What does « Inevitable / Decided » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word Inevitable / Decided (حتم) in the Quran, with 1 verse in which it appears, and a detailed explanation from Al-Raghib al-Asfahani's Mufradat fi gharib al-Qur'an.

حتم
Inevitable / Decided
Root: ح - ت - م
Creed (aqida) 1 verse

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 2 min read

Definition of Inevitable / Decided

Al-hatm: the irrevocable decree.

Al-hâtim: the crow that, according to Arabs, decrees separation.

Allah says: 'And there is none of you except he will pass over it.

This is an inevitable decree (hatman) from your Lord' (Maryam: 71).

Passing over Hell is inevitable for all.

Inevitable / Decided in the Quran (1)

Meccan: 1 Medinan: 0
Surah Maryam : 71 Meccan
﴿وَإِن مِّنكُمْ إِلَّا وَارِدُهَا كَانَ عَلَىٰ رَبِّكَ حَتْمًا مَّقْضِيًّا
And there is none of you except he will come to it. This is upon your Lord an inevitability decreed.

Words from the same root as Inevitable / Decided

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بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم Fri 24 Muharram
الجمعة 24 محرّم
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الله أكبر Allah is the Greatest