What is the interpretation of Allah's saying (May Allah promise, Allah does not break a promise) and His saying (There is no changing of the words of Allah)?
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Question:
Allah says[Ar-Rum 30:6], and He also says there is no changing of the words of Allah, so explain this to us, may Allah reward you with good.
Answer:
The meaning is one: that Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, if He makes a promise, He does not break it, Glorified and Exalted is He. The verse came in the context of the Romans' victory over the Persians. Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, said:[Al-Fatihah 1:1] Alif, Lam, Mim. The Romans have been defeated in the nearest land, but they, after having been defeated, will overcome within a few years. To Allah belongs the command before and after. And on that day the believers will rejoice in the help of Allah. He will help whom He wills, and He is the Mighty, the Merciful. The promise of Allah, Allah does not break His promise, but [Ar-Rum 30:6-7]. This is because, during the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), the polytheist Persians invaded the Romans, who were Christians and People of the Book, and they defeated them. This was distressing for the Muslims, and the Muslims were grieved by this, because the Romans were People of the Book and the Persians were polytheists.
So the victory of the polytheists over the People of the Book was a calamity for the Muslims, which is why it distressed them. So Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, promised that He would sustain the dominance over the Persians, and that the Romans would overcome them. And at that time, the believers will rejoice in this victory, the victory of the People of the Book over the polytheists. Also, the Muslims will overcome the disbelievers, the People of the Book and others, in the future,[Ar-Rum 30:4-5]. Yes. And there is no changing of the words of Allah in this type of matter either: that Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, if He informs of something or promises something in His Noble Book, it must happen. Yes. May Allah reward you with good, and may He do you good.
Allah says
[It is] the promise of Allah. Allah does not fail in His promise
وَعْدَ اللَّهِ لَا يُخْلِفُ اللَّهُ وَعْدَهُAnswer:
The meaning is one: that Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, if He makes a promise, He does not break it, Glorified and Exalted is He. The verse came in the context of the Romans' victory over the Persians. Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, said:
In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِof the people do not know. (7) They know what is apparent of the worldly life, but they, of the Hereafter, are unaware.
النَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ يَعْلَمُونَ ظَاهِرًا مِّنَ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَهُمْ عَنِ الْآخِرَةِ هُمْ غَافِلُونَSo the victory of the polytheists over the People of the Book was a calamity for the Muslims, which is why it distressed them. So Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, promised that He would sustain the dominance over the Persians, and that the Romans would overcome them. And at that time, the believers will rejoice in this victory, the victory of the People of the Book over the polytheists. Also, the Muslims will overcome the disbelievers, the People of the Book and others, in the future,
And that day the believers will rejoice (5) In the victory of Allah. He gives victory to whom He wills, and He is the Exalted in Might, the Merciful.
وَيَوْمَئِذٍ يَفْرَحُ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ بِنَصْرِ اللَّهِ يَنصُرُ مَن يَشَاءُ وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الرَّحِيمُ
Source
قناة «العلامة الدكتور صالح الفوزان»، ما تفسير قوله تعالى (وعد الله لا يخلف الله وعدا) وقوله (لا تبديل لكلمات الله)؟ الشيخ صالح الفوزان — youtube.com
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.