Allah, the God of Grace and Mercy:

 

By Hussein Tirmizi

 

 

This is a response to an article by Sam Shamoun entitled, ?Allah, the Greatest Deceiver of them All', which is located here:

 

Answering-Islam.Org/Shamoun/Allah_Best_Deceiver.Htm

 

Through this article the reader will see the hypocrisy, lies, deception and inconsistency of Shamoun. At the end they will see that his entire article is a bunch of hogwash, which has no substance at all and will also see something even more awkward, which is that according to Sam Shamoun's own words he should be a Muslim. I do not intend to offend Shamoun by saying this, but every anti-Islamic article I have seen so far is filled with misquotes, verses taken out of context, lies, deception and hypocrisy. I started studying the Bible and the Holy Qur'an for about a year, and every single Islamophobe I have come across has so much inconsistency in their information.

 

Key:

 

(SAWW) = Sal Allahu-Aza-wa-Jala A'laihi Wa A'le Hi Wasalam (The Blessings of Allah, the Glorified, be upon him and his family and peace).

 

(AS) = A'laihi-Salam (Upon him be peace).

 

(AS₂) = A'laiha-Salam (Upon her be peace).

 

(AS₃) = A'laihimus-Salam (Upon them be peace)

 

(RA) = Radi Allahu-Aza-wa-Jala A'nhu (May Allah, the Glorified, be pleased with him).

 

(RA₂) = Radi Allahu-Aza-wa-Jala A'nha (May Allah, the Glorified, be pleased with her).

 

(RA₃) = Radi Allahu-Aza-wa-Jala A'nhum (May Allah, the Glorified, be pleased with them)

 

(SWT) = Subhana Huwa-ta'ala (Glory be to him).

 

All the quotes from the Holy Qur'an in this article are from the translation of Mohammad Habib Shakir, unless otherwise indicated, most commonly known as M.H Shakir or just Shakir, though no one can rely completely on any translations.

 

All quotes from the Bible in this response are from the King James Version (also known as KJV) of the Bible.

 

His article will be in black and my response in green, except for any links made by him or me:

 

He wrote:

The Quran describes Allah as the best deceiver there is, a liar who is not above using the same evil and wicked schemes of his opponents.

For example, the Quran calls Allah a makr, in fact the best makr there is:

But they (the Jews) were deceptive, and Allah was deceptive, for Allah is the best of deceivers (Wamakaroo wamakara Allahu waAllahu khayru al-makireena)! S. 3:54; cf. 8:30

Other texts that identify Allah as a makr include:

Are they then secure from Allah's deception (makra Allahi)? None deemeth himself secure from Allah's scheme (makra Allahi) save folk that perish. S. 7:99 Pickthall

So they schemed a scheme: and We schemed a scheme (Wamakaroo makran wamakarna makran), while they perceived not. S. 27:50

My Response:

The Holy Qur'an does not even use the word liar with Allah (SWT) nor does it say that Allah (SWT) deceives in any negative manner or uses wicked schemes. On the contrary, the Holy Qur'an shows us the true character of Allah (SWT), as the True One/The Truth, which is al-Haqq in Arabic, one of his beautiful names:

Then are they sent back to Allah, their Master, the True one; now surely His is the judgment and He is swiftest in taking account. (Surah al-Anam 6:62)

This is because Allah is the Truth and because He gives life to the dead and because He has power over all things. (Surah al-Hajj 22:6)

So exalted be Allah, the True King; no god is there but He, the Lord of the honorable dominion. (Surah al-Mu'minun 23:116)

On that day Allah will pay back to them in full their just reward, and they shall know that Allah is the evident Truth. (Surah an-Nur 24:25)

It is clear here that the character of Allah (SWT) is not what Shamoun claims it to be, but the real character of him is that he is al-Haqq, meaning he is the Truth. Deceiving, in a negative sense, or lying cannot be attributed to Allah (SWT), since indeed he is the Truth and the True one. It is not Allah (SWT) who deceives the accursed people who attempted to kill his Prophets, but it is they who deceived themselves. Allah (SWT) simply planned against their plans and deceived their wicked agendas, so that his Prophet would be safe from the wickedness of the ones who attempted to murder him, solely for believing and preaching the Message of Truth and peace, though all their attempts failed, because the plan of Allah (SWT) always prevails over the plans of wicked men.

Getting back to the topic, let's analyse the twisted information by Shamoun. He first quotes Surah Ale-Imran 3:54.

And they planned and Allah (also) planned, and Allah is the best of planners.

 

Before explaining the misconceptions of this Noble Verse, one should look at the context and see whom Allah (SWT) refers to when he says they planned. (Surah Ale-Imran 3:54)

 

They clearly refers to those who rejected Prophet Isa (AS), who is Jesus, when the verses before it:

 

But when Isa perceived unbelief on their part, he said who will be my helpers in Allah's way? The disciples said: We are helpers (in the way) of Allah: We believe in Allah and bear witness that we are submitting ones.

 

Our Lord! We believe in what Thou hast revealed and we follow the apostle, so write us down with those who bear witness.

 

And they planned and Allah (also) planned, and Allah is the best of planners. (Surah Ale-Imran 3:52-54)

 

We can see from verse 52 we can see that the ones who verse 54 refers to are those who refused to be the helpers of Prophet Isa (AS) and the ones on whom he perceived disbelief

 

Many people misinterpret this verse to say that Allah (SWT) is a deceiver and that the Arabic word used here, which is al-makireena, means deceiver.

 

This is a blatant lie, and this verse does not say that Allah (SWT) deceives. The Arabic word used there is al-makireena which has many meanings, such as to plot, to plan, to scheme, to deceive etc.

 

There is no translator who uses the word deceive including the non-Muslim translators because it is clear from the context of this verse that the disbelievers, who rejected Prophet Isa (AS), planned against him. However Allah (SWT) planned against them to save his Holy Messiah (AS) from death. Even if it is deceiving, it means that Allah (SWT) deceived them by saving his Messiah, though they believed they had killed him.

 

Let us also examine Surah al-Anfal 8:30:

 

And when those who disbelieved devised plans against you that they might confine you or slay you or drive you away; and they devised plans and Allah too had arranged a plan; and Allah is the best of planners. (Surah al-Anfal 8:30)

 

Firstly, it says that he plans against the disbelievers who plotted against the Holy Prophet Mohammad (SAWW) and Allah (SWT) also plotted and planned against them. There is nothing wrong or deceptive used here by Allah (SWT). In order to protect his Holy Prophet Mohammad (SAWW), he prevented the disbelievers plot. The answer is not very different to that of Surah Ale-Imran 3:54 and even if Allah (SWT) deceived the pagans, he did so by stopping the deceptive plans of the pagans. He deceived them because they expected to kill the Holy Prophet Mohammad (SAWW), but Allah (SWT) destroyed their plan, and he is indeed the best of planners.

 

In addition Shamoun cited Surah al-A'raf 7:99:

 

What! Do they then feel secure from Allah's plan? But none feels secure from Allah's plan except the people who shall perish. (Surah al-A'raf 7:99)

 

If one reads verse 94 from this verse up till 99, he/she will see that this refers to the people who rejected the Prophets that were sent to them and continued to disbelieve after Allah (SWT) continuously gave them chances. Then Allah (SWT) sent affliction to them, but later on gave them calm. But the next generation did not take example from what had happened to their predecessors and continued in their tyrannous lifestyle, rather than taking from just, divine teachings that Allah (SWT) gave them. What this verse is saying is that those very people who disbelieved did not heed the plan of Allah (SWT) to perish them. Verse 101 of this very same Surah, says that Messengers had come to them with clear proofs, and yet they had rejected these Messengers. Allah (SWT) says that because of that action, he sealed up their hearts, meaning that there was no light and no chance of salvation for them, because of their sinful deed in rejecting a Messenger of Allah (SWT) who came with clear proof and guidance for that community.

 

Let's take the assumption this verse says that the rejecters did not heed Allah's (SWT) deception. This means that Allah (SWT) had deceived their predecessors, because they had rejected the Messengers that came to them, by sending affliction to them. They had planned to deceive the Messengers sent to them, by killing them or perhaps by killing a miracle they brought [for instance the people of Prophet Salih (AS) had killed the she-camel, Allah (SWT) created from an inanimate rock as a miracles to them, which they demanded, yet even after this demand they were stubborn and disbelieved to the extent that they killed the she-camel] but Allah (SWT) planned against them. That is all it means, whether Allah (SWT) is saying deception or saying something else, like planning, plotting, scheming etc. All of these verses just show that Allah (SWT) was planning against those who had planned against his messengers and had rejected them.

 

Furthermore, he quoted Surah an-Naml 27:50, which reads:

 

And they planned a plan, and We planned a plan while they perceived not. (Surah an-Naml 27:50)

 

If this verse is read in context and not just read immediately, then any reader would know what Allah (SWT) is saying in this verse. Allah (SWT) says in verses 45-46 of this same Surah that Prophet Salih (AS) had asked his people to worship Allah (SWT). Some of them obeyed while others rejected the Message of Islam (Note Islam is the Message from all Messengers. In Arabic Islam means: ?submission' and refers to submission to the one-God, Allah (SWT) and belief in his Messengers. This message was sent to all Messengers, but it was people who deviated from the truth. Verse 47, says that the people had accused Prophet Salih (AS) of bringing bad luck to them, i.e. affliction was sent to them, because they had rejected Allah (SWT) but Prophet Salih (AS) replied that this evil fortune to them was from Allah (SWT), i.e. because they had rejected the Message of Islam and continued in their ignorant, unjust and filthy lifestyles and sick pagan beliefs. Verse 49, says that these people had planned to kill Prophet Salih (AS) but Allah (SWT) says in the next verse that they had planned, but he planned to, while they did not know. This means that they had planned to kill Prophet Salih (AS), with no knowledge that Allah (SWT) devised another plan, to save his Prophet from their sick treacherous behaviour. So, Allah (SWT) deceived these pagans, because they did not achieve what they wanted, which was to kill a Holy Prophet (AS), of such high morals, who came with guidance and truth. In verse 51, Allah (SWT) says that he wiped these people out because they were unjust and verse 52 says that this (i.e. this story) is a sign for people who know. What verse 52 is saying is that this story is a sign for those who have knowledge of what Allah (SWT) did to the people of old, who rejected Prophets and how he gave them an example to heed from, so that they would worship him and live in the lifestyle recommended by him, which was the most perfect and just system ever and there will by nothing greater than the law of Allah (SWT).

 

So whether the translation is deceive or not, either way the meaning is one, which is that Allah (SWT) saved his Prophets and his Messengers, by destroying the plans of those who had plotted to perform these hideous acts, without them knowing. In the end they were deceived, because their satanic agendas of killing Prophets and living in a filthy, sick, lifestyle was destroyed and Islam had prevailed.

 

If a wicked army of 10 000 people comes to destroy a peaceful town, of 100 people, with no defense and the men are killed from affliction by Allah (SWT), is that deception, in a negative sense?

 

No. It is to save innocent people. In the end the 10 000 people are deceived, but they are not deceived by Allah (SWT) but by their own actions. However, in the case of the Holy Qur'an innocent Messengers of Allah (SWT), who preached a perfect religion and lifestyle were persecuted for it, but Allah (SWT) forsook the wicked and saved his Prophets, leaving the accursed people deceived.

 

He wrote:

 

The word for deception/deceiver/scheme is makr. The lexical sources define the term as:

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 stratagem.

makara vb. (1)
perf. act. 3:54, 3:54, 7:123, 13:42, 14:46, 16:26, 16:45, 27:50, 40:45, 71:22
impf. act. 6:123, 6:123, 6:124, 8:30, 8:30, 8:30, 10:21, 12:102, 16:127, 27:70, 35:10
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
pcple. act. 3:54, 8:30

LL, V7, p: 256 (Source)

And:

He practised DECEIT, GUILE, or CIRCUMVENTION, desiring to do another a foul, an abominable, or an evil action, clandestinely or without his knowing whence it proceeded. (Lane's Arabic-English Lexicon; source)

My Response:

As said previously, whether the word makr means deception or not, the meaning is still the same. People, who had planned against the Messengers of Allah (SWT), did not succeed because Allah (SWT) had planned against them, which simply means that he had left them deceived and confused, as they did not achieve the filthy agenda they aimed for. It was them who chose to be deceived, because they did not obey the Messenger sent to them and devised plans against him.

He also quoted Lane's Arabic-English lexicon. However this is simply the interpretation of Edward William Lane and not the word of infallible word of Allah (SWT). Nevertheless, Allah (SWT) did do a foul and evil action against these people, by afflicting them, because of their sick actions. It would seem evil to do something foul to an innocent, however to do a foul action against someone guilty (especially a rejecter of a Prophet, who plans to kill him) is showing grace and mercy to the victims.

For instance, if a criminal burns down a building and 50 people die and 200 are injured, he has performed an extremely immoral and filthy deed and would be jailed for life or executed. An evil action would be committed against him, but it would not be an evil action, because it is simply punishing him for his sick and disgraceful act.

Also the people, whom Allah (SWT) had planned against, were indeed deceived, guiled and circumvented, meaning they were outsmarted and left deceived. They were stopped from their hideous action, because Allah (SWT) had planned against them and they were left deceived.

He wrote:

Lest Muslims accuse these lexicons of bias or distortion notice what Muslim scholar Dr. Mahmoud M. Ayoub says when he asks,

"how the word makr (scheming or plotting), which implies deceitfulness or dishonesty, could be attributed to God." (The Quran and Its Interpreters - The House of Imran [State University of New York Press [SUNY], Albany 1992], Volume II, p. 165; italic emphasis ours)

After listing several Muslim sources he quotes a renowned Muslim expositor named ar-Razi who wrote that,

"scheming (makr) is actually an act of deception aiming at causing evil. It is not possible to attribute deception to God. Thus the word is one of the muttashabihat [multivalent words of the Quran]." (Ibid., p. 166; italic emphasis ours)

My Response:

But I did not accuse Lane of bias or distortion. He is wrong in my opinion, but that does not mean he had purposely twisted the words around to make Islam look bad. However, even if he is right, his interpretation is still explained and it still does not prove anything evil from Allah (SWT), the Lord of Grace and Mercy.

Then Shamoun quoted Dr. Mahmoud M. Ayoub. Though he is a scholar in Islam, he is not infallible. There are mistakes in the works of men, but the only book that Muslims know is fully infallible, is the Holy Qur'an.

Again, even if Allah (SWT) is using dishonesty and deception, he is using it for a reason, which is against foul criminals, who rejected the Message, which came to them with clear proof and sought to kill his Prophets. In the end, the people are deceived by not achieving their satanic objective, i.e. to lead people astray and kill Prophets and Messengers. If Allah (SWT) is using dishonesty and Dr. Mahmoud Ayoub is right, then he is doing so because the people are expecting everything to go their way and for their plans to succeed, but Allah (SWT) uproots their plans, crushes their ambitions of killing Prophets and leading people astray and to hell and crushes them.

Also he says that Imam Fakhr ud-Din ar-Razi, denies that Allah (SWT) schemes. If scheming is in a negative sense, then of course, Allah (SWT) does not scheme, but he does scheme in a positive sense, by uprooting the evil plans of the disbelievers, who reject the Message and the Messenger sent to them, lead people astray and plan to kill the Holy Prophets of Allah (SWT).

He wrote:

Unfortunately for ar-Razi, the Quran attributes deception to Allah since it identifies him as the best makr there is.

Ayoub also sources one Muslim who actually boasted of Allah being the best conniver/deceiver/schemer etc.,

"Qurtubi observes that some scholars have considered the words ?best of schemers' to be one of God's beautiful names. Thus one would pray, ?O Best of Schemers, scheme for me!' Qurtubi also reports that the Prophet used to pray, ?O God, scheme for me, and do not scheme against me!' (Qurtubi, IV, pp. 98-99; cf. Zamakhshari, I, p. 366)." (Ibid., p. 166)

My Response:

Unfortunately for Shamoun, the Holy Qur'an does not allude to Allah (SWT) in any negative sense whatsoever, when it uses the word makr.

As said before it is a positive sense of scheming, because Allah (SWT) is crushing the wicked intentions of the disbelievers to destroy the Message sent to their community from Allah (SWT) and to kill his Holy Prophets, also sent by him.

?Best of schemers' is not a name of Allah (SWT) from his 99 names (Asma al-Husna), so this source from al-Qurtubi is clearly false.

The word makr refers to planning in this case, because it is impossible to scheme for someone. The word scheme in itself is something negative, but when it is done against those who have evil schemes, in order that their plans may fail, then it is positive. If the Holy Prophet Mohammad (SAWW) did pray to Allah (SWT), what Shamoun quoted, then he did not say scheme but said plan. The prayer would be from him to Allah (SWT) to plan for him, i.e. in his favour.

He wrote:

And here, also, is how one of the earliest sources on the life of Muhammad interpreted Q. 8:30:

Then he reminds the apostle of His favour towards him when the people plotted against him 'to kill him, or to wound him, or to drive him out; and they plotted and God plotted, and is the best of plotters.' i.e. I DECEIVED them with My firm GUILE so that I delivered you from them. (The Life of Muhammad: A Translation of Ibn Ishaq's Sirat Rasul Allah, with introduction and notes by Alfred Guillaume [Oxford University Press, Karachi, Tenth impression 1995], p. 323; capital emphasis ours)

My Response:

This has already been addressed previously. Clearly, Allah (SWT) had left the disbelievers, who planned to kill his Holiest Prophet and lead people astray, deceived and guiled. This was because of their stubbornness and wickedness as well as their evil ambitions. To deceive them and to guile them, simply meant to plan against their plans and to uproot them in order to save the Holiest and Greatest Prophet Mohammad (SAWW). This left them confused and deceived. Allah (SWT) deceived them indirectly, because they were left confused and had failed miserably at all of their sick attempts. Indeed the plan of Allah (SWT) prevails over all others. Indeed, Allah (SWT) delivered the Holy Prophet Mohammad (SAWW) from the oppression and wickedness of the pagans.

He wrote:

Thus, the Quran unashamedly calls Muhammad's god the best liar and deceiver of them all! It even dares to say that ALL deception belongs completely to Allah:

And verily, those before them did deceive/scheme (makara), but all deception/scheming is Allah's (falillahi al-makru). He knows what every person earns, and the disbelievers will know who gets the good end. S. 13:42

My Response:

Thus, we have seen that the Holy Qur'an never calls Allah (SWT) a liar. Shamoun adds his own false words into the verses of the Holy Qur'an. Indeed Allah (SWT) is al-Haqq, the Truth/the True one, as testified by the Holy Qur'an (Surah al-Anam 6:62, Surah al-Hajj 22:6, Surah al-Mu'minun 23:116 and Surah an-Nur 24:25).

Of course, Allah (SWT) is the best planner of them all, but nowhere does the verse say liar. People wickedly plan to kill the Prophets of Allah (SWT), so he uproots their plans and they are left bewildered and deceived, not by Allah (SWT), but by their own evil actions. The verse does not even use the word lie. Surely, this filth can never be attributed to Allah (SWT).

In the verse quoted by Shamoun, Surah ar-Ra'd 13:42; he does not use any translation, but places his own translation, which he believes to be correct.

The verses before this verse, from verse 36, should also be taken into context to analyse what Allah (SWT) is saying. The whole passage says that there are those among the people of the book, who rejoice at the revelation sent to the Holy Prophet Mohammad (SAWW), while there are others who deny a part of this revelation. Those who do not follow what has been revealed and follow their low desires shall have no guardian when Allah (SWT) will judge them. Allah (SWT) continues speaking about how there is nothing that can hinder his plans. Then he says that those before them did make plans but Allah (SWT) planned as well but Allah (SWT) plans all things. What this means is that, in the end, no matter how many of the wicked there are, no matter how smart they and no matter how well they plan their wicked actions, the plans of Allah (SWT) will always prevail.

This means that these people will try their best to destroy the message sent by Allah (SWT), but will always fail, because all planning is Allah's (SWT). As said before many times, these evil people are, in the end, deceived and bewildered, as their expectations never come to pass and their wicked plans never succeed.

He wrote:

In fact, the Quran states that Allah actually raises wicked individuals to deceive and scheme:

Even so have we placed in every city, ringleaders of its wicked ones, to scheme therein (liyamkuroo): but only against themselves shall they scheme (yamkuroona)! and they know it not. S. 6:123 Rodwell

My Response:

Shamoun has falsely said that Allah (SWT) ?raises' wicked individuals. Nowhere in this entire verse does it say that Allah (SWT) ?raises' anyone. Let us look at the verse quoted by Shamoun:

And thus have We made in every town the great ones to be its guilty ones, that they may plan therein; and they do not plan but against their own souls, and they do not perceive. (Surah al-Anam 6:123)

Shamoun just did me a favour by quoting this verse, because it proves all that I said previously and disproves his false claims of Allah (SWT) allegedly deceiving others, in a negative sense. It says that they plan against their own souls, meaning that in the end it is they who shall be the losers and they will end up in hell. Indeed Allah (SWT) does not make people wicked, so that they can be leaders and can scheme. What this verse is saying is that, in every town/community, Allah (SWT) places people, who are wicked, meaning they are wicked by their own nature, in towns, so that they may plan, i.e. they plan against the Holy Prophet Mohammad (SAWW) and the Message of Islam. The purpose of this is not to create mischief, as Allah (SWT) forbids his followers from making mischief on Earth (Surah al-A'raf 7:56) but I believe the purpose is to test the people of Mecca, whether they will observe the clear signs of Islam and the Holy Prophet Mohammad (SAWW) or follow their leaders who plan against Islam. Ismail ibn Kathir, Jalal ad-Din as-Suyuti, ibn Abbas (in the source Tanwir al-Miqbas Tafsir ibn Abbas, though the source was compiled long after ibn Abbas's death and may have some fallacy) and Jalal ad-Din al-Mihali agree that these people were wicked by their own nature and Allah (SWT) did not make them wicked, as falsely asserted by Shamoun.

As said previously, what the verse is actually saying is that in every town Allah (SWT) makes the leaders, people who plan, i.e. plan against Islam and the Holy Prophet Mohammad (SAWW), though they do not plan against anyone but themselves, because in the end they always lose. As said before, I believe that the reason Allah (SWT) does this is to test the people, whether they will follow the leaders, i.e. the easy and wicked path, or will follow the Holy Prophet Mohammad (SAWW), whose path was difficult at the start, due to persecution and injustice, but is truly the path to Heaven.

He wrote:

And further commands people to do evil so that he can then have a reason to destroy them!

And when We would destroy a township We send commandment to its folk who live at ease, AND AFTERWARD they commit abomination therein, and so the Word (of doom) hath effect for it, and we annihilate it with complete annihilation. S. 17:16 Pickthall

My Response:

Shamoun has just proved himself to be a complete liar and a deceiver, the very characteristics he falsely attributes to Allah (SWT). I would not mind him if he was honest and gentle in critiquing Islam and had an open mind, but here, I clearly see he is deceiving his readers and asserting false interpretations of his own, to the Holy Qur'an.

The translation by Mohammad Marmaduke Pickthall, on this verse, Surah Bani Israel 17:16, which he quotes himself, proves that his interpretation is false. It reads: ?We send commandment to its folk who live at ease, AND AFTERWARD they commit abomination therein'. It is clear that Allah (SWT) in this verse tells us that he sends commandment to its folk who live at ease. What this means is that Allah (SWT) sends an Apostle to a town, and this town lives at ease, because Allah (SWT) provides them with sustenance. Afterward, they commit transgression (which Pickthall translates as abomination), meaning that they deny the message sent to them and continue their sick beliefs and lifestyles. Then Allah (SWT) annihilates the town completely. Shamoun has proved himself to be a liar. I am not trying to insult Shamoun on purpose, but exposing his deception and lies is necessary, so that the reader may see the true character of this man.

He wrote:

The Quran uses another word to denote that Allah is a liar, a schemer who has no problems using guile, namely kayd:

And those who cry lies to Our signs We will draw them on little by little whence they know not; and I respite them -- assuredly My guile (kaydee) is sure. S. 7:182-183 Arberry

and I shall respite them -- assuredly My guile (kaydee) is sure. S. 68:45 Arberry

My Response:

No the Holy Qur'an never uses the word liar and it is only according to Shamoun's twisted interpretation, that the Holy Qur'an denotes that Allah (SWT) is a liar. The word guile means deception. It is not Allah (SWT) who uses deception, but Allah (SWT) plans against those who reject his signs. These people are left deceived, because what they expect does not come to pass. These are people, who wish to continue their sick, unjust and filthy lifestyle, of worshiping idols, burying newly born girls, forcing women into prostitution and dozens of other extremely filthy acts, though truth has been offered to them and clear signs have come. They expect to live their filthy lifestyle and then die. However, because of their transgression in life, they get deceived in their death, because of their own actions. Had they chosen to accept the clear signs and give up filth, surely Allah (SWT) would never have them bewildered and deceived. The word ?lie' has not even been used in these verses, proving that Shamoun is a liar. Allah (SWT) says in these verses:

And (as to) those who reject Our communications, We draw them near (to destruction) by degrees from whence they know not.

And I grant them respite; surely My scheme is effective. (Surah al-A'raf 7:182-183)

Indeed, the plan of Allah (SWT) is effective because no matter what anyone does and no matter what plans they have it will not hinder the plans of Allah (SWT). The word scheme here, does not denote anything negative or harsh, but denotes a just plan against the wicked people.

Shamoun also quoted Arberry's translation of Surah al-Qalam 68:45. This verse also says that Allah's (SWT) plan is firm, meaning that it cannot be shaken or changed, no matter what happens. The verse before shows that this refers to those who reject the signs of Allah (SWT) and the just judgement upon them has already been discussed just above.

He wrote:

The lexicons provide the following definitions:

Kaf-Ya-Dal (Kaf-Alif-Dal) = To be about to, be just on the point of, be well nigh, intend, wish, practise an artful device, desire, contrive/plot/devise such a thing, worked or laboured at or upon anything, to do something clandestinely, to deceive/beguile/circumvent, means of evading/eluding, vomited, emitted fire, had menstrual flux, gave up his spirit.

kada vb. (1)
perf. act. 12:76
impf. act. 12:5, 21:57, 86:15, 86:16
impv. 7:195, 11:55, 77:39
n.vb. 3:120, 4:76, 7:183, 8:18, 12:5, 12:28, 12:28, 12:33, 12:34, 12:50, 12:52, 20:60, 20:64, 20:69, 21:70, 22:15, 37:98, 40:25, 40:37, 52:42, 52:46, 68:45, 77:39, 86:15, 86:16, 105:2
pcple. pass. 52:42

LL, V7, p: 166, 167 (Source; underline emphasis ours)

My Response:

Any reader can see that Shamoun has just picked a few translations, which look bad, when not taken in context. We can also see that this verse also means to intend, to wish etc, to plot.

Indeed the intentions, wills and plans of Allah (SWT) do always come to pass, because he is the true God and has power over all things. Allah (SWT) does not deceive the pagans, as he himself says that they deceive themselves (Surah al-Anam 6:123, which has been misused by Shamoun and explained, in this response, above). This is because they do not get the agenda they expect and wish to get, and are left deceived and perplexed, not because of Allah (SWT), but because of their own wickedness.

He wrote:

The Quran furnishes plenty of examples that exemplify the negative aspect and nature of this term, e.g. those who use kayd are deliberately intending something evil which results in their judgement for employing such wicked schemes:

What, have they feet wherewith they walk, or have they hands wherewith they lay hold, or have they eyes wherewith they see, or have they ears wherewith they give ear? Say: 'Call you then to your associates; then try your guile (keedooni) on me, and give me no respite. S. 7:195 Arberry

My Response:

Yes, but this does not prove anything. In order to analyse this verse, one must read the context, i.e. one must read the verses from verse 191 up till 196:

What! They associate (with Him) that which does not create any thing, while they are themselves created!

 

And they have no power to give them help, nor can they help themselves.

 

And if you invite them to guidance, they will not follow you; it is the same to you whether you invite them or you are silent.

 

Surely those whom you call on besides Allah are in a state of subjugation like yourselves; therefore call on them, then let them answer you if you are truthful.

 

Have they feet with which they walk, or have they hands with which they hold, or have they eyes with which they see, or have they ears with which they hear? Say: Call your associates, then make a struggle (to prevail) against me and give me no respite.

 

Surely my guardian is Allah, Who revealed the Book, and He befriends the good. (Surah al-A'raf 7:191-196)

 

From verse 191, one can see that this whole passage refers to those who associate partners with God and how believers should respond to them, i.e. the majority of Christians, who associate Prophet Isa (AS) with Allah (SWT), as his son and other religions and cults who associate partners with God. Verse 192 states that those whom they associate as partners with Allah (SWT), do not have power to help them and that those very people who associate partners with Allah (SWT) cannot help themselves. Verse 193 states that if you invite them to guidance, they will not follow you. This does not mean that all Christians and Polytheists will not listen to us, whether we invite them or not, but only to those who are stubborn, do not open their minds and will never change no matter what. Verse 194 states that those whom they call upon, for intercession, prayer and help, are in a state of subjugation like us, meaning that they are bound to physical limits and cannot do things that only possible with Allah (SWT) or angels and other beings in the Heavens, which are unseen. Then Allah (SWT) orders the believers to tell these people to call upon those whom they associate with Allah (SWT) and to see if they answer them. In the next verse Allah (SWT) commands believers to tell these people, to call upon these associates, to make a plot or plan against us without any delay. Indeed, the challenges Allah (SWT) orders us to give to these people who ascribe partners with him, have never been met and never will be met.

 

Shamoun's absurd argument is that, these people plot and Allah (SWT) also plots, so they must be on the same side, since they do the same thing. Allah (SWT) does not say that these people plot in this verse, but simply orders the believers to tell these people to call upon those they associate to Allah (SWT), to plot against them, meaning to do something harsh against them. It is a challenge to Christians, some Jews and other polytheists and I challenge Shamoun, right now, to call upon Jesus the Messiah, whom he worships in vain and falsely associates with Allah (SWT), to plot against me and do something negative to me. But of course, Prophet Isa (AS) will not answer, because he is no more then a Messenger of Allah (SWT) and not a God.

 

He wrote:

 

So when he [Potiphar] saw his [Joseph] shirt torn from behind, he said: Lo! this is of the guile of you (kaydikunna) women. Lo! the guile of you (kaydakunna) is very great. S. 12:28 Pickthall

 

My Response:

 

The verse is simply part of a passage, where Prophet Yusuf (AS), is being accused of adulterating with the wife of the Aziz of Egypt. However, it is proven that the wife of the Aziz is guilty and she plotted against Prophet Yusuf (AS).

 

Shamoun's argument again is that, Allah (SWT) plotted and this woman also plotted, therefore they must both be wicked.

Again, this woman plotted against a Prophet of Allah (SWT), and one of the greatest Prophets. He was an innocent, pure and chaste man whom she tried to seduce, because of his beauty [in Islamic tradition, Allah (SWT) gave half of the beauty of mankind to Prophet Yusuf (AS) and the other half, he distributed among mankind.]. Then she tried to accuse Prophet Yusuf (AS) of seducing her, however she was refuted.

 

What Allah (SWT) did was plot against the plots of the accursed people who planned to do harm to his innocent and pure Prophets.

 

Using Shamoun's ridiculous logic, a man who kills an innocent child is the same as a man who legally executes a felon, who murdered 30 men and raped 60 women, for instance. This is just an example, but it clearly proves that Shamoun either has a very limited mind, is not applying his mind to his article and is blindly misrepresenting verses from the Holy Qur'an or knows the truth, but simply wishes to deceive his readers.

 

He wrote:

 

So gather your guile (kaydakum); then come in battle-line. Whoever today gains the upper hand shall surely prosper. S. 20:64 Arberry

 

My Response:

 

There is not need to quote the whole passage here. It is easier to understand if the reader just reads verses 56-64 of this Surah, Surah at-Taha. Allah (SWT) had shown the Pharaoh clear signs of proof, i.e. miracles, but the Pharaoh still rejected. Then the Pharaoh told Prophet Musa (AS): ?So we too will produce before you magic like it' (Surah at-Taha 20:58). Therefore he told Prophet Musa (AS) to fix a certain meeting, so that his men and Prophet Musa (AS) could compete with each other and whoever shows the best signs is the victor. In Verses 63-64, when everyone was summoned, the people said that those 2, the men of the Pharaoh, were also magicians and that the competitors should arrange their plans, come to the battle line and whoever overcomes will be prosperous. In the next verses, up till 70, Prophet Musa (AS) is shown as the victor and his signs overcome the signs of the 2 magicians. The competition is to cast down rods onto the floor. The magicians cast their rods down and it appeared to Prophet Musa (AS) that they were moving. He feared a little, but Allah (SWT) told him not to fear and guaranteed that his rod would devour the rods of the magicians. When this happened, the magicians went into prostration and bore witness in the Lord of Prophet Harun (AS) and Prophet Musa (AS).

 

This verse does not say that the enemies of Allah (SWT) planned. It simply says that the people told the competitors to arrange their plans, i.e. to get ready and compete. This does not denote anything negative, but simply says that Prophet Musa (AS) and the magicians were told to arrange their plans to compete with each other. All the verses Shamoun quotes simply show his ignorance.

He wrote:

 

the day when their guile (kayduhum) shall avail them naught, and they shall not be helped. S. 52:46 Arberry

if you have a trick, try you now to trick Me (kaydun fa keedooni)!' S. 77:39 Arberry

My Response:

Shamoun quoted Surah at-Tur 52:46. The reader should read the passage from verse 42 till verse 46. What it is saying is that those who associate partners with Allah (SWT), will never turn to Allah (SWT), even if they see a portion of the Heavens falling down on them (i.e. meteorites etc.), the will just think that it is a bunch of clouds. Allah (SWT) orders us to leave them till the day they will be terrified, and that their schemes shall not make them prevail, meaning that no matter how much scheming they try to perform on that day they will not prevail and will be among the losers. Shamoun's argument is the same over and over again and any reader can see that it is a completely useless argument, after reading this response, because they scheme to save their wicked souls from Allah (SWT) after their wickedness and treachery, but Allah (SWT) plans against the wicked, when they try to kill his Prophets or do other evil acts.

Shamoun also quoted Surah al-Mursalat 77:39. If the reader reads from verse 37 till verse 39, he will see that this refers to the rejecters. Allah (SWT) tells them that if they have a plan, they should plan against him now. This is a challenge to those accursed people who continued their sick, filthy ways even after being given clear signs. Again, Shamoun has no argument.

He wrote:

Allah is even portrayed as stooping down to the level of the deceivers and liars by acting like them in his use of guile:

They are devising guile (ya keedoona kaydan), and I am devising guile (Wa akeedu kaydan). S. 86:15-16

My Response:

Shamoun quoted, Surah at-Tariq 86:15-16, which up till verse 17 reads:

Surely, they plan a plan,

And I also plan a plan. (Surah at-Tariq 86:15-16)

If the reader reads a few verses ahead he will see that it refers to those who disbelieve and plan against Islam. Allah (SWT) tells us to endure their injustice for a little while, because indeed Allah (SWT) would eventually counter their wicked agendas and the believers would prevail. This is not going down to the level of deceivers and liars, as falsely asserted by Shamoun, but is simply countering the plans of the wicked. As said many times before, the disbelievers are left bewildered and deceived in the end, but only because of their evil actions.

He wrote:

There is more to the story. The Quran uses yet another word in describing the deception of Allah, that word being khida/khuda/khada:

Verily, the hypocrites seek to deceive Allah, but it is He Who deceives them (Inna al-munafiqeena yukhadiaaoona Allaha wahuwa khadiaauhum). And when they stand up for As-Salat (the prayer), they stand with laziness and to be seen of men, and they do not remember Allah but little. S. 4:142 Hilali-Khan

Here, once again, is the lexical meaning of this specific word:

Kh-Dal-Ayn = To hide/conceal, double or fold, deceive or outwit, pretend, to enter, vary in state/condition, refrain or refuse, relinquish, to be in little demand of, deviate from the right course, resist/unyield/incompliant, turn away and behave proudly.

khada'a vb. (1)
impf. act. 2:9, 8:62
pcple. act. 4:142

khada'a vb. (3) impf. act. 2:9, 4:142

LL, V2, p: 344, 345, 346, 347 (Source)

My Response:

Is there anything wrong with deceiving evil hypocrites, who plan and perform wicked deeds? It is not Allah (SWT) who directly deceives these hypocrites but indirectly they are deceived, because what they expect does not happen and their evil plans do not come to pass, as Allah (SWT) is most great and most wise and uproots their plans.

Let us look at the verse:

Surely the hypocrites strive to deceive Allah, and He shall requite their deceit to them, and when they stand up to prayer they stand up sluggishly; they do it only to be seen of men and do not remember Allah save a little. (Surah an-Nisa 4:142)

As said in verse 141, these are the hypocrites who pretend to be on the side of the believers when they are victorious, but whenever the disbelievers have an advantage they turn to their side. They intend to deceive Allah (SWT) and in this verse Allah (SWT) says that he shall throw their deception back at them, meaning that they will be deceived for their wicked actions and attempted deception. They will be deceived because what they expect will not occur but an evil course of action will take place against them, for their cruel actions. Also, Shamoun only underlined the meanings, which look negative, though they are not really negative when a reader sees the reality behind it. Some other meanings from the Lexicon are also, incompliant (rebellious), turn away and behave proudly. I believe that the word Khada as used by Allah (SWT) in this verse does not just refer to the hypocrites attempting to deceive Allah (SWT) but also them being rebellious, arrogant and turning away from Allah (SWT). Because of this treachery Allah (SWT) they will be deceived, meaning that their ambitions and hopes, which they expected, would not come true and for them would be an evil destination, i.e. hell, because of their wicked behaviour and actions that are mentioned above.

He wrote:

Lest there be any confusion concerning the fact that this word means that Allah is a deceiver notice how this term is used in the following references:

They (think to) deceive Allah (Yukhadiaaoona) and those who believe, while they only deceive (yakhdaaoona) themselves, and perceive (it) not! S. 2:9 Hilali-Khan

And if they would deceive thee (yakhdaaooka), then lo! Allah is Sufficient for thee. He it is Who supporteth thee with His help and with the believers, S. 8:6 Pickthall

Is there any doubt that the unbelievers were using deception as they tried to deceive Muhammad and his companions? Just as there is no doubt that Allah also uses deception in deceiving them!

My Response:

Sam also quoted Surah al-Baqara 2:9, which like Surah al-Anam 6:123 helps prove my case and make my response more meaningful, as I have divine proof, that Allah (SWT) does not directly deceive these hypocrites but it is they who deceive their own selves because they are left deceived by their own actions.

The best explanations of verses from the Holy Qur'an are other verses from the Holy Qur'an, in order to show the reality behind certain misconceptions, like this. Shamoun himself has given me two verses (Surah al-Baqara 2:9 and Surah al-Anam 6:123) to help me prove my claim that it is not Allah (SWT) who directly deceives these hypocrites but it is they who deceive themselves.

I am afraid that Shamoun is wrong in what he is saying and is ignorant of the truth. The disbelieving hypocrites were trying to deceive the Holy Prophet Mohammad (SAWW) and his companions and were using deception. That part is true. But Shamoun is false in believing that the method of Allah (SWT) against these hypocrites was the same.

The Holy Prophet Mohammad (SAWW) and his companions were not guilty and did nothing wrong. All they did was practice and preach Islam and encouraged people to give up idolatry and to only worship Allah (SWT). The pagans were guilty of punishing them, persecuting them, killing them, driving them out of there homes and stealing their possessions for the sole reason that they practiced and preached Islam. The pagans were using deception against innocent, Holy, monotheists, who did not commit any crime. Allah (SWT) was not directly using deception at these guilty people, whose lifestyle was so barbaric (they used to bury their own daughters, inherit woman and beat slaves and do dozens of other cruel actions) and who wanted to persecute people, just because of encouraging (not enforcing) them to give up their criminal lifestyle. What Allah (SWT) did was uproot their methods of deception, so that the Holy Prophet Mohammad (SAWW) and his companions would be saved from their wickedness. This had left them deceived and bewildered by their own actions. I apologise to the reader because I know I have repeated myself many times on this issue, but the only reason for this is that Shamoun is also repeating himself and I am simply responding to all of these repetitions.

He wrote:

It gets worse. Satan accused Allah of misleading or deceiving him:

He said: Now, because Thou hast sent me astray (aghwaytanee), verily I shall lurk in ambush for them on Thy Right Path. S. 7:16 Pickthall

[Iblis (Satan)] said: "O my Lord! Because you misled me (aghwaytanee), I shall indeed adorn the path of error for them (mankind) on the earth, and I shall mislead (walaoghwiyannahum) them all. S. 15:39 Hilali-Khan

What makes this last reference rather interesting is that Satan promises to do to mankind what Allah did to him, namely, pervert/deceive/mislead people from the path!

 

My Response:

 

Shamoun quoted Surah al-A'raf 7:16. Let us analyse the verse:

 

He said: As Thou hast caused me to remain disappointed I will certainly lie in wait for them in Thy straight path. (Surah al-A'raf 7:16)

 

The translation Shamoun used was that of Pickthall, which is not accurate, as it does not match the context of this entire passage. The reader should himself read verses 12 through to verse 16 and see that this entire passage speaks about Satan's refusal in bowing to Prophet Adam (AS), just because of his arrogance. Allah (SWT) did order Satan to do something, which he was too arrogant to do and that is why Satan went astray. Indeed, that is not the doing of Allah (SWT) but the doing of his own arrogance.

 

If the owner of a restaurant orders his workers to cook, and one of them refuses (because he is arrogant) but the owner keeps persisting, then rejects him, whose fault is that? Is it the owner's fault or the worker who did not perform his duty? This scenario speaks for itself in showing that Allah (SWT) did not lead Satan astray, but it was his own arrogance that led him astray, just like in the scenario I mentioned, it is not the restaurant owner who led the cook off track but his own arrogance.

 

Shamoun also quoted Surah al-Hijr 15:39, which reads:

 

He said: My Lord! because Thou hast made life evil to me, I will certainly make (evil) fair-seeming to them on earth, and I will certainly cause them all to deviate. (Surah al-Hijr 15:39)

 

Once again, the reader should read from verse 35 till 39 to see the whole context. Let's assume Satan did believe that Allah (SWT) sent him astray. That would just be his own belief and not the truth. Does Shamoun think that the beliefs of Satan are true?

 

If he did think that, he would have thought so because of his own arrogance. He would have though that it was Allah (SWT) who ordered him to do something, which he was too high for and that the order of Allah (SWT) is the reason for him being astray. However Satan's belief is false, because nowhere in the Holy Qur'an does it say that Allah (SWT) led Satan astray and it was Satan's own arrogance that led him to reject the order of Allah (SWT). Of course Satan believes he is right and Allah (SWT) is wrong. Does Shamoun also believe that?

 

Shamoun's logic in both cases is very stupid and both verses he quotes have the same response.

 

He wrote:

Lest a Muslim say that these are the lies of Satan, that the enemy was merely slandering Allah, here is a text where the Quran acknowledges that the Devil was right since Allah does pervert/deceive/mislead people from the way:

And my sincere counsel will not profit you, if I desire to counsel you sincerely, if God desires to pervert you (yughwiyakum); He is your Lord, and unto Him you shall be returned.' S. 11:34 Arberry

To say that this is amazing would be a wild understatement.

 

My Response:

 

Here we will see the hypocrisy and inconsistency of Shamoun. Let's assume the text says that Allah (SWT) deceives and misleads people, directly, just for the sake of argument (though it is a lie). Even then, that does not prove that Satan was right. The verse itself is talking about the people of Prophet Nuh (AS) who rejected him and wanted him to prove himself to be true, by letting affliction and disaster come to them. For proof, the reader should occupy himself in reading the context, i.e. reading Surah al-Hud 11:28-34. Let us see the verse:

 

And if I intend to give you good advice, my advice will not profit you if Allah intended that He should leave you to go astray; He is your Lord, and to Him shall you be returned. (Surah al-Hud 11:34)

 

In verse 33 Allah (SWT) quoted Prophet Nuh (AS) and continues to do so until the end of this verse. Here Prophet Nuh (AS) is telling the rejecters that even if he gives them good advice it will not help them if Allah (SWT) leaves them to go astray. The reason Allah (SWT) leaves them to go astray is because of their rejection and their foul deeds in rejecting the Prophet sent to them, persecuting him and denying the message of Allah (SWT).

 

Shamoun is clearly false and is taking most verses out of context and misinterpreting a few verses.

 

He wrote:

 

Concluding Remarks

Our analysis has shown that Muhammad's deity is a deceiver who cannot be trusted since he lies without hesitation.

A Muslim may contend that Allah only deceives unbelievers who deserve it. The problem with this assertion is that the Muslim scripture teaches that Allah doesn't merely deceive unbelievers but also his followers.

My Response:

This response has shown that Shamoun is a deceiver who cannot be trusted since he is quick to completely add his own meaning to a verse, which is clearly saying something else (just like he did to Surah Bani Israel 17:16, where he falsely claimed that it was Allah (SWT) who was ordering people to transgress, though the verse clearly says that the people committed transgression). Shamoun is also a deceiver who claims that Allah (SWT) lies without hesitation, and he never gives one bit of proof. Out of all the verses from the Holy Qur'an he quoted, the word ?lie', ?lying' or ?lied' was not even used and there was not a single instance in the Holy Qur'an of Allah (SWT) ever telling something that is not true, in Shamoun's article.

Let us see now how the Bible says that God is a deceiver:

Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! surely thou hast greatly deceived this people and Jerusalem, saying, Ye shall have peace; whereas the sword reacheth unto the soul. (Jeremiah 4:10)

Unlike the verses Shamoun quoted in the Holy Qur'an, which have all been explained properly, here the Bible depicts God as a liar who tells Jerusalem that they shall have peace, while the sword reached the soul.

This shows the deception of the God of the Bible and the hypocrisy of Shamoun.

Let us see some more examples:

In the Bible, God is also shown sending lying spirits into the mouths of Ahab's Prophets, in order to persuade him to attack Romath Gilead and be victorious:

And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt persuade him, and prevail also: go forth, and do so.

Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken evil concerning thee. (1 Kings 20:22-23)

Here we can see that the God of the Bible ordered people to lie to achieve his agenda.

This is not something I would use against Shamoun however, because God Almighty can create confusion among enemies, in order for good to prevail. The purpose of these verses is to show the inconsistency of Shamoun, because he accuses Allah (SWT) of uprooting the evil plans of the disbelievers and leaving them astray, though the God of the Bible uses lies to uproot the wicked plans of the disbelievers.

But here is a verse in the Bible, which is extremely absurd and shows the God of the Bible, as a wicked, deceiver to a Prophet:

And if the prophet be deceived when he hath spoken a thing, I the LORD have deceived that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand upon him, and will destroy him from the midst of my people Israel. (Ezekiel 14:9)

Here the God of the Bible says that if a Prophet will be deceived when he says something, it is he, the Lord, who deceived him and that he will destroy him. Why would God, deceive a Prophet and then destroy him? Both acts show the God of the Bible as a deceiver and a criminal.

Shamoun also claims that Allah (SWT) deceives believers in the Holy Qur'an, which is so ridiculous. His claim will be examined in the next response.

He wrote:

For example, Allah deceived Muhammad into thinking that the fighting men at Badr were fewer in number than they actually were:

When Allah showed them to you in your dream as few; and if He had shown them to you as many you would certainly have become weak-hearted and you would have disputed about the matter, but Allah saved (you); surely He is the Knower of what is in the breasts. And when He showed them to you, when you met, as few in your eyes and He made you to appear little in their eyes, in order that Allah might bring about a matter which was to be done, and to Allah are all affairs returned. S. 8:43-44 Shakir

My Response:

Allah (SWT) was not deceiving his followers in this verse, but looks after his followers by keeping their morale up. As the verse says, if he had shown the pagan soldiers to the believers as many they would have become weak-hearted, but Allah (SWT) made them appear as a few in their eyes, to boost their confidence, because these people had been the victims of constant persecution, slaughter, assassination, theft, attempted murder, captivation and deception, for 13 years by the pagans, for no other reason than practicing and preaching Islam. This was act of grace by Allah (SWT) and not deception. None of the believers were claimed to be deceived and were actually thankful to Allah (SWT) for his grace, so what right does Shamoun has to make up his own false conclusion?

The believers needed some form of victory to increase their confidence in themselves and to strengthen their belief in Allah (SWT). It was not deception that Allah (SWT) used here, but he aided them and showed them his grace and mercy as a reward for their belief and endurance. There was deception used here, but aid. If a group of Iraqi freedom fighters (real freedom fighters, not the insurgents or terrorists), fighting for freedom in Iraq, for instance, are given advanced weapons by Iranian Muslims (assuming that they do not know the power of these weapons), then are they being deceived or aided? They are being aided of course. Allah (SWT) also aided the believers from the tyrannous pagans. Shamoun has no case and no substance.

He said:

Hence, Allah lies and deceives both believers and unbelievers without discrimination. Now contrast this with how the true God Yahweh operates:

"Early in the morning, Jerub-Baal (that is, Gideon) and all his men camped at the spring of Harod. The camp of Midian was north of them in the valley near the hill of Moreh. The LORD said to Gideon, ?You have too many men for me to deliver Midian into their hands. In order that Israel may not boast against me that her own strength has saved her, announce now to the people, "Anyone who trembles with fear may turn back and leave Mount Gilead."' So twenty-two thousand men left, while ten thousand remained. But the LORD said to Gideon, ?There are still too many men. Take them down to the water, and I will sift them for you there. If I say, "This one shall go with you," he shall go; but if I say, "This one shall not go with you," he shall not go.' So Gideon took the men down to the water. There the LORD told him, ?Separate those who lap the water with their tongues like a dog from those who kneel down to drink.' Three hundred men lapped with their hands to their mouths. All the rest got down on their knees to drink. The LORD said to Gideon, ?With the three hundred men that lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hands. Let all the other men go, each to his own place.' So Gideon sent the rest of the Israelites to their tents but kept the three hundred, who took over the provisions and trumpets of the others. Now the camp of Midian lay below him in the valley." Judges 7:1-8 NIV

My Response:

No, Shamoun, you lie and deceive and Allah (SWT) does neither. Allah (SWT) aids and shows grace towards the believers. About him disgracing the accursed tyrannous rejecters and leaving them deceived, that has already been discussed many times previously. Shamoun has little knowledge on this issue, as he himself has shown. Allah (SWT) does not deceive believers and does not deceive unbelievers directly. It is they who deceive themselves (Surah al-Baqara 2:9, Surah al-Anam 6:123, which Shamoun misinterpreted and I explained earlier in this response). Allah (SWT) does indirectly deceive them by deceiving their wicked plans, of killing Prophets, but does not directly deceive them, by making them, for instance, think that paganism is the truth. It is their arrogance and lust for power and wordly goods, that makes them believe in paganism and it is the same thing, which makes them deceived in the end.

Anyway, it is very good for Shamoun to quote an action done by God in the Bible. Perhaps this may be an uncorrupted part in the Bible, because it shows the something good about Yahweh, God, and not lies, attributed to him in other places of the Bible. Just to make things a little clearer about me saying Yahweh is God, the Jewish Encyclopedia says that Yahweh means, the ever living, the sustainer of all things. This is an exact title given to Allah (SWT) in the Holy Qur'an, which in Arabic is al-Hayy al-Qayyum (Surah al-Baqara 2:256). For more details on that see this video:

youtube.com/watch?v=sjFdEv8mzyQ&feature=channel_page

Anyway, back to the Bible's false claims against Yahweh. The Bible falsely claims that Yahweh is the one who ordered the Israelites to kill all the Amalekites men, women, infant, suckling and animals (1 Samuel 15:24). It also says that Moses was angry with the commanders of the army for allowing all the woman to live, in the Battle against the Midianites and that Moses then ordered them to slay all the males and save for themselves all the virgin females (Numbers 31:16-18). Later, when the Battle was won, and the booty was being collected, it says that Yahweh was given 32 people out of the 16 000 given to the Israelites. Now only the virgins were to be kept alive, by order of Moses (Numbers 31:17-18) so obviously this verse is saying that Yahweh was given 32 virgins. Here the Jews that corrupted the Bible attributed the killing of innocent living-beings (women, children, babies, infants and animals) to Yahweh and also attributed 32 virgin girls to Yahweh. This is the filthiness that the word of God had been turned into.

As for Yahweh showing proof of his divinity by only using three hundred men to win a battle, I do not deny that, and believe that this may have been a still-divine part in the Bible. However a similar event took place in the history of Islam, during the Battle of Khaybar. In this Battle, the Jews had a gate blocking people from entering their fort and they continually threw arrows, fire and stones at the Muslims who tried to liberate the Fort (this was the Fort, which the treacherous Jews used in all their assaults against the Muslims, including their help to the Polytheists of Mecca. It had about 14 000 soldiers in total inside). The Muslim leaders, who were given the flag to go to battle, were constantly unsuccessful, until the Holy Prophet Mohammad (SAWW) chose his cousin, Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (AS), whom he said loved Allah (SWT) and his apostle and they loved him, to be the leader of the Muslim army (Sahih Muslim, Book 31, Number 5915). Imam Ali (AS) killed a leader of the Jews at Khaybar, named al-Harith, who was a Jewish champion that constantly won against his sieges on the Muslims in Khaybar. The other leader of the Jews, named Marhab, was the last military leader and strong warrior of the Jewish army. He was very angry and sad for the death of al-Harith and wanted to get revenge on Imam Ali (AS). Marhab went to him and attacked, while Imam Ali (AS) was swiftly dodging and blocking until he finally killed with a single blow. Then the Muslims attempted to close their gate. There were 40 Muslims who were trying to stop the gate from closing, but there was far too much force required. Imam Ali (AS) told them to step aside and he himself lifted the gates and threw them aside, which even 40 men could not lift, according to a number of Islamic sources. For more on the Battle of Khaybar, see this movie on the Battle, which is based on Islamic traditions:

youtube.com/watch?v=LZ7-pIMdQwA

When he lifted the gates of Khaybar, he did it alone and did not need other men, and like the Bible quote from Sam Shamoun, this event is very similar and shows the faithfulness of Imam Ali (AS) and his belief in Allah (SWT), which was an act to show the divinity of Allah (SWT) to the believers.

Also, there is another act in the Bible, which I should repeat:

And if the prophet be deceived when he hath spoken a thing, I the LORD have deceived that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand upon him, and will destroy him from the midst of my people Israel. (Ezekiel 14:9)

Here the Jews attribute another false characteristic to Yahweh, making him into a liar and deceiver, who deceives a Prophet, into saying something and then destroys him for it. Why would Yahweh destroy the Prophet and what did the Prophet do wrong, except be deceived? The truth as that Yahweh would not do either and that those who corrupted the Bible, have attributed this to him, falsely.

He wrote:

If this weren't bad enough, one of the greatest lies and deceptions that Allah pulled over the world is the crucifixion of Christ. According to the Quran Jesus wasn't crucified but Allah made it seem that way, thereby foisting Biblical Christianity on the masses!

And because of their saying (in boast), "We killed Messiah 'Iesa (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary), the Messenger of Allah," - but they killed him not, nor crucified him, but the resemblance of 'Iesa (Jesus) was put over another man (and they killed that man), and those who differ therein are full of doubts. They have no (certain) knowledge, they follow nothing but conjecture. For surely; they killed him not [i.e. 'Iesa (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary)]: S. 4:157 Hilali-Khan

That they said (in boast), "We killed Christ Jesus the son of Mary, the Apostle of God"; - but they killed him not, nor crucified him, but so it was made to appear to them, and those who differ therein are full of doubts, with no (certain) knowledge, but only conjecture to follow, for of a surety they killed him not:- Y. Ali

Thus, Allah duped the followers of Christ into believing that Jesus died by crucifixion and further deceived them into thinking that he was then raised back to life on the third day. They then went out preaching this message boldly, with some of them dying as martyrs as a result of it!

 

My Response:

 

Allah (SWT) pulled no lie or deception over the crucifixion of Christ, to any disciple but had uprooted the plans of the evil and wicked Jews, who attempted to crucify the Holy Messiah, Prophet Isa (AS). The verse itself says that the Jews boasted that the killed, the Messiah Isa son of Maryam but they really did not kill him, nor crucify him, but it was made to appear that way to them.

 

Where does this verse say that Allah (SWT) duped the followers of Christ into believing Jesus had died by crucifixion? Nowhere. Shamoun is just adding that and also adding the part where he says that Allah (SWT) further deceived the followers of Christ into thinking that he was raised back to life on the third day. This shows he is a liar and making things up. No part of that verse says that the crucifixion was made to appear to the followers of Jesus. It says that the crucifixion was made to appear to those who boasted that they killed Jesus, not to those who followed Jesus. Allah (SWT) made this appear to these Jews, so that he could save his Holy Messiah, Prophet Isa (AS) from death and crucifixion. The followers of Prophet Isa (AS) did not preach the crucifixion. It was Paul who preached it, a man who came after the ascension of Prophet Isa (AS).

 

The Bible itself says that Jesus had offered up prayers with strong cries and tears, to him that was able to save from death and he was heard:

 

Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; (Hebrews 5:7)

Here God is called as him that was able to save from death, indicating that Jesus was indeed praying to be saved from death. In the end it says that he was heard because of his fear, meaning that he was not killed and he was not crucified.

He wrote:

Interestingly, Allah's schemes or deceptions are so troublesome that they even scared Muhammad. Islam's prophet was so afraid of the schemes of his god that he prayed that Allah would not deceive him but deceive on his behalf:

3551. Ibn Abbas said: "The Prophet used to supplicate, saying: ?My Lord, aid me and do not aid against me, and grant me victory and do not grant victory over me, plot (scheme/connive/deceive) for me and do not plot (scheme/connive, deceive) against me, guide me and facilitate guidance for me, grant me victory over those who transgress against me. My Lord, make me ever-grateful to You, ever-remembering of You, ever-fearful of You, ever-obedient to You, ever-humble to You, oft-turning and returning to You. My Lord, accept my repentance, wash my sin, answer my call, make firm my proof, make firm my tongue, guide my heart, and remove the treachery of my chest (Rabbi A?inni Wa La Tu?in ?Alayya, Wansurni Wa La Tansur ?Alayya, WAMKUR Li Wa La TAMKUR ?Alayya, Wahdini Wa Yassir Lil-Huda, Wansurni ?Ala Man Bagha ?Alayya. Rabbij?alni Laka Shakkaran, Laka Dhak-karan, Laka Rahhaban, Laka Mitwa?an, Laka Mukhbitan, Ilaika Awwahan Muniba. Rabbi Taqabbal Tawabati, Waghsil Hawbati, Wa Ajib Da?wati, Wa Thab-bit Hujjati, Wa Saddid Lisani Wahdi Qalbi, Waslu Sakhimata Sadri).'" (Sahih) .

[Abu ?Eisa said:] This Hadith is Hasan Sahih. (English Translation of Jami? At-Tirmidhi, Compiled by Imam Hafiz Abu ?Eisa Mohammad Ibn ?Eisa At-Tirmidhi, translated by Abu Khaliyl (USA), ahadith edited and referenced by Hafiz Tahir Zubair ?Ali Za'i [Darussalam Publishers & Distributors, First Edition: November 2007], Volume 6, From Hadith No. 3291 to 3956, Chapter 45. The Book Of Supplications From The Messenger Of Allah, pp. 258-259; capital and underline emphasis ours)

My Response:

Where does it say in this Hadith that the actions of Allah (SWT) scared the Holy Prophet Mohammad (SAWW)? Nowhere. That is just an addition and a false interpretation by Shamoun.

Also the words, scheme, connive and deceive are just added in brackets to this source and are not part of the original text. The original text clearly says that the Holy Prophet Mohammad (SAWW) asked Allah (SWT) to plot for him, meaning to plan for him. What this means is that, he wanted Allah (SWT) to be with him at all times and be there for him. He did not want Allah (SWT) to forsake him at anytime. Planning for him refers to saving him from his enemies, by planning against them.

He wrote:

Muhammad wasn't the only person troubled by Allah's lies since his closest companion was deftly afraid of his lord's schemes. If one is still in doubt as to the meaning of the term makr consider Abu Bakr's testimony who, despite being promised paradise by Muhammad, was rather uncertain about his status in the hereafter because of how unreliable and fickle his god is:

"Although he had such a faith, which was too great to suffice all the inhabitants of the earth, he was afraid that his heart might go astray. So, he used to utter, while weeping: ?Would that I have been a bitten tree!' Whenever he was reminded of his position in Allah's sight, he would say: ?By Allah! I would not rest assured and feel safe from the deception of Allah (la amanu limakr Allah), even if I had one foot in paradise.'" (Khalid Muhammad Khalid, Successors of the Messenger, translated by Muhammad Mahdi al-Sharif [Dar al-Kotob al-Ilmiyah, Beirut Lebanon, 2005], Book One: Abu Bakr Has Come, p. 99; bold and italic emphasis ours)

My Response:

Notice how Shamoun keeps lying and saying ?Allah's lies', though the word lie hasn't been used in anything he quotes. Truly he is a liar and Allah (SWT) is the true one (Surah al-Anam 6:62, Surah al-Hajj 22:6, Surah al-Mu'minun 23:116, Surah an-Nur 24:25). He is truly a deceiver who has proven to be a hypocrite throughout this article.

The translation deception of Allah as used in that source, may not be an accurate translation, since Makr also means planning, plotting, scheming etc. Either way, that is the way Abu Bakr (RA) felt. Even if the Holy Prophet Mohammad (SAWW) promised him paradise, he would not have to feel 100% secure. People have doubts at times and feel insecure. Perhaps it was something he did during his Caliphate (Leadership) that felt wrong to him (perhaps what he thought was a wrong judgement) that led him to feel unsafe and believe that Allah (SWT) would plan against him for this and leave him deceived. Either way, his thought, does not mean that Allah (SWT) is a deceiver. It is just his thought. Furthermore, this saying attributed to Abu Bakr (RA) does not have to be true. It could be a fabrication. There were a few fabricated stories invented by people who wanted to destroy Islam from within, long after the death of the Holy Prophet Mohammad (SAWW).

He wrote:

Now if both Muhammad and Abu Bakr were afraid of Allah's schemes shouldn't Muslims also be fearful of their god's lies and deception?

My Response:

As said earlier in this response, the Hadith that Shamoun quoted never said that the Holy Prophet Mohammad (SAWW) was afraid of the actions of Allah (SWT). That was an addition added by Shamoun. All it said was that the Holy Prophet Mohammad (SAWW) prayed to Allah (SWT) to plot for him and not against him, meaning that he wanted Allah (SWT) to be with him at all times to help him through hardships and to endure hard times and not forsake him. Also the source Shamoun quoted about Abu Bakr (RA) allegedly fearing the actions of Allah (SWT) may be fabricated. As said earlier, even in Abu Bakr (RA) thought this way, what does it prove? It does not prove anything. Perhaps he thought that way because of something he did, that he felt was wrong, during his Caliphate (for instance, a wrong judgement or act).

He wrote:

This very unflattering picture of God is quite embarrassing to say the least. After all, which person would be proud of a god who is described as the best deceiver, a beguiler who schemes and deliberately plots evil in order to accomplish his purposes?

My Response:

But all these are just the false, twisted interpretations of Shamoun. Why would Shamoun be proud of a God, who orders the killing of innocent women, infants, suckling, animals and who is given 32 virgins (1 Samuel 15:24, Numbers 31:40)? Why would Shamoun be proud of a God who said that if a Prophet was deceived while saying something, he, the Lord, would have deceived him and destroyed him for being deceived (Ezekiel 14:9)?

As for Allah (SWT), his description is the best of planners, not deceivers. Indeed, the wicked people, who attempt to kill Prophets and destroy the Message of Allah (SWT) are left bewildered and deceived at the end, because they do not get the results they desire and expect, because their plans are uprooted and destroyed by the plans of Allah (SWT).

Allah (SWT) does not directly beguile them, i.e. lead them astray. They are left beguiled because of their own actions and their own deceptive nature (Surah al-Baqara 2:9, Surah al-Anam 6:123, which Shamoun misinterpreted and I explained earlier in this response). They are left beguiled, because the result they desire and expect does not come to pass, the Message of Islam survives and the Prophet they try to slay is not slain, because Allah (SWT) protects him, thus uprooting their plans. Allah (SWT) does scheme against these people's scheme, in order that he may save the Prophets. And Allah (SWT) does not plot evil, but plots against their wicked, evil actions, such as attempts at killing Prophets or the miracles they were given by Allah (SWT), making the plotting good. This leaves them deceived and beguiled, indeed, but not by Allah (SWT), rather by their actions, as repeated for the umpteenth time.

We Muslims worship Allah (SWT) and believe in Islam, because of the great reforms and destruction of barbarianism Islam had brought as well as the kindness of Allah (SWT) and his justness. I do not even need to speak about it. The reader should just read the 99 names of Allah (SWT) and see the truth about him, here:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Names_of_God_in_the_Qur'an

This will show the truth of Allah (SWT) and his great virtues.

He wrote:

Such a depiction of the Deity is unbefitting the majesty and glory of the One who called Himself the Truth and who does not lie or change his mind since it is impossible for him to do so:

"God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?" Numbers 23:19

"He who is the Glory of Israel does not lie or change his mind; for he is not a man, that he should change his mind." 1 Samuel 15:29

"Into your hands I commit my spirit; redeem me, O LORD, the God of truth." Psalm 31:5

"Jesus answered, ?I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'" John 14:6

"a faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time," Titus 1:2

"Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged." Hebrews 6:17-18

My Response:

I agree that God does not lie not change his mind, and in the whole of Shamoun's article he has not been able to provide one single bit of proof that Allah (SWT) lies or changes his mind.

Also in the Bible, Paul says that God sends people a strong delusion, so that they can believe a lie:

And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie (2 Thessalonians 2:11)

In the Bible, God sends people, who are deceivers and do not receive the truth, a strong delusion so that they can believe a lie. Isn't this act, deceiving them?

As proved above, Allah (SWT) does not directly make people believe lies, but forsakes them, if they rejected the truth and the Prophet sent to them after being given clear signs or truth.

Also Shamoun believes, as the Bible says in the verses he quoted, that God does not change his mind. However in the Bible itself God does change his mind in quite a few instances. For instance in Ezekiel 4:12-15, God, as shown in the Bible, tells Ezekiel to cook his bread over dung, but after Ezekiel protests God changes his mind. This is a clear contradiction in the Bible.

He wrote:

The Quran's description of Allah best fits the one whom the Lord Jesus identified as the father of all lies:

"You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies." John 8:44

My Response:

This description does not match Allah (SWT) one bit rather it completely matches Shamoun. Allah (SWT) is indeed the true one (Surah al-Anam 6:62, Surah al-Hajj 22:6, Surah al-Mu'minun 23:116, Surah an-Nur 24:25).

There is no truth in Shamoun but complete lies, misinterpretations, hypocrisy, inconsistency and ignorance, as proven throughout this response. Shamoun is a liar and the father of lies. Shamoun just falsely adds the word ?lie' to Allah (SWT) and none of the quotes he uses even have the word lie, proving that he is a deceiver.

He wrote:

In light of the foregoing it seems rather hard to deny that the spirit who spoke to Muhammad, the entity who is revealed in the Muslim scripture, is none other than Satan, the enemy of our souls, masquerading as God in order to deceive people away from the truth of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ:

"I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him. But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough. For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve." 2 Corinthians 11:2-4, 13-15

"But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!" Galatians 1:8-9

My Response:

Now let me prove, that according to Sam Shamoun, he should be a Muslim. In his opening statement, when he debated Brother Nadir Ahmed, Shamoun stated that he did not believe that the Holy Qur'an was revealed to the Holy Prophet Mohammad (SAWW). He further stated that if he believed that Islam was revealed to the Holy Prophet Mohammad (SAWW), he would have been a Muslim. Yet here he states that he believes Satan revealed the Message of Islam. There are 2 points here worth noting:

1. Notice the hypocrisy of Shamoun, which is not a surprise. Shamoun stated in his debate that he did not believe, Islam was revealed to the Holy Prophet Mohammad (SAWW) and here he says it was revealed to him, but by Satan and not by Allah (SWT). Which is it Shamoun?

2. He said there that if he believed Islam was revealed to the Holy Prophet Mohammad (SAWW) he would have been a Muslim. Yet, here he clearly states that he believes it was revealed to him, by Satan but not by Allah (SWT). So according to his own claim, he should be a Muslim. I feel so sorry for Shamoun, because he is getting humiliated in this world and Insha Allah (God willing), he will also be humiliated in the hereafter, lest he changes his ways.

Anyway, getting back on topic, let us prove that it is impossible for anyone, other than those who have limited brains, to associate the message given to the Holy Prophet Mohammad (SAWW) with Satan, the accursed. With Shamoun's absurd belief, let us see whether he believes Satan is the one who brought the following reforms for baby-girls, little children, orphans, women and slaves as well as reforms to society in general [such as reforms to drunkenness, idolatry, gambling and may other filthy acts (Note that these reforms are not even a page of the great reforms Islam brought to not just Arabia but to the world)]:

-          Prior to Islam, the pagans had a tradition of burying used to get so grieved and angered when a newly born girl was born, that they would hide themselves from the people because of shame and wonders whether he should keep her with disgrace or bury her alive. Islam stopped this barbaric action. Allah (SWT) talks about this incidence in the Holy Qur'an as an evil act. He also says in the Holy Qur'an he shall ask the baby child-girl, who was buried alive, why this had happened to her and what crime she committed (as a witness against the criminals who committed this barbaric act). Also and also forbids us from killing our children out of financial worry, saying that he will provide them and us with bounty and that killing them is a great sin:

And when a daughter is announced to one of them his face becomes black and he is full of wrath.

He hides himself from the people because of the evil of that which is announced to him. Shall he keep it with disgrace or bury it (alive) in the dust? Now surely evil is what they judge. (Surah an-Nahl 16:59-60)

And when the female infant buried alive is asked

For what sin she was killed.

Every soul shall (then) know what it has prepared.

 (Surah at-Takwir 81:8-9, 14)

And do not kill your children for fear of poverty; We give them sustenance and yourselves (too); surely to kill them is a great wrong. (Surah Bani Israel 17:31)

-          Prior to Islam, the woman was not given her wedding gift (dowry) from her husband for free. In the Holy Qur'an Allah (SWT) ordered us to give women their wedding gifts (dowries) for free, unless they themselves give up a portion of it to you (as an act of charity):

And give women their dowries as a free gift, but if they of themselves be pleased to give up to you a portion of it, then eat it with enjoyment and with wholesome result. (Surah an-Nisa 4:4)

-          The Arabs prior to Islam, used to inherit women. There was a tradition that the son would inherit his stepmother or his father's slave-girl after the father dies. Also the pagans prior to Islam took back the wedding gifts they gave to their women and also did not treat their women kindly. Islam prohibited the inheritance of women and ordered believers not to take back the wedding gifts that they gave to women, unless they are guilty of sexual immorality, and to treat them with kindness:

O you who believe! It is not lawful for you that you should take women as heritage against (their) will, and do not straighten them in order that you may take part of what you have given them, unless they are guilty of manifest indecency, and treat them kindly; then if you hate them, it may be that you dislike a thing while Allah has placed abundant good in it. (Surah an-Nisa 4:19)

-          The Arabs did not allow women any rights of inheritance prior to Islam. They were no better than slaves to their husbands or those who owned them. The Arabs were astonished that the Holy Prophet Mohammad (SAWW) gave women rights of inheritance, because this was very new and just to them. Islam ordered a definite right of inheritance for woman, whether the deceased person, whose wealth was being handed out, was poor or rich:

Men shall have a portion of what the parents and the near relatives leave, and women shall have a portion of what the parents and the near relatives leave, whether there is little or much of it; a stated portion. (Surah an-Nisa 4:7)

-          Prior to Islam, there was it was OK for the Arabs to consume the property of orphans and substitute worthless things for their good property. Islam forbade this act and Allah (SWT) condemned to hell, those who consumed the property of orphans:

And give to the orphans their property, and do not substitute worthless (things) for (their) good (ones), and do not devour their property (as an addition) to your own property; this is surely a great crime. (Surah an-Nisa 4:2)

(As for) those who swallow the property of the orphans unjustly, surely they only swallow fire into their bellies and they shall enter burning fire. (Surah an-Nisa 4:10)

-          Before Islam came, the Arabs would not allow their slaves to write a written document for their freedom, they could they could only be freed at the will of the master and were sold to other masters. Also prior to Islam, the Arabs forced their slave-girls into prostitution. Islam allowed slaves to write a document, whereby they would work for a certain period, and would then be freed. After freedom, Muslims were to give them from their own wealth [the wealth given to them by Allah (SWT)]. Also, Allah (SWT) ordered the masters not to compel their slave girls into prostitution and said that even after this compulsion, he was most-forgiving (i.e. to the slave-girl):

And (as for) those who ask for a writing from among those whom your right hands possess, give them the writing if you know any good in them, and give them of the wealth of Allah which He has given you; and do not compel your slave girls to prostitution, when they desire to keep chaste, in order to seek the frail good of this world's life; and whoever compels them, then surely after their compulsion Allah is Forgiving, Merciful. (Surah an-Nur 24:33)

-          The Pagans were drunkards, who used to get drunk and sleep with many women every night. They also used to play games of chance (gambling) and Islam forbade both gambling and alcohol (which created a just and civil society, where there were no brawls or deaths, due to drunkenness):

O you who believe! Intoxicants and games of chance and (sacrificing to) stones set up and (dividing by) arrows are only an uncleanness, the Shaitan's work; shun it therefore that you may be successful. (Surah al-Ma'idah 5:90)

-          The Pagans were people, who used to get drunk so many times. Islam forbade alcohol. See verse quoted above, Surah al-Ma'idah 5:90.

-     They were people who eat meat from animals, which died themselves and were not killed by them (meaning the meat was rotten and thus very harmful for the body, which is one of the many reasons why disease was very common in the middle-east prior to Islam, but after Islam it was heavily reduced), drink the blood of animals (which is very filthy and harmful for the body as well), eat from animals which were beaten or strangled to death (which would be very cruel and barbaric) and animals that were eaten by other animals (which had the germs and saliva of the other animal) and eat food sacrificed to idols (which is idolatry and is forbidden in Islam, Judaism and Christianity). Islam forbade any type of meat for believers, which was from an already dead animal, forbade drinking blood of animals, forbade eating animals, which were beaten or strangled to death and only allowed meat (other than pig flesh), forbade eating animals, who were eaten by other animals and only allowed meat (other than pork) which was slaughtered in the name of Allah (SWT) and no idol, unless a believer was in need and did not have the intention of sinning:

Forbidden to you is that which dies of itself, and blood, and flesh of swine, and that on which any other name than that of Allah has been invoked, and the strangled (animal) and that beaten to death, and that killed by a fall and that killed by being smitten with the horn, and that which wild beasts have eaten, except what you slaughter, and what is sacrificed on stones set up (for idols) and that you divide by the arrows; that is a transgression. but whoever is compelled by hunger, not inclining willfully to sin, then surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful. (Surah al-Ma'idah 5:3)

-          The pagans used to have women wear little or no clothes, when performing dances or stripping and used to force women into rape. There was no punishment for this filthy, unjust act upon an innocent woman/girl. Islam ordered women to dress modestly, covering their body parts, which attract men (i.e. everywhere except the face, hands and feet) so that they would not be molested and recognised (i.e. known for they abilities and virtue rather than their outward beauty) and ordered that if the people in hypocrites did not desist, then they would be killed ruthlessly for their filthy, disgusting actions against those innocent women (i.e. molesting them):

O Prophet! Say to your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers that they let down upon them their over-garments; this will be more proper, that they may be known, and thus they will not be given trouble; and Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

 

If the hypocrites and those in whose hearts is a disease and the agitators in the city do not desist, We shall most certainly set you over them, then they shall not be your neighbors in it but for a little while;

Cursed: wherever they are found they shall be seized and murdered, a (horrible) murdering. (Surah al-Ahzab 33:59-61)

-          In that pagan society the men were allowed to committing adultery against their wives, but not the other way around. The men were not guilty for sleeping with 20 women every night, but the women were guilty if the even slept with 1 other man. This was the sexism in that sick society, to which Islam was sent as a grace from Allah (SWT) and was sent for mankind. Islam made it clear that both the adulterer and adulteress would be lashed 100 times, with believers witnessing their punishment (as a sign of humiliation for their vile and disgraceful act) but would be forgiven and not punished if they repented. Also, slave-girls who committed adultery were only given half the punishment, unless of course they repented. However repenting means that the crime cannot be re-committed under any case, or else it will prove that the criminal was not sincere in his repentance previously and will thus be lashed 100 times.

(As for) the fornicatress and the fornicator, flog each of them, (giving) a hundred stripes, and let not pity for them detain you in the matter of obedience to Allah, if you believe in Allah and the last day, and let a party of believers witness their chastisement.

Except those who repent after this and act aright, for surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful. (Surah an-Nur 24:2, 5)

And whoever among you has not within his power ampleness of means to marry free believing women, then (he may marry) of those whom your right hands possess from among your believing maidens; and Allah knows best your faith: you are (sprung) the one from the other; so marry them with the permission of their masters, and give them their dowries justly, they being chaste, not fornicating, nor receiving paramours; and when they are taken in marriage, then if they are guilty of indecency, they shall suffer half the punishment which is (inflicted) upon free women.(Surah an-Nisa 4:25 Bold emphasis mine)

-          In pagan society they prayed to idols and not to Allah (SWT). Allah (SWT) forbade idol-worship (see above, Surah al-Ma'idah 5:90) and ordered the believers to pray (i.e. to him):

This Book, there is no doubt in it, is a guide to those who guard (against evil).

Those who believe in the unseen and keep up prayer and spend out of what We have given them. (Surah al-Baqara 2:2)

Keep up prayer from the declining of the sun till the darkness of the night and the morning recitation; surely the morning recitation is witnessed. (Surah Bani Israel 17:78)

-          Before Islam, there was no compulsory charity and people could be excused and ignored even if they were dying of hunger or disease. Islam ordered charity to relatives (kindred), orphans, the poor, the needy, the traveller (wayfarer), the beggars, for the emancipation of slaves and captives, the ones who collect them and those who are inclined to converting to Islam. It is a duty upon Muslims:

It is not righteousness that you turn your faces towards the East and the West, but righteousness is this that one should believe in Allah and the last day and the angels and the Book and the prophets, and give away wealth out of love for Him to the near of kin and the orphans and the needy and the wayfarer and the beggars and for (the emancipation of) the captives, and keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate; and the performers of their promise when they make a promise, and the patient in distress and affliction and in time of conflicts -- these are they who are {rue (to themselves) and these are they who guard (against evil). (Surah al-Baqara 2:177 Bold emphasis mine)

Alms are only for the poor and the needy, and the officials (appointed) over them, and those whose hearts are made to incline (to truth) and the (ransoming of) captives and those in debts and in the way of Allah and the wayfarer; an ordinance from Allah; and Allah is knowing, Wise. (Surah at-Tawba 9:60)

All that proof and reform being given, it is proven that according to Shamoun's absurd belief, out of all the places in the world, including the Christian and Jewish world, Satan had chosen to reveal himself to misguided barbaric pagans, who buried their daughters alive, did not give women their wedding gifts for free, inherited their women, took back the wedding gifts they gave, did not treat women kindly, did not allow women any rights of inheritance, consumed the property of orphans, did not allow slaves to an agreement for their freedom, sold slaves, forced slave-girls into prostitution, gambled, made themselves drunk with alcohol, worshiped idols, ate from already dead animals whose meat was probably rotten, drank the blood of animals, ate from animals who were strangled or beaten to death, ate food sacrificed to idols, had their women wear little or no clothes when performing a dance or stripping, allowed rape, allowed the male to commit adultery, but not the female and did not give charity at all, even if people were starving and dying.

And according to Shamoun, Satan taught these people, not to bury their daughters alive, to give women their wedding gifts for free, not to inherit women, not to took back the wedding gifts they gave, to treat women kindly, to allow women definite rights of inheritance, not to consume the property of orphans, to allow slaves an agreement for their freedom, not to allow believers to force slave-girls into prostitution, not to gamble, to abstain from drinking alcohol, not to worship idols, not to eat from already dead animals whose meat was probably rotten, not to drink the blood of animals, not to eat from animals who were strangled or beaten to death, not to eat food sacrificed to idols, to order women to dress decently so that they may not be molested and be recognised (for their ability and not their beauty), to ruthlessly kill accursed people who do not abstain from molesting women, did not allow anyone to commit adultery (regardless of his/her gender), to give charity to relatives (kindred), orphans, the poor, the needy, the traveller (wayfarer), the beggars, for the emancipation of slaves and captives, the ones who collect them and those who are inclined to converting to Islam.

I wonder, who in the world can ever think like this. If he does, then he must think of Satan as a being who is concerned for women, orphans and equality and a being that wants to stop idolatry and the sick barbaric practices of idolaters to females, the poor, the orphans and slaves. I wonder, who can every think that?

In the end Shamoun just quotes some links, and there is no need to deal with that. However, he does write a few endnotes.

He wrote:

Endnotes

(1) It needs to be pointed out that the Muslim translator has deliberately distorted the original text of Muhammad Khalid's book. Instead of translating the Arabic words limakr Allah as "the deception of Allah" he has decided to render it as, "from Allah's punishment," in order to obscure the real meaning. It seems that the Muslim translator was rather embarrassed by Abu Bakr's statement that Allah is a deceiver whose promises of granting eternal bliss to the faithful cannot be trusted.

If the reader is interested in seeing what the original text really says we suggest that they turn to page 70 of the Arabic version of Muhammad Khalid's book.

My Response:

The Muslim translator probably did that, to show the true meaning and not just the word-for-word translation of the Arabic limakr Allah. It refers to the planning of Allah (SWT) and in the end of the day, those who planned against the Holy Prophets, to kill them, will indeed be deceived and get the punishment of Allah (SWT). His translation is inaccurate, but the meaning he is trying to show is accurate. He should have put Allah's punishment and explained it in his footnotes.

He wrote:

Moreover, the author conveniently forgot to mention that the reason why Abu Bakr was afraid that his heart might turn away from the faith is because this close companion of Muhammad knew what the Quran says about Allah misleading and turning people away from the guidance:

Then what is the matter with you that you are divided into two parties about the hypocrites? Allah has cast them back (to disbelief) because of what they have earned. Do you want to guide him whom Allah has made to go astray? And he whom Allah has made to go astray, you will never find for him any way (of guidance). S. 4:88

And We sent not a Messenger except with the language of his people, in order that he might make (the Message) clear for them. Then Allah misleads whom He wills and guides whom He wills. And He is the All-Mighty, the All-Wise. S. 14:4

Abu Bakr was therefore fearful of Allah turning his heart away and thereby condemning him to hell since he knew that his god was a deceiver who couldn't be trusted to do as he says. This is despite the fact that Muhammad had personally guaranteed his salvation!

 

My Response:

 

So what? People forget things. What about Shamoun? He lied, proved himself to be a hypocrite, deceived and according to his own words he should have been a Muslim (see above). There is no harm if someone forgets to show the interpretation of a certain Hadith or narration. There may have been others who showed the real meaning of that Hadith.

 

Either way, the position of Abu Bakr (RA) was discussed above. It may have been a decision or judgement, during his Caliphate that he felt was wrong and thus he may have felt that Allah (SWT) may plan against him for this and leave him deceived. Let us discuss the verses from the Holy Qur'an that Shamoun quoted in his endnotes.

 

The first verse, Surah an-Nisa 4:88 says that whoever Allah (SWT) has made astray will not turn to guidance. This issue was discussed at the start of this response, or perhaps a little later, though this verse in particular was not discussed, I think. Anyway, it is indeed true that if Allah (SWT) makes leaves people to go astray they will not be guided ever. But he does not make them born astray. They are given proof of the truth over and over again but they keep rejecting and rebelling, so Allah (SWT) punishes them by forsaking them and letting them go astray. As discussed previously, near the end of this response, I think, it was proven that the God of the Bible also leaves people to go astray and that the God of the Bible deceives. That is simply a punishment for those who are cursed by their nature and nothing unjust.

 

He also quoted Surah al-Ibrahim 14:4. Indeed, Allah (SWT) does mislead whom he wills and guide whom he wills. But his will is based on the deeds of the people. He misleads people who reject and rebel against Prophets and are unjust towards them. He guides those who are with Islam from the start, are loyal to the Prophet sent to them and are persecuted for the sake of righteousness and justice. Indeed, these people are blessed in both the Bible (see Matthew, Chapter 5) and in Islam. It does not mean that Allah (SWT) picks and chooses people whom he wants. Indeed, Allah (SWT) is most wise.

 

Abu Bakr (RA) was not fearful that Allah (SWT) would allegedly deceive him. This has already been discussed right here, a little above.

 

So Shamoun's entire article has nothing of substance and has all been refuted. All Praise Belongs to Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.