Ayah 54:55 — Text and Translation

فِي مَقْعَدِ صِدْقٍ عِندَ مَلِيكٍ مُّقْتَدِرٍ

“In the seating of truth right by the ultimate King who is capable of all things”.

Maq‘ad al-Sidq Maleek Muqtadir

The Seating of Truth — Maq‘ad and Safety

Maq‘ad: A place of settled sitting

  • مَقْعَدِ (Maq‘ad) refers to a place where قُعُود (sitting for a period) takes place.
  • It implies long-term sitting, safety, and relaxation—not being on guard.
  • This is a state where they no longer have to be مُتَّقِينَ (Muttaqeen) i.e., constantly guarding and protecting themselves.

“مَقْعَدِ صِدْقٍ”: Idaafah and Adnā Mulābasah

Idaafah can indicate possession or a loose relation (Adnā Mulābasah), allowing flexible understandings:

  • Seating reserved for people of truth (Sidq)—none sit there but them.
  • The seating promised is itself the truth—the reward is real.
  • Those who lost their seat and standing in this world due to truth are compensated with this seating in the next life.
It therefore implies a noble and honoured seating and standing.

Words for Truth: Sidq vs. Haqq

صِدْق (Sidq) vs. حَقّ (Haqq)

  • Sidq is a word for truth.
  • Haqq implies what is deserved.
  • Allah’s reward—out of Rahmah (loving mercy)—is greater than what is deserved.
  • In the Qur’an, when punishment befalls disbelievers, Haqq and its derivatives are used, indicating that what they receive is deserved.

Near the Ultimate King — Honour and Awe

عِندَ مَلِيكٍ مُّقْتَدِرٍ — Nearness

We are in a seat of truth near to Allah described as Maleek and Muqtadir.

Tafsir of Ar-Razi: “They are now kings close to the ultimate King (Maleek)”—implying the Muttaqeen will be granted the greatest honour and seating close to Allah in the gardens and vastness, abundance, light and rivers.

مَلِيكٍ (Maleek): Permanent Kingship

Morphology
Ism Sifah Mushabbahah on the Fa‘eel pattern; denotes a permanent/inherent quality (like Raheem, Kareem, ‘Azeez).
Meaning
Emphatic form of Malik—absolute sovereignty, intimate dominion, majestic authority.
Insight
All kings of the Dunya rise and fall, but Allah—the only true King—can never fall.

مُقْتَدِر (Muqtadir): Perfect in Ability

  • Emphatic form of Qadeer—capable and powerful.
  • Used earlier in this Surah regarding Fir‘awn: فَأَخَذْنَاهُمْ أَخْذَ عَزِيزٍ مُّقْتَدِرٍ — “So, We seized them with a seizure of one Exalted in Might and Perfect in Ability”.
  • Closeness comes with perpetual awe and humility before Allah, regardless of how near or how much He gives.

Nakirah for Ta‘zheem — Beyond our current knowing

  • Maleek and Muqtadir appear in the Nakirah (undefined) form—used for Ta‘zheem (exalting/aggrandising).
  • Points to aspects of His kingdom we cannot yet know.
  • Earlier: إِنَّا كُلَّ شَيْءٍ خَلَقْنَاهُ بِقَدَرٍ — “Indeed, We created everything with Qadar (measure).”
  • Near Al-Muqtadir, the possessor of Qadar (measure) and Qudrah (power), He will empower the Muttaqeen in ways not yet understood.
  • Thus: Maleek and Muqtadir, not “Al-Maleek” and “Al-Muqtadir,” in this ayah.

Structural Overview — Symmetry in the Last Section of Al-Qamar

A mirrored pattern connects themes across the passage:

1) ↔ 8)
The Zubur (records) will not grant immunity but condemn — ↔ — The elites are in great trouble whilst the Muttaqeen are in the highest company, utterly safe.
2) ↔ 7)
“Are you united in revenge? You will be defeated and turn your backs in flight” — ↔ — “I have dealt with your kinds before. Will anyone take a reminder?”
3) ↔ 6)
The fixed appointed time — ↔ — Everything is scheduled and measured, and His decree happens by the glance of an eye.
4) ↔ 5)
Criminals engulfed in misdirection/ruin/insanity/fire — ↔ — Dragged into the fire upon their faces, tasting the touch of Saqar (melting).
In this way the entire section merges to form a perfect symmetry.

Mindset and Posture — From Vigilance to Rest

Safety after Striving

Those who were Muttaqeen—constantly guarding themselves through obedience and submission—now sit in Maq‘ad Sidq, a settled place of safety, no longer on guard, yet forever in awe of Allah.