A common argument that is thrown by the critics of Islam is that the Quran describes Allah, the God of Islam, as being a deceiver. After making this point they ask that how can this then be the true God, after all, the true God cannot be a deceiver, as being a deceiver is a negative attribute. So let us explain this issue because once we analyze the context of the verses that describe Allah as being a deceiver, one will see that there is no problem. So let us start with the first verse that states:

Verily, the hypocrites seek to deceive Allaah, but it is He Who deceives them (4:142)

So in the above verse Allah is described as deceiving, he is deceiving the hypocrites. Now the verse alone already tells us a lot, the verse makes it very clear that Allah is deceiving the HYPOCRITES; he is deceiving the very same people who are trying to deceive him. Allah is not deceiving normal good upright people, the verse does not say that, rather the verse says that he is deceiving the hypocrites, and it is they who are trying to deceive God by pretending to be believers while inside they are not, they are playing a game to deceive the people and God. So in this verse we see there is no real problem, Allah is not deceiving good people, but rather he is working against bad people.

The next verse we read says the following:

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. (8:30)

So once again the context of the verse makes things very clear, there were a group of unbelievers who were plotting and planning against the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), they were planning and plotting many things, such as hurting the prophet, driving him out of the city, and worst of all to kill him. So as these unbelievers were planning and plotting to do all of these evil things, God, who is all-wise, was planning and plotting against them, to foil them and their evil. Now can one logically think that this is something bad? When the police force plan and plot against criminals who are planning and plotting to commit evil, do we condemn the police forces for that? Off course not, so therefore what is wrong with God who plots and plans against evil people who want to commit evil deeds? God was simply foiling the evil plans of evil people. God was not planning or plotting against good upstanding people, nowhere in the verse does it say that, rather, it makes it very clear that the ones who are being planned against are the evil ones.

The other verses that describe Allah as plotting/deceiving are all similar to the above verses I just mentioned. The context of the verses are clear, when Allah deceives, plans, and plots, he is doing this against bad people who want to do bad things. Allah is not doing this to good people. Allah only deceives in certain LIMITED contexts, it is not an absolute title or description of God, this term is ascribed to God in the context of dealing with bad people.

So in conclusion we must ask again, just what is wrong with God almighty planning and deceiving those who are planning against him? The same people who are trying to deceive him? As I stated earlier, do we condemn the police force if they plan and plot against evil people? We certainly do not, so why should we condemn the true God for plotting against bad people? God is not planning or trying to deceive good people; hence there is no case.

And Allah Knows Best!