Friday, June 13, 2025

The Deceptive Nature of Allah: A Theological Critique Exposing Allah as Satan According to Biblical Theology

By Dr. Maxwell Shimba, Shimba Theological Institute

Introduction

The critical examination of the Islamic conception of Allah, especially in comparison to the biblical revelation of God, reveals substantial theological dissonance. One of the most controversial attributes ascribed to Allah in the Qur’an is that he is the "best of deceivers" (Arabic: makr). In Christian theology, the title "deceiver" is reserved for Satan, the adversary of God and man. The present article seeks to expose, through scholarly critique and theological exposition, how the Qur’anic portrayal of Allah aligns more closely with the biblical description of Satan than with the God of the Bible, thereby raising serious doubts about the credibility of Islam.

1. The Biblical Identity of Satan as the Deceiver

The Bible is unequivocal in its depiction of Satan as the deceiver. Jesus Himself identifies Satan as “a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44). In Revelation 12:9, Satan is described as “the great dragon… that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray.” The very character of Satan is deception; his mission is to mislead humanity away from the truth of God.

Relevant Biblical References:

John 8:44: “You belong to your father, the devil… there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”
2 Corinthians 11:14: “And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.”
Revelation 12:9: “…Satan, who leads the whole world astray.”

2. Allah as “The Best of Deceivers” in the Qur’an

The Qur’an describes Allah as the “best of planners” or “best of deceivers” (khayru al-makirin). The Arabic word makr specifically refers to cunning, plotting, and deceptive strategy.

Qur’anic Evidence:

Surah Al-Imran 3:54: “And they (the disbelievers) planned, but Allah planned. And Allah is the best of planners (makirin).”
Surah Al-Anfal 8:30: “And [remember] when those who disbelieved plotted against you… but Allah plotted. And Allah is the best of planners.”

Islamic exegesis (Tafsir) often admits that makr denotes plotting or cunning, even deception.

3. Allah Praying: The Crisis of Divine Self-Sufficiency

As cited in the provided evidence (Al-Adab Al-Mufrad 643), Islamic sources report that “Allah prays” for or upon Muhammad. This is theologically problematic:

To whom does Allah pray?
Prayer, by definition, is the act of supplication or worship directed to a higher power. If Allah prays, he is necessarily acknowledging one greater than himself, which undermines his supposed transcendence and omnipotence.
Biblical God Never Prays:
The God of the Bible receives prayer but never prays or supplicates. He is the eternal, self-sufficient “I AM” (Exodus 3:14), the uncreated Creator.

4. Theological Implications: Allah and Satan—A Comparative Analysis

A. Shared Attributes of Deception

Biblical Satan:
Master deceiver, father of lies, seducer, and opposer of the truth.
Qur’anic Allah:
Declares himself the “best of deceivers,” admits to plotting and misleading, even permitting the use of lies (taqiyya) for self-preservation.

B. The Incompatibility with Biblical Theology

The God of the Bible is described as “Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5).
He “cannot lie” (Titus 1:2).
Deception is utterly contrary to His nature.

If the god of the Qur’an openly claims attributes that, according to the Bible, belong to Satan, then it follows that:

Allah is not the God of the Bible.
Islam is predicated upon a foundation that is theologically antithetical to biblical revelation.
Islam, therefore, cannot be trusted as a divine faith, for it enshrines the very qualities the Bible condemns.

5. Historical and Doctrinal Ramifications

Throughout history, religions have been judged by the character of their deity. A god who is deceitful, who prays to another, and who aligns with the qualities ascribed to the enemy of humanity in Christian doctrine cannot be considered the true God. This exposes Islam as, at best, a human or even satanic fabrication designed to mislead.

Supporting Scholarly References

Ibn Kathir (Tafsir): Acknowledges that “makr” means cunning and deception.
Theological Lexicon of the New Testament (Ceslas Spicq): Contrasts biblical and Quranic conceptions of God’s character.

6. Conclusion: Islam as a Fraudulent Faith

In light of the foregoing, the Qur’anic Allah's self-declaration as a deceiver and the admission that he “prays” (thereby acknowledging a higher power) presents a theological crisis that is insurmountable. By biblical standards, Allah's attributes are those of Satan, not the true God. Therefore, Islam, being based on such a conception of deity, is revealed as a fraud, unworthy of trust or faith.

Final Scriptural Warning:

“Do not be deceived: God is not mocked.” (Galatians 6:7)

By Dr. Maxwell Shimba
Shimba Theological Institute

References:

The Holy Bible, NIV.
The Qur’an, Saheeh International.
Al-Adab Al-Mufrad, Book 31, Hadith 643.
Ibn Kathir, Tafsir.
Theological Lexicon of the New Testament.

This article is for scholarly and theological debate purposes and invites critical engagement from all religious and academic communities.