Exegesis of the saying of Allah the Exalted: “They deceive Allah and those who believe, but they do not deceive except themselves, and they do not perceive,” and the difference between deception and stratagem.

Then he said: And in a reading: Muqadha'ah is the intensive form of khada' (deception). Deception, stratagem, and plotting are all similar in meaning, and this definition covers them: reaching the point of causing the opponent to fall into a trap without him being aware. This is deception, and this stratagem is reaching the point of causing the opponent to fall into a trap without him being aware. This is the deception. When these people say, “If they say they are believers, we will profit,” they say “we will profit” because we deceived Muhammad and his companions. But in reality, did they deceive the Messenger and his companions? They deceived Allah. For this reason, He said: And at the head of those who believe is the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). Allah the Exalted said: If someone asks, “What is the aspect of their deception of Allah and those who believe?” We say, the aspect of their deception is that when they display faith.