What does « To deceive / To dupe » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word To deceive / To dupe (خدع) in the Quran, with 3 verses in which it appears, and a detailed explanation from Al-Raghib al-Asfahani's Mufradat fi gharib al-Qur'an.

خدع

To deceive / To dupe

Root: خ - د - ع

Creed (aqida) 3 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 3 min read

Definition of To deceive / To dupe

Al-khidâ': making others descend from what they seek by something appearing contrary to what is hidden.

Allah says: 'They seek to deceive (yukhâdi'ûn) Allah' (Al-Baqara: 9).

Hypocrites think they deceive Allah while deceiving themselves.

To deceive / To dupe in the Quran (3)

Meccan: 0 Medinan: 3

Distribution of verses by surah

Al-Baqara 1

An-Nisa 1

Al-Anfal 1

Surah Al-Baqara : 9 Medinan

﴿يُخَٰدِعُونَ ٱللَّهَ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَمَا يَخْدَعُونَ إِلَّآ أَنفُسَهُمْ وَمَا يَشْعُرُونَ﴾

They [think to] deceive Allah and those who believe, but they deceive not except themselves and perceive [it] not.

Surah An-Nisa : 142 Medinan

﴿إِنَّ ٱلْمُنَٰفِقِينَ يُخَٰدِعُونَ ٱللَّهَ وَهُوَ خَٰدِعُهُمْ وَإِذَا قَامُوٓا۟ إِلَى ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ قَامُوا۟ كُسَالَىٰ يُرَآءُونَ ٱلنَّاسَ وَلَا يَذْكُرُونَ ٱللَّهَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا﴾

Indeed, the hypocrites [think to] deceive Allah, but He is deceiving them. And when they stand for prayer, they stand lazily, showing [themselves to] the people and not remembering Allah except a little,

Surah Al-Anfal : 62 Medinan

﴿وَإِن يُرِيدُوٓا۟ أَن يَخْدَعُوكَ فَإِنَّ حَسْبَكَ ٱللَّهُ هُوَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَيَّدَكَ بِنَصْرِهِۦ وَبِٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ﴾

But if they intend to deceive you - then sufficient for you is Allah. It is He who supported you with His help and with the believers