What is the interpretation of the saying of Allah the Exalted: "And they plot, and Allah plots, and Allah is the best of plotters"?

The questioner : A questioner says: The saying of Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He: How do we understand this verse, O honorable Shaykh?

The Shaykh : Yes, we understand it as Allah intended: they plot, and Allah plots. Plotting is tripping up the opponent by hidden means. It is causing your opponent to fall by hidden means that he is not aware of. This is the plotting of these plotters who plotted against the messengers (peace be upon them). And Allah, the Exalted, is more severe in plotting and greater. In the context of opposition, plotting is considered a quality of strength and perfection. Therefore, it is not permissible to say that Allah is a plotter. But it is permissible to say: "They plot, and Allah plots." Let me give you an example: Quraysh plotted against the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family). So Allah plotted against them. Listen: . Three opinions came together among Quraysh regarding what to do with this Prophet. They gathered and proposed three opinions: imprisonment, killing, and expulsion. Imprisonment means confinement. Confine him with shackles so he does not go out. This is the confinement. Killing is well known. Expulsion from the country is banishment. They agreed to gather a strong, robust young man from every Arab tribe, give him a sharp sword, and then strike Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) with the blow of a single man. And then his blood would be dispersed among the tribes, so Banu Hashim would not be able to kill from every tribe. After this, what would they resort to? If they were unable to kill him, they would return to what? To blood money. And this is what Quraysh wanted. But if they plotted this plot, Allah plotted against them. They gathered at the door of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) to kill him when he came out. But he (peace be upon him) did not allow them to do so. He went out before that. It is said that he went out while they were sitting, and he began to throw dust on their heads. And he recited: . So the plotting of Allah, Mighty and Majestic, is true in opposition to what? Answer, O brothers. In opposition to the plotting of His enemies. . And there are many such things: qualities that indicate strength in opposition to enemies. As for plotting in an absolute sense, by saying that Allah is a plotter, this is forbidden. Here is a point: Is Allah described as deceptive? . It is the same as plotting. Is Allah described as treacherous? No. Therefore, Allah, Mighty and Majestic, said: . And He did not say "so they betrayed them," because treachery is betrayal of another in a place of trust. And this is a quality of deficiency, unlike plotting and deception, which in their place are qualities of perfection. It is mentioned that 'Ali ibn Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him) wanted to duel 'Amr ibn Wad. 'Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) is known for bravery and strength, so this man came out to duel him. This is a practice used by fighters: they bring out their strongest and bravest man to face his counterpart on the other side. If one of them kills the other, his people are humiliated, meaning the people of the one who was killed. When 'Amr ibn Wad came out to kill 'Ali ibn Abi Talib, 'Ali called out to him. He called out to him and said: "I did not come out to duel two men." What was the deception? The man turned around. He thought someone had caught up with him. When he turned around, striking his neck became easy. So 'Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) struck his neck and killed him. Is this deception permissible or not? It is permissible without doubt, because this man was a duelist who came out to kill 'Ali (may Allah be pleased with him). So 'Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) wanted to show that he was better than him. In any case, the Lord, Mighty and Majestic, is not described as plotting, deceptive, or mocking except in a position of strength. And He is never described as treacherous. And by this we know that the saying of the common people: "Allah betrays the one who betrays" is forbidden. And it is not permissible. Yes.

The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.