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Ayat Al-Kursi

By: Dr. D.S. Merchant

"The ayat al-kursi (the verse of the throne or sedile), is also known as ayat al-hifz. It is a single verse of the Koran (2:255) of more than average length, consisting ten sentences, is one of the principal verses of refuge and protection. It is the loftiest verse of the Koran, and according to George Sale, "It is a magnificent description of the Divine Majesty and Providence". Wherry writes that it is "one of the grandest verses of the Koran." Ayat al-Kursi is one of the most excellent verses of the Koran, and played a key role in piety. It has as well evoked much mystical thought and feeling through the lyrical beauty of its language. These qualities have no doubt given it the prominent place it occupies in the intellectual life of Muslim society.

Qurtubi writes in al-Jami li-Ahkam al-Koran (Cairo, 1967, 2:268) that the Throne Verse was revealed at night and that the Prophet immediately sent for Zaid bin Thabit to write it down. Qurtubi also writes that the Prophet once asked Ubayy, "O'Abul Mundhir! Do you know which of the verse of the Koran in your possession is the greatest?" Ubayy said, "God and His Apostle know best." The Prophet struck Ubayy in the chest and exclaimed, "You possess true knowledge. By Him in whose Hand is my soul, the Throne Verse has a tongue and two lips with which it sanctifies the King at the foot of the Throne." The Prophet also said to Ali bin Abu Talib: "The mast of the Koran is Surat al-Baqarah, and the master of Sura Baqarah is the Throne Verse. O'Ali, it consists of fifty words, and every word contains fifty blessings." (Majma al-Bayan fi Tafsir al-Koran, 2:299).


The following is the ayat al-kursi with translation:-

Allaho la illaha illa howa
God! There is no god but He.

Al haiyul qayyum
The Ever-Living, the Self-Subsisting.

La ta'khozuhoo sinatun wala naum
Neither slumber overtakes Him, nor sleep.

Lahu ma fis samaa waate wama fil ard
To him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth.

Manzallazi yashfa'o indadhu illa bi iznehi
Who is he that can intercede with Him except by His permission.

Ya'lamo man baina adideehim wama khalfahum
He knows that which is in front of them and that which is behind them.

Walla yoheetuna bi shai'im min ilmehi illa bemashaa'a
And they encompass nothing of His knowledge except what He pleases.

Wase'a kursiuhus samaawaate wal ard
His Throne extends over the heavens and the earth.

Wala ya'oododhu hifzohuma
He is never tired of preserving them.

Wa howal Aliul Azeem
He is the Most Hight, the Great.

"The ayat al-kursi (the verse of the throne or sedile), is also known as ayat al-hifz. It is a single verse of the Koran (2:255) of more than average length, consisting ten sentences, is one of the principal verses of refuge and protection. It is the loftiest verse of the Koran, and according to George Sale, "It is a magnificent description of the Divine Majesty and Providence". Wherry writes that it is "one of the grandest verses of the Koran." Ayat al-Kursi is one of the most excellent verses of the Koran, and played a key role in piety. It has as well evoked much mystical thought and feeling through the lyrical beauty of its language. These qualities have no doubt given it the prominent place it occupies in the intellectual life of Muslim society.

Mumtaz Ali Tajddin S. Ali is an popular Ismaili Scholar, He has written many books on history and culture of Islam and Ismailism, read about Ayat Al-Kursi and noorani family in his popular book Encyclopedia of Ismailism, must read about Other books 101 Ismaili Heroes etc.

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