Discover the meaning of the term Makr (مكر) in Islamic vocabulary.
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Updated on 11 April 2026 at 1:05 AM
📖 2 min readFrom the Truth’s, transcendent, side: favors’ following despite disobedience, the state’s keeping despite ill conduct, graces’ showing without effort; from the servant’s: bringing the disliked to man whence he senses not.
From the Truth’s, sublime His import, side: favors’ following despite disobedience, and the casting of the state with…
What its actor intends inwardly contrary to what its outward demands.
From the Truth’s side: favors’ following despite disobedience, the state’s keeping despite ill conduct, graces’ showing without effort (Istilahat as-Soufiyya).
From the Truth’s side: favors’ following despite disobedience, the state’s keeping despite ill conduct, graces’ showing without effort; from the servant’s: bringing the disliked to man whence he senses it not, said as-Sayyid.
﴿وَمَكَرُوا۟ وَمَكَرَ ٱللَّهُ ۖ وَٱللَّهُ خَيْرُ ٱلْمَـٰكِرِينَ﴾
« And the disbelievers planned, but Allah planned. And Allah is the best of planners. »
Surah آل عمران : 54
﴿أَفَأَمِنُوا۟ مَكْرَ ٱللَّهِ ۚ فَلَا يَأْمَنُ مَكْرَ ٱللَّهِ إِلَّا ٱلْقَوْمُ ٱلْخَـٰسِرُونَ﴾
« Then did they feel secure from the plan of Allah? But no one feels secure from the plan of Allah except the losing people. »
Surah الأعراف : 99
﴿قَالَ فِرْعَوْنُ ءَامَنتُم بِهِۦ قَبْلَ أَنْ ءَاذَنَ لَكُمْ ۖ إِنَّ هَـٰذَا لَمَكْرٌۭ مَّكَرْتُمُوهُ فِى ٱلْمَدِينَةِ لِتُخْرِجُوا۟ مِنْهَآ أَهْلَهَا ۖ فَسَوْفَ تَعْلَمُونَ﴾
« Said Pharaoh, "You believed in him before I gave you permission. Indeed, this is a conspiracy which you conspired in the city to expel therefrom its people. But you are going to know. »
Surah الأعراف : 123
﴿وَإِذْ يَمْكُرُ بِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لِيُثْبِتُوكَ أَوْ يَقْتُلُوكَ أَوْ يُخْرِجُوكَ ۚ وَيَمْكُرُونَ وَيَمْكُرُ ٱللَّهُ ۖ وَٱللَّهُ خَيْرُ ٱلْمَـٰكِرِينَ﴾
« And [remember, O Muhammad], when those who disbelieved plotted against you to restrain you or kill you or evict you [from Makkah]. But they plan, and Allah plans. And Allah is the best of planners. »
Surah الأنفال : 30
﴿وَإِذَآ أَذَقْنَا ٱلنَّاسَ رَحْمَةًۭ مِّنۢ بَعْدِ ضَرَّآءَ مَسَّتْهُمْ إِذَا لَهُم مَّكْرٌۭ فِىٓ ءَايَاتِنَا ۚ قُلِ ٱللَّهُ أَسْرَعُ مَكْرًا ۚ إِنَّ رُسُلَنَا يَكْتُبُونَ مَا تَمْكُرُونَ﴾
« And when We give the people a taste of mercy after adversity has touched them, at once they conspire against Our verses. Say, "Allah is swifter in strategy." Indeed, Our messengers record that which you conspire »
Surah يونس : 21
﴿فَلَمَّا سَمِعَتْ بِمَكْرِهِنَّ أَرْسَلَتْ إِلَيْهِنَّ وَأَعْتَدَتْ لَهُنَّ مُتَّكَـًۭٔا وَءَاتَتْ كُلَّ وَٰحِدَةٍۢ مِّنْهُنَّ سِكِّينًۭا وَقَالَتِ ٱخْرُجْ عَلَيْهِنَّ ۖ فَلَمَّا رَأَيْنَهُۥٓ أَكْبَرْنَهُۥ وَقَطَّعْنَ أَيْدِيَهُنَّ وَقُلْنَ حَـٰشَ لِلَّهِ مَا هَـٰذَا بَشَرًا إِنْ هَـٰذَآ إِلَّا مَلَكٌۭ كَرِيمٌۭ﴾
« So when she heard of their scheming, she sent for them and prepared for them a banquet and gave each one of them a knife and said [to Joseph], "Come out before them." And when they saw him, they greatly admired him and cut their hands and said, "Perfect is Allah! This is not a man; this is none but a noble angel." »
Surah يوسف : 31
This term appears in 19 verses of the Quran.