Allah, the Best Deceiver (Qur'an 3:54) - Revision history

Asmith at 22:09, 19 February 2026

2026-02-19T22:09:30Z

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	The [[Qur'an]] states in several places that [[Allah]] is the best of ''l-mākirīna'', a word sometimes mildly translated as ''planners'', though also as ''schemers'' or ''plotters''. The Arabic word used here is "ماكر" "maakir", coming from the root m-k-r م-ك-ر, with the word ''Makr'' "مكر" primarily meaning to practice deceit, guile, or circumvention.<ref>Makr - [http://www.studyquran.org/LaneLexicon/Volume7/00000256.pdf Lane's Lexicon p. 2728]</ref> The Quran elsewhere tells believers to shun "lying speech" ({{Quran\|22\|30}}) and not to give false testimony ({{Quran\|25\|72}}), and further describes believers as "the truthful" ({{Quran\|3\|17}}). Similar exhortations to truthfulness are found in hadiths, with exceptions in the case of warfare or to bring reconciliation between parties. Much scholarly thought has been devoted to the resolution of this seeming discrepancy.		The [[Qur'an]] states in several places that [[Allah]] is the best of ''l-mākirīna'', a word sometimes mildly translated as ''planners'', though also as ''schemers'' or ''plotters''. The Arabic word used here is "ماكر" "maakir", coming from the root m-k-r م-ك-ر, with the word ''Makr'' "مكر" primarily meaning to practice deceit, guile, or circumvention.<ref>Makr - [http://www.studyquran.org/LaneLexicon/Volume7/00000256.pdf Lane's Lexicon p. 2728]</ref> The Quran elsewhere tells believers to shun "lying speech" ({{Quran\|22\|30}}) and not to give false testimony ({{Quran\|25\|72}}), and further describes believers as "the truthful" ({{Quran\|3\|17}}). Similar exhortations to truthfulness are found in hadiths, with exceptions in the case of warfare or to bring reconciliation between parties. Much scholarly thought has been devoted to the resolution of this seeming discrepancy.

Asmith: /* Hans Wehr */ fixing language

2026-02-19T22:09:18Z

Hans Wehr: fixing language

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	===Hans Wehr===		===Hans Wehr===

	The Hans Wehr dictionary is regarded as the standard scholarly dictionary of Arabic for English-speaking students and scholars of the language. It also confirms the meaning of the term:		The Hans Wehr dictionary is regarded as the standard scholarly dictionary of contemporary Arabic for English-speaking students and scholars of the language. It also confirms the meaning of the term:

	{{Quote\|[[:File:Hans Wehr dictionary - page 917.jpg\|Hans Wehr dictionary, page 917]]\|[[File:Hans Wehr dictionary - page 917.jpg\|300px]]}}		{{Quote\|[[:File:Hans Wehr dictionary - page 917.jpg\|Hans Wehr dictionary, page 917]]\|[[File:Hans Wehr dictionary - page 917.jpg\|300px]]}}
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	====Allah Created Christianity Through Deception====		====Allah Created Christianity Through Deception====

	Allah however, makes it clear in the Qur'an that Jesus was not crucified, but that Allah also made it appear ~~otherwis~~		Allah however, makes it clear in the Qur'an that Jesus was not crucified, but that Allah also made it appear otherwise.
	{{quote \| {{cite quran\|4\|157\|end=158\|style=ref}}\| And their saying: Surely we have killed the Messiah, Isa son of Marium, the messenger of Allah; and they did not kill him nor did they crucify him, '''but it appeared to them so (like Isa)''' and most surely those who differ therein are only in a doubt about it; they have no knowledge respecting it, but only follow a conjecture, and they killed him not for sure.		{{quote \| {{cite quran\|4\|157\|end=158\|style=ref}}\| And their saying: Surely we have killed the Messiah, Isa son of Marium, the messenger of Allah; and they did not kill him nor did they crucify him, '''but it appeared to them so (like Isa)''' and most surely those who differ therein are only in a doubt about it; they have no knowledge respecting it, but only follow a conjecture, and they killed him not for sure.

Zhothaqquah at 18:37, 11 December 2025

2025-12-11T18:37:23Z

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	The [[Qur'an]] states in several places that [[Allah]] is the best of ''l-mākirīna'', a word sometimes mildly translated as ''planners'', though also as ''schemers'' or ''plotters''. The Arabic word used here is "ماكر" "maakir", coming from the root m-k-r م-ك-ر, with the word ''Makr'' "مكر" primarily meaning to practice deceit, guile, or circumvention.<ref>Makr - [http://www.studyquran.org/LaneLexicon/Volume7/00000256.pdf Lane's Lexicon p. 2728]</ref> The Quran elsewhere tells believers to shun "lying speech" ({{Quran\|22\|30}}) and not to give false testimony ({{Quran\|25\|72}}), and further describes believers as "the truthful" ({{Quran\|3\|17}}). Similar exhortations to truthfulness are found in hadiths, with exceptions in the case of warfare or to bring reconciliation between parties. Much scholarly thought has been devoted to the resolution of this seeming discrepancy.		The [[Qur'an]] states in several places that [[Allah]] is the best of ''l-mākirīna'', a word sometimes mildly translated as ''planners'', though also as ''schemers'' or ''plotters''. The Arabic word used here is "ماكر" "maakir", coming from the root m-k-r م-ك-ر, with the word ''Makr'' "مكر" primarily meaning to practice deceit, guile, or circumvention.<ref>Makr - [http://www.studyquran.org/LaneLexicon/Volume7/00000256.pdf Lane's Lexicon p. 2728]</ref> The Quran elsewhere tells believers to shun "lying speech" ({{Quran\|22\|30}}) and not to give false testimony ({{Quran\|25\|72}}), and further describes believers as "the truthful" ({{Quran\|3\|17}}). Similar exhortations to truthfulness are found in hadiths, with exceptions in the case of warfare or to bring reconciliation between parties. Much scholarly thought has been devoted to the resolution of this seeming discrepancy.

Zhothaqquah: Revised language and removed argumentative material

2025-12-08T03:11:52Z

Revised language and removed argumentative material

Show changes

Asmith: /* See Also */

2025-09-24T01:52:12Z

CPO675: /* Responses to Apologetics */ Made a note of other Qur'anic verses stating and/or implying Allah deceives people as highlighted by Gabriel Reynolds in his 2020 book examining the nature of Allah in the Qur'an, citing the sub-chapter 'Divine Scheming' - giving further weight to the articles interpretation.

2025-09-17T22:03:48Z

Responses to Apologetics: Made a note of other Qur'anic verses stating and/or implying Allah deceives people as highlighted by Gabriel Reynolds in his 2020 book examining the nature of Allah in the Qur'an, citing the sub-chapter 'Divine Scheming' - giving further weight to the articles interpretation.

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	#'''''"According to the Quranic Arabic Corpus website, 'Makr' means 'Planner'"'''''<br>The Quranic Arabic Corpus website also claimed at one time that ''Idriboohunna'' in Qur'an 4:34 meant "[[Wife Beating in the Qur'an\|separate from them]]" (i.e. the husbands from their wives) rather than to "beat them" for the fear of disobedience. However, ''Idriboohunna'' (أضربوهن) means "beat them" (for female plural). ''Adriboo Anhunna'' (اضربوا عنهن) is the phrase that means abandon or leave them. They are completely different phrases with completely different meanings, and the attempts to mix up the two is only a modern development used by a few western Muslim apologists. To their credit, the website has acknowledged this error by now having corrected this blatant mistranslation, but they have also shown themselves to be an unreliable source concerning the Arabic language.<BR><BR>In any case, Edward William Lane's ''Arabic-English Lexicon'' (the most revered and scholarly dictionary of the Arabic language), ''Hans Wehr Dictionary of Modern Written Arabic'', and the ''Arabic Lexicon'' all disagree with the Quranic Arabic Corpus website's rendering of the word. And every single one of these sources are more reliable than that website. In addition to these reliable sources, there are Dr. Jamal Badawi and Shaykh Muhammad Saalih al-Munajjid who are both native Arabic speakers and respected individuals (in relation to issues concerning Islam). Although they may make excuses for the use of that particular word, they do both actually admit that makr means deceiver.		#'''''"According to the Quranic Arabic Corpus website, 'Makr' means 'Planner'"'''''<br>The Quranic Arabic Corpus website also claimed at one time that ''Idriboohunna'' in Qur'an 4:34 meant "[[Wife Beating in the Qur'an\|separate from them]]" (i.e. the husbands from their wives) rather than to "beat them" for the fear of disobedience. However, ''Idriboohunna'' (أضربوهن) means "beat them" (for female plural). ''Adriboo Anhunna'' (اضربوا عنهن) is the phrase that means abandon or leave them. They are completely different phrases with completely different meanings, and the attempts to mix up the two is only a modern development used by a few western Muslim apologists. To their credit, the website has acknowledged this error by now having corrected this blatant mistranslation, but they have also shown themselves to be an unreliable source concerning the Arabic language.<BR><BR>In any case, Edward William Lane's ''Arabic-English Lexicon'' (the most revered and scholarly dictionary of the Arabic language), ''Hans Wehr Dictionary of Modern Written Arabic'', and the ''Arabic Lexicon'' all disagree with the Quranic Arabic Corpus website's rendering of the word. And every single one of these sources are more reliable than that website. In addition to these reliable sources, there are Dr. Jamal Badawi and Shaykh Muhammad Saalih al-Munajjid who are both native Arabic speakers and respected individuals (in relation to issues concerning Islam). Although they may make excuses for the use of that particular word, they do both actually admit that makr means deceiver.

			== Other Qur'anic Divine Scheming verses ==
			Reynolds (2020) notes that despite the discomfort of later traditional Islamic commentators on the description of God as 'deceiving' or 'scheming', there are many terms and examples outside of the word 'makr' (and its variants) of Allah deceiving/scheming in the Qur'an,<ref>Reynolds, Gabriel Said. ''Allah: God in the Qur'an (Chapter 8: The Avenger. Divine Scheming. pp. 184-191).''Yale University Press. Kindle Edition.</ref> adding weight to this straightforward interpretation.{{Quote\|Reynolds, Gabriel Said. <i>Allah: God in the Qur'an (pp. 189-190).</i> Yale University Press. Kindle Edition. \|..Makr is not the only term used for divine trickery. Elsewhere in the Qur’an (7:182–83, 68:45, 86:15–16) Allah is associated with kayd, sometimes rendered as “devising.” In Q 7:183 God’s giving a respite to the unbelievers is described as a sort of kayd: “And I will grant them respite, for My devising (kaydi) is indeed sure.” This same term is associated also with the stratagems of unbelievers and opponents of the prophets: it is used for pagans (7:195), the brothers of Joseph (12:5), sneaky women in the Joseph story (12:28), and other unbelievers (20:64, 52:46, 77:39). <br>Other terms used to describe Allah’s trickery include khida‘ (4:142; elsewhere attributed to the unbelievers: 2:9, 8:62) and the Arabic verb aghwa. In Q 11:34 Noah declares to his opponents that God could lead them astray (yughwiyakum). Tellingly, Satan accuses God (perhaps rightly) of leading him astray on two occasions. In Q 7:16 Satan declares to God, “You have led me astray! (aghwaytani).” In Q 15:39 Satan says that because God has led him astray, he will lead others astray: “He said ‘O Lord, because you have led me astray (aghwaytani), I will surely glamorize [evil] for them on the earth, and I will surely lead all of them astray (la-ughwiyannahum).’” Muhammad Asad—clearly uncomfortable with the idea of a God who deceives—translates these two occurrences identically as “thou hast thwarted me.”..}}
	==See Also==		==See Also==

Lightyears at 13:49, 27 November 2023

2023-11-27T13:49:54Z

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	The [[Qur'an]] openly states many times that [[Allah]] is the best of ''l-mākirīna'', a word sometimes mildly translated as ''planners'', though also as ''schemers'' or ''plotters''. The Arabic word used here is "ماكر" "maakir", coming from the root m-k-r م-ك-ر, with the word ''Makr'' "مكر" primarily meaning to practice deceit or guile or circumvention.<ref>Makr - [http://www.studyquran.org/LaneLexicon/Volume7/00000256.pdf Lane's Lexicon p. 2728]</ref> Due to this definition, some critics consider it a highly inappropriate term for the Quran to describe Allah, particularly as the Quran elsewhere tells believers to shun lying speech ({{Quran\|22\|30}}), to not testify to falsehood ({{Quran\|25\|72}}), and describes them as the truthful ({{Quran\|3\|17}}). Similar exhortations to truthfulness are found in hadiths, with exceptions in the case of warfare, to facilitate the murder of one of Muhammad's enemies, or to bring reconciliation between parties (on a related note, one Quranic concept is commonly misrepresented in online discourse as if it were a general permission to lie about the faith, which is not the case, as explained in the article [[taqiyya]]).		The [[Qur'an]] openly states many times that [[Allah]] is the best of ''l-mākirīna'', a word sometimes mildly translated as ''planners'', though also as ''schemers'' or ''plotters''. The Arabic word used here is "ماكر" "maakir", coming from the root m-k-r م-ك-ر, with the word ''Makr'' "مكر" primarily meaning to practice deceit or guile or circumvention.<ref>Makr - [http://www.studyquran.org/LaneLexicon/Volume7/00000256.pdf Lane's Lexicon p. 2728]</ref> Due to this definition, some critics consider it a highly inappropriate term for the Quran to describe Allah, particularly as the Quran elsewhere tells believers to shun lying speech ({{Quran\|22\|30}}), to not testify to falsehood ({{Quran\|25\|72}}), and describes them as the truthful ({{Quran\|3\|17}}). Similar exhortations to truthfulness are found in hadiths, with exceptions in the case of warfare, to facilitate the murder of one of Muhammad's enemies, or to bring reconciliation between parties (on a related note, one Quranic concept is commonly misrepresented in online critical discourse as if it were a general permission to lie about the faith, which is not the case, as explained in the article [[taqiyya]]).

	==Introduction==		==Introduction==

Lightyears at 20:36, 26 November 2023

2023-11-26T20:36:42Z

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	The [[Qur'an]] openly states many times that [[Allah]] is the best of ''l-mākirīna'', a word sometimes mildly translated as ''planners'', though also as ''schemers'' or ''plotters''. The Arabic word used here is "ماكر" "maakir", coming from the root m-k-r م-ك-ر, with the word ''Makr'' "مكر" primarily meaning to practice deceit or guile or circumvention.<ref>Makr - [http://www.studyquran.org/LaneLexicon/Volume7/00000256.pdf Lane's Lexicon p. 2728]</ref> Due to this definition, some critics consider it a highly inappropriate term for the Quran to describe Allah, particularly as the Quran elsewhere tells believers to shun lying speech ({{Quran\|22\|30}}), to not testify to falsehood ({{Quran\|25\|72}}), and describes them as the truthful ({{Quran\|3\|17}}). Similar exhortations to truthfulness are found in hadiths, with ~~apparent~~ exceptions in the case of warfare, ~~assassinations and peacemaking~~ (on a related note, one Quranic concept is commonly misrepresented in online discourse as if it were a general permission to lie about the faith, which is not the case, as explained in the article [[taqiyya]]).		The [[Qur'an]] openly states many times that [[Allah]] is the best of ''l-mākirīna'', a word sometimes mildly translated as ''planners'', though also as ''schemers'' or ''plotters''. The Arabic word used here is "ماكر" "maakir", coming from the root m-k-r م-ك-ر, with the word ''Makr'' "مكر" primarily meaning to practice deceit or guile or circumvention.<ref>Makr - [http://www.studyquran.org/LaneLexicon/Volume7/00000256.pdf Lane's Lexicon p. 2728]</ref> Due to this definition, some critics consider it a highly inappropriate term for the Quran to describe Allah, particularly as the Quran elsewhere tells believers to shun lying speech ({{Quran\|22\|30}}), to not testify to falsehood ({{Quran\|25\|72}}), and describes them as the truthful ({{Quran\|3\|17}}). Similar exhortations to truthfulness are found in hadiths, with exceptions in the case of warfare, to facilitate the murder of one of Muhammad's enemies, or to bring reconciliation between parties (on a related note, one Quranic concept is commonly misrepresented in online discourse as if it were a general permission to lie about the faith, which is not the case, as explained in the article [[taqiyya]]).

	==Introduction==		==Introduction==

Lightyears at 20:15, 26 November 2023

2023-11-26T20:15:28Z

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	The [[Qur'an]] openly states many times that [[Allah]] is the best ''~~maakir~~'', a word sometimes mildly translated as ''~~planner~~'', though also as ''~~schemer~~''. The Arabic word used here is "ماكر" "maakir", coming from the root m-k-r م-ك-ر, with the word ''Makr'' "مكر" meaning to practice deceit or guile or circumvention~~, practice evasion or elusion, to plot, to exercise art or craft or cunning, act with policy, practice strategem~~.<ref>Makr - [http://www.studyquran.org/LaneLexicon/Volume7/00000256.pdf Lane's Lexicon p. 2728]</ref> Due to ~~the primary definitions~~, ~~many~~ critics consider ~~this~~ a highly inappropriate term for the Quran to describe Allah~~, theologically~~, particularly as the Quran elsewhere tells believers to shun lying speech ({{Quran\|22\|30}}), to not testify to falsehood ({{Quran\|25\|72}}), and describes them as the truthful ({{Quran\|3\|17}}). Similar exhortations to truthfulness are found in hadiths, with exceptions in the case of warfare, assassinations and peacemaking (note ~~that~~ one Quranic concept is ~~sometimes~~ misrepresented in online discourse as if it were a general permission to lie about the faith ~~- see~~ the article [[taqiyya]]).		The [[Qur'an]] openly states many times that [[Allah]] is the best of ''l-mākirīna'', a word sometimes mildly translated as ''planners'', though also as ''schemers'' or ''plotters''. The Arabic word used here is "ماكر" "maakir", coming from the root m-k-r م-ك-ر, with the word ''Makr'' "مكر" primarily meaning to practice deceit or guile or circumvention.<ref>Makr - [http://www.studyquran.org/LaneLexicon/Volume7/00000256.pdf Lane's Lexicon p. 2728]</ref> Due to this definition, some critics consider it a highly inappropriate term for the Quran to describe Allah, particularly as the Quran elsewhere tells believers to shun lying speech ({{Quran\|22\|30}}), to not testify to falsehood ({{Quran\|25\|72}}), and describes them as the truthful ({{Quran\|3\|17}}). Similar exhortations to truthfulness are found in hadiths, with apparent exceptions in the case of warfare, assassinations and peacemaking (on a related note, one Quranic concept is commonly misrepresented in online discourse as if it were a general permission to lie about the faith, which is not the case, as explained in the article [[taqiyya]]).

	==Introduction==		==Introduction==

	The Qur'an openly states many times that Allah is the '~~best deceiver~~'. The root word used in these verses is ''Makr'' which means ''deception''. The literal translations presented here, referenced from a Muslim website, make this very clear. However, the majority of Qur'anic translations [[Mistranslations of Islamic Scripture (English)\|erroneously translate]] this term; as can be seen in the following quotes and analysis.		The Qur'an openly states many times that Allah is the best of ''l-mākirīna''. The root word used in these verses is ''Makr'' which means deception, guile or circumvention. The literal translations presented here, referenced from a Muslim website, make this very clear. However, the majority of Qur'anic translations [[Mistranslations of Islamic Scripture (English)\|erroneously translate]] this term; as can be seen in the following quotes and analysis.

	Although there are many places in the Qur'an that use the same word (makir) in reference to Allah,<ref>[http://www.irreduciblefifth.force9.co.uk/burhan/b.x.311.htm Quran root browser - م ك ر - m-k-r]</ref> this article will focus only on the verses in which Allah describes himself as the 'best ~~deceiver'~~.		Although there are many places in the Qur'an that use the same word (makir) in reference to Allah,<ref>[http://www.irreduciblefifth.force9.co.uk/burhan/b.x.311.htm Quran root browser - م ك ر - m-k-r]</ref> this article will focus only on the verses in which Allah describes himself as the best of l-mākirīna.

	==Qur'an==		==Qur'an==

	In the following Qur'an verses, Allah ~~reveals~~ to us that he is ~~the "best deceiver"~~.		In the following Qur'an verses, Allah is said to be the best of l-mākirīna, is faster in makran, or that all l-makru is Allah's.

	===Qur'an 3:54===		===Qur'an 3:54===
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	Edward William Lane's Arabic-English Lexicon is the most revered and scholarly English dictionary of the Arabic language. From Lane's Lexicon p. 2728 (the full entry can be viewed [[:File:Makr Lane-Lexicon-page Vol 7-pg. 256.jpg\|here]] or [http://www.studyquran.org/LaneLexicon/Volume7/00000256.pdf here]):		Edward William Lane's Arabic-English Lexicon is the most revered and scholarly English dictionary of the Arabic language. From Lane's Lexicon p. 2728 (the full entry can be viewed [[:File:Makr Lane-Lexicon-page Vol 7-pg. 256.jpg\|here]] or [http://www.studyquran.org/LaneLexicon/Volume7/00000256.pdf here]):

	It is ~~summarized here~~ with a ~~concordance~~ of ~~occurances~~:		{{Quote\|1=[http://www.studyquran.org/LaneLexicon/Volume7/00000256.pdf Lane's Lexicon p. 2728]\|2=1. مَكَرَ, aor. مَكُرَ, (Msb, TA,) inf. n. مَكْرٌ; (S, A, Msb, K;) and ↓ امكر; (Msb;) He practised deceit, guile, or circumvention; or he practised deceit, guile, or circumvention, desiring to do to another a foul, an abominable, or an evil, action, clandestinely, or without his knowing whence it proceeded; syn. خَدَعَ; (Msb;) and of the inf. n. خَدِيعَةٌ: (S, A, K:) he practised an evasion or elusion, a shift, an artifice, or artful contrivance or device, a machination, a trick, a plot, a stratagem, or an expedient; he plotted; or he exercised art, craft, cunning, or skill, in the management or ordering of affairs, with excel-lent consideration or deliberation, and ability to manage according to his own free will; syn. of the inf. n. إِحْتِيَالٌ: (S, TA:) or to this explanation, conveyed by احتيال as the syn. of the inf. n., should be added secretly, or privately: (Lth, TA:) مَكْرٌ is praised or dispraised according to the nature of its object. (El-Basáir.) [For further explanation, see what follows.] It is trans. by means of بِ: and also, accord. to Z, by itself: (MF:) [but I know not any instance of its being trans. by itself: except as meaning he plotted a thing: see مَكْرَ السَّيِّئ in the Kur, xxxv. 41, cited voce سَيِّئٌ:] you say مَكَرَ بِهِ, (S, A, TA,) aor. and inf. n. as above, (S, TA,) meaning, He deceived, beguiled, or circumvented, him; or he deceived, beguiled, or circumvented, him, and desired to do him a foul, an abominable, or an evil, action, clandestinely, or without his knowing whence it proceeded: &c.: (S, A, TA:) syn. كَادَهُ: or it differs [somewhat] from كاده, accord. to Aboo-Hilál El-'Askeree: (TA:) some say, that مكر به signifies as above with the addition of feigning the contrary of his real intentions; which كاده does not imply: or this latter signifies “ he did him harm,” or “ mischief; ” and the former, he did him harm, or mischief, clandestinely. (MF, voce كاد.) See art. خدع. مَكَرَ also signifies He managed with thought, or consideration, or acted with policy, and practised stratagem, in war. (TA.) مَكَرَ اللّٰهُ and ↓ أَمْكَرَ are syn., (IKtt, Msb,) signifying, (tropical:) God recompensed, or requited, for مَكْر [or the practising deceit, &c.]: (Lth, * Msb, TA: *) or مَكْرُ اللّٰهِ signifies God's granting a man respite or delay, and enabling him to accomplish his worldly aims [so as to bring upon himself the punishment due to his evil actions]: (Er-Rághib, TA:) or, accord. to IAth, God's causing his trials to befall his enemies, exclusively of his friends: or his taking men by little and little, so that they do not reckon upon it, bestowing upon them renewed favours for acts of obedience which are imagined to be accepted whereas they are rejected. (TA.)<BR />

	~~{{Quote\|1=[http://www~~.~~studyquran.co.uk/14_MIIM.htm&date=2013-07-21 Lane's Lexicon - Miim]\|2='''Miim-Kaf-Ra''' = To practice~~ deceit or guile or circumvention, ~~practice evasion or elusion, to plot, to exercise art or craft or cunning, act with policy, practice strategem~~.		3. ماكرهُ He practised with him mutual deceit, guile, or circumvention; &c.; (A, * TA;) syn. خَادَعَهُ. (TA.)<BR />

	~~''makara'' vb~~. (1~~){{br}}~~		4. see 1, in two places.<BR />
	~~perf. act. 3:54, 3:54, 7:123, 13:42, 14:46, 16:26, 16:45, 27:50, 40:45, 71:22{{br}}~~
	~~impf. act. 6:123, 6:123, 6:124, 8:30, 8:30, 8:30, 10:21, 12:102, 16:127, 27:70, 35:10{{br}}~~
	~~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{{br}}~~
	~~pcple~~. ~~act. 3:54, 8:30~~

	[[:File:Makr Lane-Lexicon-page Vol 7-pg. 256.jpg\|~~LL, V7~~, p: ~~256~~]]}}		6. تماكروا They practised mutual deceit, guile, or circumvention; &c. (A, * TA.)<BR />

			مَكُورٌ: see مَاكِرٌ.<BR />
			مَكَّارٌ: see مَاكِرٌ.<BR />

			مَاكِرٌ (S, A, Msb, K) and ↓ مَكَّارٌ (S, A, K) and ↓ مَكُورٌ (K) epithets from مَكَرَ: (S, A, Msb, K:) [the first signifying Practising deceit, guile, or circumvention; &c.: and the second and third, practising the same much, or frequently; deceitful, guileful, artful, crafty, or cunning; a trickster, or crafty knave.]

			[[:File:Makr Lane-Lexicon-page Vol 7-pg. 256.jpg\|Lane's Lexicon, p: 2728]]}}

	===Hans Wehr===		===Hans Wehr===
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	==Inaccurate Translations==		==Inaccurate Translations==

	The following are the English translations of the selected verses. As mentioned above, makir is never used in a positive sense - it denotes a shifty, sly person who uses deception as a means to their ends.		The following are the English translations of the selected verses. As mentioned above, makir is never used in a positive sense - it denotes a shifty, sly person who uses deception as a means to their ends, even if the ends themselves may be viewed in either a favourable or unfavourable light.

	We see that most of the translators have taken makir (with one of its possible translations 'scheme') to mean 'a systematic plan of action', and have translated makir to mean 'planner~~' or 'plotter~~'. However this completely disregards the accepted connotations of the word and the context of the given verses. Makir does not mean planner. Just because makir can be translated as scheme, and scheme can mean plan/plot, this does not mean that you can translate makir as planner~~/plotter~~.		We see that most of the translators have taken makir (with one of its possible translations 'scheme') to mean 'a systematic plan of action', and have translated makir to mean 'planner'. However this completely disregards the accepted connotations of the word and the context of the given verses. Makir does not mean planner. Just because makir can be translated as scheme, and scheme can mean plan/plot, this does not mean that you can translate makir as planner.

	Since the same word is used for both the unbelievers and Allah, in most cases the translations have opted for the more benign (and incorrect) translation in order to avoid the difficult statements made by the Qur'an.		Since the same word is used for both the unbelievers and Allah, in most cases the translations have opted for the more benign (and incorrect) translation in order to avoid the difficult statements made by the Qur'an.

Lightyears: Important clarifications

2023-11-26T16:50:29Z

Important clarifications

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	The [[Qur'an]] openly states many times that [[Allah]] is the '~~best deceiver~~'. The Arabic word used here is "ماكر" "maakir", coming from the root m-k-r م-ك-ر, with the word ''Makr'' "مكر" meaning '~~'deception''~~.		The [[Qur'an]] openly states many times that [[Allah]] is the best ''maakir'', a word sometimes mildly translated as ''planner'', though also as ''schemer''. The Arabic word used here is "ماكر" "maakir", coming from the root m-k-r م-ك-ر, with the word ''Makr'' "مكر" meaning to practice deceit or guile or circumvention, practice evasion or elusion, to plot, to exercise art or craft or cunning, act with policy, practice strategem.<ref>Makr - [http://www.studyquran.org/LaneLexicon/Volume7/00000256.pdf Lane's Lexicon p. 2728]</ref> Due to the primary definitions, many critics consider this a highly inappropriate term for the Quran to describe Allah, theologically, particularly as the Quran elsewhere tells believers to shun lying speech ({{Quran\|22\|30}}), to not testify to falsehood ({{Quran\|25\|72}}), and describes them as the truthful ({{Quran\|3\|17}}). Similar exhortations to truthfulness are found in hadiths, with exceptions in the case of warfare, assassinations and peacemaking (note that one Quranic concept is sometimes misrepresented in online discourse as if it were a general permission to lie about the faith - see the article [[taqiyya]]).

	==Introduction==		==Introduction==

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	===Lane's Lexicon===		===Lane's Lexicon===

	Edward William Lane's Arabic-English Lexicon is the most revered and scholarly English dictionary of the Arabic language. From Lane's Lexicon (the full entry can be viewed [[:File:Makr Lane-Lexicon-page Vol 7-pg. 256.jpg\|here]]):		Edward William Lane's Arabic-English Lexicon is the most revered and scholarly English dictionary of the Arabic language. From Lane's Lexicon p. 2728 (the full entry can be viewed [[:File:Makr Lane-Lexicon-page Vol 7-pg. 256.jpg\|here]] or [http://www.studyquran.org/LaneLexicon/Volume7/00000256.pdf here]):

			It is summarized here with a concordance of occurances:

	{{Quote\|1=[~~{{Reference archive\|1=~~http://www.studyquran.co.uk/14_MIIM.htm\|2=2013-07-21}} Lane's Lexicon~~: "~~Miim"]\|2='''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.		{{Quote\|1=[http://www.studyquran.co.uk/14_MIIM.htm&date=2013-07-21 Lane's Lexicon - Miim]\|2='''Miim-Kaf-Ra''' = To practice deceit or guile or circumvention, practice evasion or elusion, to plot, to exercise art or craft or cunning, act with policy, practice strategem.

	''makara'' vb. (1){{br}}		''makara'' vb. (1){{br}}

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	The [[Qur'an]] states in several places that [[Allah]] is the best of ''l-mākirīna'', a word sometimes mildly translated as ''planners'', though also as ''schemers'' or ''plotters''. The Arabic word used here is "ماكر" "maakir", coming from the root m-k-r م-ك-ر, with the word ''Makr'' "مكر" primarily meaning to practice deceit, guile, or circumvention.<ref>Makr - [http://www.studyquran.org/LaneLexicon/Volume7/00000256.pdf Lane's Lexicon p. 2728]</ref> The Quran elsewhere tells believers to shun "lying speech" ({{Quran\|22\|30}}) and not to give false testimony ({{Quran\|25\|72}}), and further describes believers as "the truthful" ({{Quran\|3\|17}}). Similar exhortations to truthfulness are found in hadiths, with exceptions in the case of warfare or to bring reconciliation between parties. Much scholarly thought has been devoted to the resolution of this seeming discrepancy.		The [[Qur'an]] states in several places that [[Allah]] is the best of ''l-mākirīna'', a word sometimes mildly translated as ''planners'', though also as ''schemers'' or ''plotters''. The Arabic word used here is "ماكر" "maakir", coming from the root m-k-r م-ك-ر, with the word ''Makr'' "مكر" primarily meaning to practice deceit, guile, or circumvention.<ref>Makr - [http://www.studyquran.org/LaneLexicon/Volume7/00000256.pdf Lane's Lexicon p. 2728]</ref> The Quran elsewhere tells believers to shun "lying speech" ({{Quran\|22\|30}}) and not to give false testimony ({{Quran\|25\|72}}), and further describes believers as "the truthful" ({{Quran\|3\|17}}). Similar exhortations to truthfulness are found in hadiths, with exceptions in the case of warfare or to bring reconciliation between parties. Much scholarly thought has been devoted to the resolution of this seeming discrepancy.

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	[[File:Quran 3-54.png\|290px\|right\|thumb]]		[[File:Quran 3-54.png\|290px\|right\|thumb]]
	The [[Qur'an]] states in several places that [[Allah]] is the best of ''l-mākirīna'', a word sometimes mildly translated as ''planners'', though also as ''schemers'' or ''plotters''. The Arabic word used here is "ماكر" "maakir", coming from the root m-k-r م-ك-ر, with the word ''Makr'' "مكر" primarily meaning to practice deceit, guile, or circumvention.<ref>Makr - [http://www.studyquran.org/LaneLexicon/Volume7/00000256.pdf Lane's Lexicon p. 2728]</ref> The Quran elsewhere tells believers to shun "lying speech" ({{Quran\|22\|30}}) and not to give false testimony ({{Quran\|25\|72}}), and further describes believers as "the truthful" ({{Quran\|3\|17}}). Similar exhortations to truthfulness are found in hadiths, with exceptions in the case of warfare or to bring reconciliation between parties. Much scholarly thought has been devoted to the resolution of this seeming discrepancy.		The [[Qur'an]] states in several places that [[Allah]] is the best of ''l-mākirīna'', a word sometimes mildly translated as ''planners'', though also as ''schemers'' or ''plotters''. The Arabic word used here is "ماكر" "maakir", coming from the root m-k-r م-ك-ر, with the word ''Makr'' "مكر" primarily meaning to practice deceit, guile, or circumvention.<ref>Makr - [http://www.studyquran.org/LaneLexicon/Volume7/00000256.pdf Lane's Lexicon p. 2728]</ref> The Quran elsewhere tells believers to shun "lying speech" ({{Quran\|22\|30}}) and not to give false testimony ({{Quran\|25\|72}}), and further describes believers as "the truthful" ({{Quran\|3\|17}}). Similar exhortations to truthfulness are found in hadiths, with exceptions in the case of warfare or to bring reconciliation between parties. Much scholarly thought has been devoted to the resolution of this seeming discrepancy.

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	==See Also==		==See Also==

	{~~{Hub4\|~~Allah\|Allah}}		{Allah\|Allah}}

	~~{{Hub4\|Mistranslations of Islamic Scripture (English)\|Mistranslated Verses~~}}

	{{Translation-links-english\|[[Allah le meilleur trompeur\|French]]}}		{{Translation-links-english\|[[Allah le meilleur trompeur\|French]]}}