مَا يُبَدَّلُ الْقَوْلُ لَدَيَّ وَمَا أَنَا بِظَلَّامٍ لِّلْعَبِيدِ
“The word will not be changed with Me, and never will I be unjust to the servants”.
- Unchangeable Word - Absolute Justice - Servants addressed
What does “Al-Qawl” (The Word) refer to?
It means that Allah will not violate what He has promised us. This includes His statement to Shaytan and the firm promise regarding those who follow him. The word He uttered will not be changed or replaced.
The Promise that Stands الْقَوْلُ
- What does الْقَوْلُ “The word” that will not be replaced or changed refer to? It means that Allah will not violate what He has promised us.
- Allah is telling them not to argue before now because the word He uttered and promised them will not be changed or replaced now.
- This is the promise that He made to those who follow Shaytan.
اخْرُجْ مِنْهَا مَذْءُومًا مَّدْحُورًا ۖ لَّمَن تَبِعَكَ مِنْهُمْ لَأَمْلَأَنَّ جَهَنَّمَ مِنكُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ
“Get out from it (i.e., paradise), reproached and expelled. Whoever follows you among them, I will absolutely fill Hell with you, all together” (Al-Aa’raaf: 18).
Non-negotiable decree
Justice aligned with promise
Warning to followers of Shaytan
Language points and insights
ظَلَّام (Zhallaam) Form: فَعَّال
This is the hyperbolised form of ظَالم (Zhaalim) which refers to someone who does ظُلْم (Zhulm) “injustice”.
- The pattern فَعَّال is used for:
- Repetition or intensity of action.
- نِسْبَة (Nisbah) — “attribution”, i.e., associating something as a defining title.
- Example: الخَبَّاز is not “one who bakes over and over again”, but “a baker” — one associated with baking. It implies a title that characterises somebody.
- In this verse the meaning can imply: “My title has never been that of an oppressor or wrongdoer to my slaves”. It is therefore a denial of the attribution and not a denial of the repetition of the act of being unjust.
It was said: “Don’t assume that ظَلَّام (Zhallaam) is in the Mubaalaghah (hyperbolised and intensified) form and that the meaning here is “I don’t do a lot of Zhulm (injustice)”, rather it is the Nisbah (attribution) form, making the meaning: “I am not One who does injustice or associated with wrongdoing”.”
إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَظْلِمُ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ
عَبِيد (‘Abeed) vs عِبَاد (‘Ibaad) Plurals of عَبْد
- Previously in this Surah: رِّزْقًا لِّلْعِبَادِ — like عَبِيد, both are plurals of عَبْد (‘Abd).
- عِبَاد (‘Ibaad): used for worshipping slaves, with a positive connotation.
- عَبِيد (‘Abeed): used to refer to degraded and humiliated slaves.
- It implies here: “I don’t do wrong even against the degraded slaves”.
Justice extends to all
‘Ibaad (positive)
‘Abeed (degraded)
Integrated meaning and mindset
Certainty in the Divine Word
The decree stands: the promised outcome for those who follow Shaytan does not change. The Word is firm, final, and not open to dispute.
Justice without Attribution of Oppression
“Not a ظَلَّام” emphasizes that oppression is not a Divine title or attribute. The denial targets attribution, not mere frequency.
Dignity Considered — for all Servants
Whether عِبَاد with a positive connotation or عَبِيد with a degraded sense, injustice does not befall them from Him — not even a speck’s weight.