How could Abdullah ibn Mas'ud replace the word (الأثيم - al-atheem - the sinful) with the word (الفاجر - al-fajir - the wicked) in the verse: "Indeed, the tree of Zaqqum is the food of the sinful" [Quran 44:43], given the Messenger of Allah's ﷺ saying: "It is not for me to change it of my own accord"?

The Quran is the word of Allah, revealed to Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, and no one can alter it, as Allah Almighty says: (And when Our verses are recited to them as clear evidences, those who do not expect the meeting with Us say, "Bring us a Quran other than this or change it." Say, "It is not for me to change it on my own accord. I only follow what is revealed to me. Indeed, I fear, if I should disobey my Lord, the punishment of a tremendous Day.") [Yunus: 15]. Scholars have unanimously agreed that no human has any input in its composition, wording, or recitation.

As for the narration attributed to Ibn Mas'ud, scholars have responded to it in several ways: 1. That it was a simplification for the learner to understand the meaning of the word, after which he would pronounce it correctly. 2. That the word might have been transmitted with two readings, and Ibn Mas'ud heard both forms from the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him. 3. That it was an interpretation of the verse, not a change of its wording, intending to explain the meaning of (the sinner) as the dissolute.

This last explanation is the most well-known, and it is not permissible to assume that Ibn Mas'ud would attribute his own words to the Quran. There is no concept in Islam known as "reading by meaning." The attempts by some disbelievers and heretics to discredit the authenticity of the Quran's wording and its preservation from distortion are false endeavors.

Al-Qurtubi said: "There is no proof in this for the ignorant people of deviation that it is permissible to replace one letter of the Quran with another; because that was only from Abdullah as a simplification for the learner, and a preparation for him to return to the correct form." If reading by meaning were permissible, the literal wording of the Quran would become obsolete. And the hadith (definition) they rely on for this misguidance is not authenticated by the people of knowledge.

Ibn Taymiyyah said: "As for whoever claimed that Ibn Mas'ud permitted reading by meaning, he has lied about him."