Have you ever wondered what Ayat Al-Kursi means and why it is a virtuous verse? Understanding its meaning will help you realize the enormity of Allah’s power. Here is a comprehensive explanation of Ayat Al-Kursi.
Ayat Al-Kursi Translation
Allah! There is no god (worthy of worship) except Him, the Ever-Living, All-Sustaining. Neither tiredness nor sleep overtakes Him. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. Who could possibly intercede with Him without His permission? He knows what is ahead of them and what is behind them, but no one can grasp any of His knowledge, except what He wills. His Seat encompasses the heavens and the earth, and the preservation of both does not tire Him. For He is the Highest, the Greatest. (Surah al-Baqarah 2:255)
Meaning and Explanation
Also known as the Verse of Throne, Ayat Al-Kursi is an Islamic recitation that Muslims memorize from a very young age. It is the greatest verse in the Holy Quran which comprehensively sums up all the qualities and attributes of Allah. Ayat Al-Kursi is the 255th verse of Surah Al-Baqarah, the second surah in the Holy Quran.
The verse begins by affirming the unity of Allah. He is the only deity of worship and unconditional obedience. When in distress, a believer seeks only Allah’s help and guidance. Only He can bring one out of despair and calamity.
The verse explains Allah’s two most important attributes. Firstly, Allah is Ever-Living. Everything else has been born and will die. The universe, angels, jinn, humans, and everything else have been created by Allah. But Allah has neither been born nor will die. He has always been and will always exist.
The second virtue of Allah is that he is All-Sustaining. Only Allah has the power and authority to feed and sustain anyone. From the smallest creature deep down the ocean to the largest mammals worldwide, Allah provides and nourishes everyone. The tiniest seedling depends on Allah for provision. Nothing gets out of His sight or attention. He meticulously sustains everything in the universe. So we must worship Allah and seek His pleasure to improve our sustenance.
Allah has the enormous task of maintaining order and balance in the universe and beyond. Yet He does everything without error. Allah is the Perfect One. He does not get tired or sleepy. He is above every human capability. We cannot even blink unless Allah wishes.
Ayat Al-Kursi explains the extent of Allah’s kingdom. Everything in and beyond the universe belongs to Allah. He is the Sole Owner of all the galaxies, planets, mountains, rivers, and the tiniest particle of sand. Even our bodies do not belong to us. We are custodians of Allah’s blessings. Hence, we must be careful with our conduct towards ourselves and other creatures. We must be humble, caring, and responsible as Allah will question us about our behavior on the Day of Judgement.
The Verse of Throne explicitly declares that Allah alone is the Decider of everyone’s decree. No one can intercede with Him, other than those whom He wishes. This has a very important implication for the believers. If we wish to earn Allah’s favor, we must strive to build a strong connection with Him, believing that only He is Powerful to decide our fate.
Furthermore, the verse explains Allah’s boundless knowledge. He knows everything in the past, present, and the future. We cannot comprehend His divine knowledge and its extent. This is a source of comfort for the believers when their wishes do not come true. Allah knows that which we do not. And Allah knows the best.
Allah has made humans the best of his creatures. Throughout the ages, man utilized his skills to make countless discoveries and inventions. Using his intelligence, man has made so many impossible things possible today. However, it is all because Allah allowed it to happen.
Whatever we do and achieve is only because of Allah’s will. Hence, we must never be arrogant.
Closing the verse, Allah reemphasizes His extensive Throne, unbounded by time and space. He is the Greatest and the Supreme Authority. Hence, He is the Only One worthy of worship, devotion, and praise.
Virtues of Reciting Ayat Al-Kursi
Ayat Al-Kursi is one of the best ways to glorify Allah. When a person recites Ayat Al-Kursi, he proclaims Allah’s Supremacy. Hence, Allah blesses the believer with immense reward.
According to a narration of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), reciting Ayat Al-Kursi after prayers leads to paradise It is highly virtuous to recite Ayat Al-Kursi. One can make a habit of reciting it after obligatory prayers, before going to bed, after waking up, or when leaving the house. When a person recites Ayat Al-Kursi, Allah protects him from all evils and calamities. It protects from black magic, the devil, and the evil eye.
According to a hadith:
“Everything has a summit, and the summit of the Qur’an is Surah al-Baqarah. It contains a verse which is the chief of the Qur’an, the verse of the Throne.” (Sunan al-Tirmidhī 2878)
Protection and Blessing
The explanation of Ayat Al-Kursi tells us how important it is. It beautifully sums up the first pillar of Islam which is Tauheed. Hence, recite Ayat Al-Kursi regularly to earn Allah’s protection and blessings.
