Aya Al-Kursi. The Verse of the Throne. 2:255
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Verse 255 of chapter 2 of the Quran, known as Aya Al-Kursi, the Verse of the Throne, describes the greatness and unique attributes of God, stating that no deity is worthy of worship except Him. It emphasizes His eternal power as the Ever-Living and Sustainer, who neither slumbers nor sleeps, and whose dominion encompasses everything in the heavens and the earth. The verse also asserts His absolute knowledge, His exclusive power to permit intercession, and His ultimate authority over His creation.
The Throne Verse is considered one of the most significant verses in the Quran due to its comprehensive description of God's majesty and power, and its importance in Islamic tradition for protection against evil.
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Unlock deeper understanding of the message and wisdom behind Ayat al-Kursi and its pivotal place in Surah Al-Baqarah. If you find this exploration insightful, please like and share to help others benefit from this knowledge.
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Let’s begin with our supplications.
I seek refuge in Allah from the rejected Satan.
In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate.
Allah, the Ever-Living, the Self-Subsisting by Whom all subsist, there is no god but He. Neither slumber seizes Him, nor sleep; to Him belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth. Who is there who might intercede with Him save with His leave?
He knows what lies before them and what is hidden from them, whereas they cannot attain to anything of His knowledge save what He wills them to attain. His Dominion overspreads the heavens and the earth, and their upholding wearies Him not. He is All-High, All-Glorious.
Following is a detailed commentary on the verse, primarily based on Tafheem Ul Quran.
It should be noted that Irrespective of the many objects of worship established by people in ignorance, the entirety of the godhead belongs exclusively to the Eternal Being. He is indebted to no one for His existence. In fact, He is not only self-existent, but the continued existence of the entire universe depends on Him. He alone possesses all sovereign authority over His dominion. No one shares His attributes, power, or might, and no other being has the same rightful claims on creation as He does. Consequently, to set up any object of worship (ilah)—whether instead of or in addition to the One True God—is to declare war on reality itself.
The Throne Verse also makes clear that Allah is the Ever-Living, the Self-Sustaining, Who is not subject to human limitations. The passage, "Neither slumber overtakes Him nor sleep," serves as a powerful refutation against the tendency to analogize God with imperfect human beings. This is particularly relevant when considering the Biblical narrative in Genesis (chapters 1 and 2), which depicts God as resting on the seventh day after creation.
The phrase: "to Him belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth," signifies God's absolute sovereignty and ownership over all creation. It means that everything, from the smallest atom to the largest galaxy, is under His control and exists by His will, making all of humanity mere custodians of possessions, rather than absolute owners. This concept underscores that God is the ultimate ruler, sustainer, and regulator of the universe, and that nothing occurs without His permission.
The Ayat al-Kursi, or "Throne Verse" masterfully dismantles polytheistic notions that saints, angels, or other created beings possess inherent influence over God. It challenges the belief that such figures could ever be adamant enough to force a divine hand. The verse teaches that no being, no matter how great, can impose its will upon the Creator. Rather, in the majestic court of the Lord, not even the most highly esteemed angels or greatest prophets would utter a single word or intercede without His explicit permission. The verse thus powerfully asserts God's absolute sovereignty and unique power.
The Ayat al-Kursi, or the "Throne Verse," fundamentally dismantles polytheism by asserting the absolute and unlimited sovereignty of God. Building upon prior verses that emphasize God's sole governance of the universe and the limits of intercession, the Ayat reiterates this principle with a focus on divine knowledge. It posits that no created being possesses the requisite knowledge to fully comprehend the universe's intricate order and underlying considerations, thus disqualifying them from legitimate interference in its operation. The knowledge of humans, jinn, angels, and all other creatures is inherently limited and imperfect; no created intellect can grasp all the facts governing existence. The text argues that allowing interference, even in a small part of the cosmos, would disrupt the universal order. Ultimately, creatures lack the capacity to discern what is best for themselves or the universe at large; it is God alone who possesses perfect, all-encompassing knowledge and the capacity for perfect governance.
The Arabic word “kursi” is translated as “dominion”. As an Arabic term, it signifies sovereignty, dominion and authority.
The word Kursi has been variously interpreted by Muslim scholars. The literal meaning is obvious; it is an object to sit on. Scholars have differed, however, as to whether the word has been used in the Qur'an literally or figuratively. They have also disagreed whether the Kursi and 'Arsh, which also occurs in the Qur'an, have one and the same meaning or are they different. The main opinions expressed by the scholars are the following: (1) that Kursi signifies God's knowledge, a view attributed to Ibn 'Abbas; (2) that it is identical with 'Arsh (Throne), a view attributed to Hasan al-Basri; (3) that it signifies God's power; (4) in opposition to such views a large number of scholars insist that Kursi should be considered a reality rather than be understood figuratively. In addition to many earlier scholars, this was vigorously championed by Ibn Taymiyah. It should be remembered, however, that Ibn Taymiyah and others who hold this opinion, side by side with affirming that Kursi is a reality, also emphasize that man has no knowledge about the nature and modality of Kursi and that it ought to be treated as something unique, being related to God Who is unique both in His essence and attributes. (See the commentaries of Alusi. Tabari, Qurtubi, Ibn Kathir and Shawkani on this verse. See also Ibn Taymiyah, Majmu al-Fatawa 1bn Taymiyah, vol. 5, pp. 55-8 and vol. 6, pp. 584-5. It is interesting to note that Sayyid Qutb, (martyred 1386 A.H/966 C.E.), a contemporary of Mawdudi and one of the most influential Islamic thinkers of our time, has interpreted the verse exactly, as Mawdudi did.
Ayat al-Kursi (The 'Verse of the Throne'): A Pivotal Theological Statement
Verse 255 of Chapter 2 is universally recognized as the 'Verse of the Throne' (Ayat al-Kursi). It offers an unparalleled, concise encapsulation of the nature and knowledge of God.
A natural question arises: why introduce such a detailed description of the Lord of the Universe and His attributes at this specific juncture? To appreciate the context fully, one must review the preceding discourse, beginning with verse 243. This section of the text urges believers to strive with their lives and resources to establish the true faith, while simultaneously cautioning them against the weaknesses that previously hampered the Israelites.
The preceding verses also established a fundamental principle regarding conflict: victory and success are not contingent upon numerical or material superiority. Rather, they depend intrinsically on faith, fortitude, discipline, and firm resolve. The divine wisdom underpinning warfare was then disclosed: God uses one group of people to check the power of another, thereby maintaining balance and good administration in the world. Unchecked, perpetual dominance by any single group would invariably lead to misery for all others.
This theological explanation was necessary to clarify a common misunderstanding among the unlearned: the false assumption that God sent prophets to eradicate all diversity and disagreement instantly. Observers, seeing pervasive disagreement and the coexistence of falsehood with truth, sometimes became agitated, mistakenly believing this suggested divine helplessness or failure.
The text responds by clarifying that compelling all human beings to follow a single path has never been God's will. Had it been, humanity could not have deviated from the ordained course. Following a brief return to the initial subject of the discourse, the final point is emphasized: despite the myriad divergent beliefs, viewpoints, and ways of life that exist in reality, the singular reality underlying the universal order is the one articulated in the 'Verse of the Throne'. This truth remains unaffected by human misconceptions. However, because acceptance is not compelled, whoever accepts this truth does so for their own benefit; whoever rejects it will ultimately face the harmful consequences of that choice.