According to search-discovered classical Islamic scholarship, the 'Evil Word' (كَلِمَةٍ خَبِيثَةٍ, Kalimatin Khabithatin) is a powerful Quranic parable in Surah Ibrahim (14:26) that represents the word of disbelief (Kufr) or polytheism (Shirk). Classical commentators, including Ibn Kathir and al-Tabari, unanimously interpret this concept through its metaphor: an 'evil tree...uprooted from the surface of the earth, having no stability'. This tree, often identified as the bitter and fruitless Hanzal (colocynth) plant, symbolizes the inherent instability and worthlessness of any creed or statement not founded on divine truth. The linguistic root of 'khabithah' (خ-ب-ث) signifies impurity and corruption, reinforcing that such a word is spiritually foul and yields no good. This parable stands in direct contrast to the preceding verses on the 'Goodly Word' (faith), illustrating that while truth is firm and fruitful, falsehood is baseless, transient, and ultimately destined for ruin.