What is the meaning of the saying of Allah the Exalted: (And they plotted, and Allah plotted, and Allah is the best of plotters)?
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The questioner : What is the meaning of the saying of Allah the Exalted: [Ali 'Imran 3:54]?
The Shaykh : The meaning of this verse is that the leaders who disbelieved in 'Isa ibn Maryam (peace be upon him) from among the Children of Israel intended to kill and crucify him. So they came to him, but Allah the Exalted cast the likeness of 'Isa upon one of them and raised 'Isa to Himself in the sky. They killed this man upon whom the likeness of 'Isa was cast and crucified him, and they said:[An-Nisa 4:157] And Allah refuted their claim in His saying: [An-Nisa 4:157] So look at how the outcome of their plotting was when they came to 'Isa ibn Maryam (peace be upon him) to kill him, so Allah cast His likeness upon one of them, and they killed and crucified him, thinking that they had achieved their desire. This is from the plotting of Allah the Exalted against them.
And plotting (makr) is the trapping of an opponent where he does not expect it. And it, I mean plotting, is an attribute of praise when it is in its proper place and context. For this reason, Allah Mighty and Majestic mentions it, describing Himself with it, in contrast to those who plot against Allah and His messengers. Here He said:[Al-Anfal 8:30] So plotting is an attribute of praise in its proper place, because it indicates strength, greatness, encompassing the opponent, and the weakness of the opponent and his failure to perceive what his opponent intends for him. This is unlike betrayal, for betrayal is an attribute of blame absolutely. For this reason, Allah did not describe Himself with it, even in contrast to those who betrayed the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) or intended to betray him. And look at the saying of Allah the Exalted: [Al-Anfal 8:71] And He did not say: "So they betrayed Allah, and He betrayed them," but rather He said: [Al-Anfal 8:71].
And based on this, if someone were to ask: Is it permissible to describe Allah with plotting? The answer is that describing Allah with plotting in an absolute sense is not permissible. But describing Allah with plotting in its proper place, in contrast to those who plot against Him and His messengers, is permissible, because in this case it is an attribute of perfection.
And by this it is known that what is possible of attributes in relation to Allah Mighty and Majestic falls into three categories: a category that it is not permissible to describe Allah with absolutely, such as attributes of deficiency and defect, like weakness, fatigue, ignorance, and forgetfulness, and the like. Allah is not described with these in any case.
And a category with which Allah is described in every case: and that is what is an attribute of absolute perfection. And with that, Allah is not described except with what He has described Himself with.
And the third category of attributes: is what Allah is described with in one state but not another, and that is what is perfection in one state but not another. So Allah is described with it when it is perfection, and Allah is not described with it when it is deficiency. And that is like plotting, scheming, deception, and mockery, and the like.
And the disbelievers planned, but Allah planned. And Allah is the best of planners.
وَمَكَرُوا وَمَكَرَ اللَّهُ وَاللَّهُ خَيْرُ الْمَاكِرِينَThe Shaykh : The meaning of this verse is that the leaders who disbelieved in 'Isa ibn Maryam (peace be upon him) from among the Children of Israel intended to kill and crucify him. So they came to him, but Allah the Exalted cast the likeness of 'Isa upon one of them and raised 'Isa to Himself in the sky. They killed this man upon whom the likeness of 'Isa was cast and crucified him, and they said:
Indeed, we have killed the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, the messenger of Allah
إِنَّا قَتَلْنَا الْمَسِيحَ عِيسَى ابْنَ مَرْيَمَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِAnd they did not kill him, nor did they crucify him; but [another] was made to resemble him to them
وَمَا قَتَلُوهُ وَمَا صَلَبُوهُ وَلَكِنْ شُبِّهَ لَهُمْAnd plotting (makr) is the trapping of an opponent where he does not expect it. And it, I mean plotting, is an attribute of praise when it is in its proper place and context. For this reason, Allah Mighty and Majestic mentions it, describing Himself with it, in contrast to those who plot against Allah and His messengers. Here He said:
But they plan, and Allah plans. And Allah is the best of planners.
وَيَمْكُرُونَ وَيَمْكُرُ اللَّهُ وَاللَّهُ خَيْرُ الْمَاكِرِينَBut if they intend to betray you - then they have already betrayed Allah before, and He empowered [you] over them
وَإِنْ يُرِيدُوا خِيَانَتَكَ فَقَدْ خَانُوا اللَّهَ مِنْ قَبْلُ فَأَمْكَنَ مِنْهُمْthen they have already betrayed Allah before, and He empowered [you] over them. And Allah is Knowing and Wise.
فَقَدْ خَانُوا اللَّهَ مِنْ قَبْلُ فَأَمْكَنَ مِنْهُمْ وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌAnd based on this, if someone were to ask: Is it permissible to describe Allah with plotting? The answer is that describing Allah with plotting in an absolute sense is not permissible. But describing Allah with plotting in its proper place, in contrast to those who plot against Him and His messengers, is permissible, because in this case it is an attribute of perfection.
And by this it is known that what is possible of attributes in relation to Allah Mighty and Majestic falls into three categories: a category that it is not permissible to describe Allah with absolutely, such as attributes of deficiency and defect, like weakness, fatigue, ignorance, and forgetfulness, and the like. Allah is not described with these in any case.
And a category with which Allah is described in every case: and that is what is an attribute of absolute perfection. And with that, Allah is not described except with what He has described Himself with.
And the third category of attributes: is what Allah is described with in one state but not another, and that is what is perfection in one state but not another. So Allah is described with it when it is perfection, and Allah is not described with it when it is deficiency. And that is like plotting, scheming, deception, and mockery, and the like.