Classical philosophy posits that to change is to move from one state to another over time, suggesting a sequential order where events are distinct and occur within a temporal framework. For instance, Aristotle’s concept of change involves potentiality and actuality: a seed has the potential to become a tree, and the process of growing into a tree is the actualization of this potential, which occurs over time.
However, the concept of change is not a quality befitting of God, as God is outside of time and space, and the idea of actualizing potential does not ever apply to God but only to His creations. This is because God is forever perfect, immutable, and absolute. This is best encompassed in the four verses of Sura 112: Absoluteness (Al-Ikhlaas).
[112:0] In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful 112:1 Proclaim, “He is the One and only GOD. 112:2 “The Absolute GOD. 112:3 “Never did He beget. Nor was He begotten. 112:4 “None equals Him.”
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ قُلْ هُوَ ٱللَّهُ أَحَدٌ ٱللَّهُ ٱلصَّمَدُ لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُۥ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌۢ
Change requires being subject to time and space and only applies to created beings, but God remains immutable and perfect and transcends these constraints. Philosophically, whatever God is at any moment is what God has always been and always will be. None of God’s attributes are subject to time and space, just as God Himself is not subject to time and space. For instance, God did not become the Creator, Most Just, or Most Gracious, signifying that there was a time He wasn’t these attributes; rather, God has always been and will always be the Creator, Most Just, or Most Gracious. This understanding underscores God’s absolute nature and eternal perfection, highlighting that God’s essence and attributes are constant and unchanging.