54. Al-Qamar (The Moon)

Mecca Period 37


The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:



إِنَّ الْمُتَّقِينَ فِي جَنَّاتٍ وَنَهَرٍ ﴿٥٤﴾

54: 54.  As to the Righteous, they will be in the midst of Gardens and Rivers.

C5168. The record, in the case of those who dishonoured and violated Truth, will lead to their undoing; but in the case of those who honoured the Truth and adopted it so as to shine in their righteous lives, the result is expressed by four metaphors, in an ascending degree of sublimity:

"Gardens" with Rivers (flowing beneath): this has been explained more than once already:

Cf. n. 4668 to 43:70.

The Garden suggests all the Bliss we can imagine through our senses. (R).

فِي مَقْعَدِ صِدْقٍ ...

54: 55.  In an Assembly of Truth,

C5169. While we possess our bodily senses, the best conceptions we can form are through our sense-perceptions, and the Garden is a good symbol from that point of view.

The next higher understanding of spiritual truth is through our intellect and social satisfaction. This is best symbolized by the Assembly of Truth - the gathering in which we sit with our fellows and enjoy the realisation of Truth and the dissipation of falsehood and half-truths.

... عِندَ مَلِيكٍ ...

in the Presence ....

C5170. But there is a higher conception still, something that it can only be expressed by reference to the Presence of Allah. (R).

... مُّقْتَدِرٍ ﴿٥٥﴾

.. of a Sovereign Omnipotent.

C5171. Muqtadir, which is translated Omnipotent, implies something more: the eighth- declension form denotes not only complete mastery, but the further idea that the mastery arises from Allah's own nature, and depends on nothing else whatever. (R).

Asad’s Version:


54:54 [Hence, too,] behold, the God-conscious will find themselves in [a paradise of] gardens and running waters,

(54:55) in a seat of truth, in the presence of a Sovereign who determines all things....


Yuksel’s Version:


54:54 The righteous will be in paradises and rivers.

54:55 In a position of honor, at an Omnipotent King.