Even Muhammad was afraid of his god's deceitfulness; he prayed that Allah
should not deceive him but deceive others on his behalf; according to the
hadith he prayed thus:
"3551.'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 (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)
Abu Bakr, in spite of Muhammad's assurances was anxious about his
standing
with Allah:
"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.
Allah's capacity to lead men astray is confirmed by the Koran:
"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)."( 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."(14:4)
The only God men whom men can trust and in whom they can find peace is
the
God referred to in the Old Testament, Numbers 23:19:
"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?"
The god of Muhammad and Abu Bakr is not to be wor****ped for his glory,
goodness, and truth, he is to be wor****ped out of craven fear.
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