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Friday 21 September 2012

The Greatest Verse (Ayat Al-Kursi)



Surah Al-Baqara, Verse 255 The Verse of The Throne:

"Allah is He besides Whom there is no god, the Everliving, the Self-subsisting by Whom all subsist; slumber does not overtake Him nor sleep; whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth is His; who is he that can intercede with Him but by His permission? He knows what is before them and what is behind them, and they cannot comprehend anything out of His knowledge except what He pleases, His knowledge extends over the heavens and the earth, and the preservation of them both tires Him not, and He is the Most High, the Great."
(English - Shakir)

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was reported to have described Verse 255 in Al-Baqara "the greatest verse" in The Qur'an. [Bukhari]. The text of this glorious verse adorns the wall of Muslim homes, shops and mosques. It is amongst the most memorized and frequently recited  verses in The Qur'an. It is the only verse in The Qur'an that is mentioned by a name, Ayat Al-Kursi. Though kursi literally means chair or footstool, Ayat Al-Kursi is widely translated as "The Verse of The Throne" of the Almighty. Al-Kursi must not be confused with Al-Arsh (The Throne) which is infinitely higher and greater than Al-Kursi. Only a brief overview is presented here. Reading the authentic commentaries is therefore essential for better understanding. The grandeur and uniqueness of Allah is described in Ayat Al-Kursi that has the following ten Arabic segments:

Allah, there is nothing worthy of worship except Him


Belief in Islam begins with rejecting the worship of false and multiple gods. Ayat Al-Kursi affirms belief in Allah, the One and Only Creator Who does not have partners, associates, spouse or a son, and is The Only One worthy of worship.

Allah is Ever-Living, Self-Existing and All-Sustaining


Allah describes His creation as "the living". [21:30, 35:22]. In Ayat Al-Kursi, Allah describes Himself as "Ever-Living". Allah is outside the dimension of time, having no beginning or end. Allah is independent of needs and exists without needing any support. All His created things depend on Him for all their needs.

Neither slumber nor sleep overtakes Allah


Ayat Al-Kursi corrects the corruption that had entered into earlier Scriptures that ascribe to God characteristics of human beings. Allah The Most High does not have the weakness of created things. Allah says, "nothing of fatigue touched Us" during His creation of "the heavens and the earth, and all between them" [50:38]. Allah is thus never in need of "rest". Allah is ever-awake with complete authority over His creation.

To Allah belongs everything in the heavens and the earth

Ayat Al-Kursi declares that Allah is the sole owner of all of His creation. We are His servants. He has given us this life for a fixed period of time to worship Him by obeying the guidance in The Qur'an and the traditions of Prophet Muhammad [pbuh]. There is Paradise to those who obey and become worthy  of His Mercy, and Hell Fire to those who disobey.

Who can mediate with Allah in His presence except by His permission?

Ayat Al-Kursi refutes the idea that anyone or anything has the power to impose its will on Allah. Such influence would be contrary to Allah's complete authority and sovereignity. Pleading for others can therefore exist only by Allah's design and permission. Believers supplicate to Allah The Exalted to bless Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) with the right of mediation on Judgement Day.

Allah knows what happens to each of His creation in this life and what awaits them in the Hereafter

Allah has perfect knowledge of all of His creation: their past, present and future. Though Allah has given us free will to choose after making clear to us the truth from falsehood, Allah knows the choices we will make as He exists outside the dimension of time.

And none can encompass any of Allah's knowledge except what He pleases

As The All-Knowing (Al'Alim), Allah is the sole source of all knowledge. What we "know" is only what Allah has conveyed and allowed us to know. The Believers supplicate to Allah to increase their knowledge [21:5]. Allah promises "We will show them our signs in all the regions and in their own souls, until it becomes clear to them that The Qur'an is the Truth" [41:53]. Many relate today's problems to "the mischief that has appeared on land and sea because of the deeds of men, that Allah may make them taste some of their deeds so that they may return to the Truth" [30:41].

Allah's 'Kursi' extends over the heavens and the earth

Though 'Kursi' has been equated with knowledge, sovereignity and kingdom, it is proper that we do not speculate. It is beyond us to grasp the enormity of 'Kursi' that "extends over the heavens and the earth". Allah knows best.

And the care of them (the heavens and the earth) burdens Him not

Managing His creation is easy for Allah. All matters are insignificant, modest and humble before Allah.

And Allah is The Supreme, The Greatest

Allah is beyond comparison or limitation. Allah is The Perfect, The Absolute and The Supreme. Nothing is greater than Allah. Recite Ayat Al-Kursi with knowledge and sincerity, and live by it. Then, nothing will stand in the way of you entering Paradise except your own death [sahih]. To those worshipping false and mutiple gods, free yourself from falsehood - submit to Allah of Ayat Al-Kursi, live by His guidance and earn a place in Paradise.

-Dr. Y. Mansoor Marican, Ph.D

2 comments:

  1. Asalamu alaikum,

    JazakAllah khair. Have you heard about the wolf speaking..

    Take Care.

    ReplyDelete