tradition is that Mu’tah other than that which they saw the first time, and He (temporary marriage) for a short time such as a day will says, ‘I am your Lord,’ and they will say, ‘You or week, was allowed by Mohammed, but, according are not our Lord.’ And none will speak to Him then to Sunnis, later abrogated. However, Shi’ites believe but the Prophets, and then it will be said to them, ‘Do that was not abrogated. you know any sign by which you can recognize Him?’ They will say, ‘The Shin,’ and so Allah will Example of b) “Narrated Anas bin Malik: ... There then uncover His Shin whereupon every believer will was revealed about those who were killed at Bi’r- prostrate before Him and there will remain those who Ma’una a Qur’anic Verse we used to recite, but it used to prostrate before Him just for showing off and was cancelled later on. The verse was: ‘Inform our for gaining good reputation. These people will try to people that we have met our Lord. He is pleased with prostrate but their backs will be rigid like one piece us and He has made us pleased.’” Bukhari vol.4 book of a wood (and they will not be able to prostrate). 52 ch.19 no.69 p.53. This is not in any Qur’an today. Then the bridge will be laid across Hell,…” By the way, I hope nobody has tried to deceive you into thinking the Qur’an has not been changed, or that everything is to be followed. The Fihrist p.81-82 lists 18 books about the Abrogating and the Appendix : English Translations of Sura Abrogated in the Qur’an. Among Muslims scholars, 3:54 the translator in Bukhari vol.6 footnote 1 p.506 mentions a special term for Qur’anic verses that have English translations of the Qur’an seem to conceal not been abrogated: muhkam, though other sources part of the true meaning. call them mohkam. Yusuf ‘Ali’s Translation of 3:54 “And (the Will Allah Deceive You Too? unbelievers) Plotted and planned, And Allah too planned, And the best of planners Is Allah.” One Answer from Islam: You had better not ask too many questions. Arberry’s translation of Sura 3 between 45 and 50: “and they devised, and God devised, and God is Bukhari vol.2 book 24 ch.52 no.555 p.323 “I heard the best of devisers” the Prophet saying, ‘Allah has hated for you three things: - … And asking too many question…” Malik’s Translation of 3:54: “The unbelievers among the children of Israel plotted against Isa and Sura 5:101 “Believers! Do not ask questions about Allah also devised a plan to raise him up, and Allah things which if made plain and declared to you, may is the best in planning.” vex you, causing you trouble.” J.M. Modwell’s translation of Sura 3 between 40 Sura 5:102 “Some people before you did ask such and 50: “And the Jews plotted, and God plotted: But questions, and on that account they lost their faith of those who plot God is the best.” and became disbelievers.” Pickthall’s translation of 3:54: “And they (the Satan will Not Impersonate Mohammed – disbelievers) schemed, and Allah schemed (against but why? them); and Allah is the best of schemers.”

So even though Allah could come in a deceiving (translated by Maulawi Sher Ali, an Ahmaddiyya) shape, and ghulat Muslims might be deceived in “And they planned, and Allah also planned; and worshipping the wrong Allah, thinking that ‘Ali and Allah is the Best of planners.” Mohammed are divine and parts of Allah, the hadiths say Satan cannot impersonate Mohammed. Yusef Ali, in his version of the Qu’ran, says that makara can be “good or bad”, positive or negative. “... and whoever sees me [Mohammed] in a dream, (p.156, footnote 393 on Sura 3:54) he surely sees me, for Satan cannot impersonate me (appear in my figure). And whoever intentionally In Farsi, the words, makr and makar are from the ascribes something to me falsely, he will surely take Arabic, and it apparently is always negative. his place in the (Hell) Fire.” Bukhari vol.8 book 73 ch.109 no.217 p.139-140. (also Sahih Muslim vol.4 Translations of the Qur’an are taken from Yusuf book 27 ch.948 no.5635-5639 p.1225-1226) Ali’s revised translation.

One answer I have never heard (yet) from a Muslim, is why Muslims think God will chooses to appear in a deceiving, people can be deceived in worshipping a false impersonation of God, yet Satan will never impersonate Mohammed.

To answer that question for me, or for more info contact www.MuslimHope.com