The Verse of Throne

"Next!" said the teacher. I gasped audibly. It was going to be my turn soon. I had not prepared for the oral geometry test and there was no way that I would be excused for not knowing the correct answer. I could imagine the humiliation and embarrassment I would go through. How was I going to get out of this one? At the age of thirteen, not knowing an answer in class seemed like the end of the world.

Suddenly, I remembered that we had been taught that the Ayat al kursi, or the ‘Verse of the Throne’ is a protection from God from all evils. I started reciting it silently, hoping against hope that I would be saved from the teacher’s wrath and sarcasm.

It worked! The girl in front of me stood up to prove a theorem. And then, when I thought I would be called, the teacher moved on to the girl sitting behind me. That was my first experience with the Ayat al-Kursi as a refuge. I did not even know the meaning of what I was reciting, but from that day onwards, it became a part of my life.

It was not until much later that I realised the beauty and significance of this glorious verse. I grew up, got married and had children. I taught them all the Ayat al-Kursi when each one was five years old.

Even then, I had not truly grasped the meaning of this verse. Of course, I had read the translation, but it was not until I actually studied the Holy Qur’aan that I discovered it has been described as the most sublime verse in the Qur’aan. It has been likened to one quarter of the Qur’aan.

"In the Name of Allah, the Beneficient, the Merciful.

Allah-there is no God except Him.

The Ever-Living, the Sustainer of (all) existence.

Neither drowsiness overcomes Him nor sleep.

To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth.

Who is he that can intercede with Him except by His permission?

He knows what is before them and what will be after them.

And they encompass not a thing of His knowledge except what He wills.

His throne extends over the heavens and the earth.

And He feels no fatigue in guarding and preserving them.

And He is the Most High, the Supreme."

The gist of a Hadith tells us that whoever recites this verse after each obligatory prayer, will be granted a tongue that remembers Allah, a heart that thanks Allah and a reward like that of the Prophets and truthful ones, for only such people can be constant in reciting it after every farz or obligatory prayer.

What is so special about this verse? Why is it so sublime?

This verse is the first detailed introduction we get about Allah after Surah Al-Fatihah. He is telling us about Himself. The Ayat al-Kursi teaches us not to try and judge Allah or try to understand Him on a human level. In it Allah describes His unique qualities to emphasise that there is none like Him.

We learn from a narration by Hadhrat Abu Huraira (Radhi Allaho anho): Allah’s Messenger (Sall Allaho alaihe wasallam) ordered me to guard the Zakat revenue of Ramadan. Then somebody came to me and started stealing of the foodstuff. I caught him and said, "I will take you to Allah’s Messenger!"

Then Abu Huraira described the whole narration and said: That person said to me, "Please don’t take me to Allah’s Messenger; I will tell you a few words by which Allah will benefit you." When you go to your bed, recite Ayat al-Kursi, for then there will be a guard from Allah who will protect you all night long, and Satan will not be able to come near you till dawn." When the Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho alaihe wasallam) heard the story, he said to me, "He who came to you at night told you the truth although he is a liar; and it was Satan."

Once the Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho alaihe wasallam) asked Ubayy bin Kab (Radhi Allaho anho): "O Abu Mundhir! Which verse of the Book of God is the greatest?"

"Allah and His Messenger know best," came the reply.

The Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho alaihe wasallam) repeated the question and Ubayy bin Kab (Radhi Allaho anho) replied: "Allah, there is no god but He, the Living the Self-Subsisting. Neither slumber overtakes him nor sleep. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on earth,..."

The Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho alaihe wasallam) struck his chest with his right hand in approval on hearing the reply and with his face glowing with happiness, said, "May knowledge delight and benefit you, Abu Mundhir."

When Hadhrat Abdullah bin Masood (Radhi Allaho anho) became a Muslim, he offered to be in the service of the Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho alaihe wasallam). The Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho alaihe wasallam) agreed and Abdullah bin Masood (Radhi Allaho anho) gave up tending sheep in exchange for looking after the needs of the blessed Prophet. Abdullah bin Masood (Radhi Allaho anho) remained closely attached to the Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho alaihe wasallam). He served him in the best way both inside and outside the house. He accompanied him on journeys and expeditions.

Abdullah bin Masood (Radhi Allaho anho) received his training in the household of the Holy Prophet (Sall Allaho alaihe wasallam). He was under the guidance of the Holy Prophet. He adopted his manner and followed his every trait until it was said of him, "He was the closest to the Prophet in character."

He was the best reciter of the Holy Qur’aan among the companions and he understood it better than them all. He was, therefore, the most knowledgeable on the Shari’ah.

Abdullah bin Masood (Radhi Allaho anho) acquired such great knowledge of the Qur’aan that he would say, "By Him besides Whom there is no god, no verse of the book of God has been revealed without my knowing where it was revealed and the circumstances of its revelation. By God, if I know there was anyone who knew more of the Book of Allah, I will do whatever is in my power to be with him."

Once Hadhrat Umar bin al-Khattab (Radhi Allaho anho) came across a caravan on one of his journeys as caliph. It was totally dark and the caravan could not be seen clearly. Hadrat Umar (Radhi Allaho anho) ordered someone to stop the caravan. He did not know that Hadhrat Abdullah bin Masood (Radhi Allaho anho) was in it.

"From where do you come?" asked Hadhrat Umar (Radhi Allaho anho).

"From a deep valley," came the reply. (The expression used "fajj amiq" meaning a deep valley, is a Qur’aanic one).

"And where are you going?" asked Hadhrat Umar (Radhi Allaho anho).

"To the ancient house," came the reply. (The expression used "al-bayt al-atiq" ancient house, is a Qur’aanic one.)

"There is a learned person (alim) among them," said Hadhrat Umar (Radhi Allaho anho) and he commanded someone to ask the person:

"Which part of the Qur’aan is the greatest?"

"God. There is no god except Him, the Living, the Self-subsisting. Neither slumber overtakes Him nor sleep," replied the person answering, quoting the Ayat al-Kursi (the Verse of the Throne).

After asking a few more questions, to which he received the most knowledgeable answers, Hadhrat Umar (Radhi Allaho anho) asked, "Is Abdullah bin Masood among you?" And he was told that indeed he was among them.

Reading the Ayat al-Kursi after each farz prayer seems quite easy but often when we are in a hurry, we forget to recite it. We should try and make it a habit, because the benefits are enormous and it is only constancy that will make it beneficial

By Ayesha Siddiqui

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Sallam Alaykum / Peace be unto you

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