What is the difference between خلد (khuld) and لَا يَمُوتُ (la yamut)?

In the Qur'an, the terms خلد (khuld) and لَا يَمُوتُ (la yamut) refer to different concepts related to eternity and immortality.

خُلْد (khuld) is often translated as "eternal" or "everlasting." It implies a state of permanence, particularly in the context of Paradise, where believers will reside forever. The Qur'an states: And give glad tidings (O Muhammad) unto those who believe and do good works; that theirs are Gardens underneath which rivers flow; as often as they are regaled with food of the fruit thereof, they say: this is what was given us aforetime; and it is given to them in resemblance. There for them are pure companions; there for ever they abide. 2:25. This verse highlights the concept of eternal life in Paradise, emphasizing that those who enter it will do so for eternity.

On the other hand, لَا يَمُوتُ (la yamut) translates to "will not die." This phrase focuses specifically on the idea of being free from death. It is often used in the context of the rewards in the Hereafter, where the righteous will not experience death after entering Paradise. This concept emphasizes the absence of mortality in the afterlife for the believers, as they will live on without the end that characterizes worldly life.

In summary, while خُلْد (khuld) emphasizes the eternal nature of existence in Paradise, لَا يَمُوتُ (la yamut) underscores the idea of being free from death, particularly in the context of the afterlife for the believers. Both terms convey the notion of everlasting life, but from slightly different angles—one from the perspective of eternity itself and the other from the perspective of the cessation of death.