مَا يُبَدَّلُ ٱلْقَوْلُ لَدَىَّ وَمَآ أَنَا۠ بِظَلَّـٰمٍ لِّلْعَبِيدِ 29
Translations
The word [i.e., decree] will not be changed with Me, and never will I be unjust to the servants."
Transliteration
Ma yubaddalu al-qawlu ladayya wa ma ana bi-dhallamin lil-abid
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms Allah's absolute justice and the immutability of His decree, stated in the context of the Day of Judgment. Allah declares that His word cannot be changed or altered, and He is not unjust to His servants—meaning every soul will receive exactly what it deserves based on its deeds. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize that this reassurance comes as Allah addresses those who will enter Paradise and those who will enter Hell, assuring all of His perfect fairness in judgment.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Qaf's description of the Day of Resurrection and the final judgment. It comes after the detailed account of how souls are recorded and brought forth on the Day of Judgment, serving to reassure believers of Allah's justice and the certainty of His divine decree in matters of accountability and reward/punishment.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The most merciful of you in judgment among your people will be those who fear Allah most.' (Tirmidhi) - This relates to the theme of divine justice. Also relevant: 'Verily, Allah has prescribed excellence (ihsan) in all things.' (Sahih Muslim 1955) - emphasizing Allah's perfect justice in all His dealings.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah should instill confidence in believers that Allah's judgment is absolutely just and no one will be wronged on the Day of Resurrection, encouraging righteous conduct and trust in Divine wisdom. For modern readers, it serves as a reminder that ultimate fairness exists with Allah alone, and therefore we should strive for justice in our dealings while surrendering our ultimate concerns to His perfect judgment.
Related Ayahs
وَلَن يَنفَعَكُمُ ٱلْيَوْمَ إِذ ظَّلَمْتُمْ أَنَّكُمْ فِى ٱلْعَذَابِ مُشْتَرِكُونَ
And never will it benefit you that Day, when you have wronged, that you are [all] sharing in the punishment.
قَالَ كَذَٰلِكَ أَتَتْكَ ءَايَـٰتُنَا فَنَسِيتَهَا ۖ وَكَذَٰلِكَ ٱلْيَوْمَ تُنسَىٰ
[Allāh] will say, "Thus did Our signs come to you, and you forgot [i.e., disregarded] them; and thus will you this Day be forgotten."
ضَرَبَ لَكُم مَّثَلًا مِّنْ أَنفُسِكُمْ ۖ هَل لَّكُم مِّن مَّا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَـٰنُكُم مِّن شُرَكَآءَ فِى مَا رَزَقْنَـٰكُمْ فَأَنتُمْ فِيهِ سَوَآءٌ تَخَافُونَهُمْ كَخِيفَتِكُمْ أَنفُسَكُمْ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ نُفَصِّلُ ٱلْـَٔايَـٰتِ لِقَوْمٍ يَعْقِلُونَ
He presents to you an example from yourselves. Do you have among those whom your right hands possess [i.e., slaves] any partners in what We have provided for you so that you are equal therein [and] would fear them as your fear of one another [within a partnership]? Thus do We detail the verses for a people who use reason.
لَّهُمْ عَذَابٌ فِى ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا ۖ وَلَعَذَابُ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ أَشَقُّ ۖ وَمَا لَهُم مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ مِن وَاقٍ
For them will be punishment in the life of [this] world, and the punishment of the Hereafter is more severe. And they will not have from Allāh any protector.