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Tafsir Surah Al-Baqarah: The Cow - Verse 255.....Ayatul Kursi 6

اللَّهُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ لَا تَأْخُذُهُ سِنَةٌ وَلَا نَوْمٌ لَّهُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ مَن ذَا الَّذِي يَشْفَعُ عِندَهُ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِهِ يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ وَلَا يُحِيطُونَ بِشَيْءٍ مِّنْ عِلْمِهِ إِلَّا بِمَا شَاءَ وَسِعَ كُرْسِيُّهُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ وَلَا يَئُودُهُ حِفْظُهُمَا وَهُوَ الْعَلِيُّ الْعَظِيمُ



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Session 281

Chapter 2

Verse 255

a continuation

Allah: there is no god but Him, the Ever Living, the Ever Watchful. Neither drowsiness nor sleep overtakes Him. All that is in the heavens and in the earth belongs to Him. Who is there that can intercede with Him except by His leave? He knows what is before them and what is behind them, but they do not comprehend any of His knowledge except what He wills. His seat encompasses the heavens and the earth; it does not weary Him to preserve them both. He is the Most High, the Tremendous. (Chapter 2: Verse 255)

             This marvellous verse in the Nobel Quran is known for its high value and blessings.  The verse of the seat, or Ayatu Al Kursi, is mentioned in many narrations of our beloved prophet Muhammad.  He said: “Within ‘The Cow’ –Surat Al Baqara- is a verse.  This verse is the pinnacle of the Quran.  Whoever reads it in his or her house builds a shield between the devil and his or her family.” 

Imam Ali heard the prophet say: “Whoever reads Ayatu Al Kursi before sleep is blessed by God’s protection, so are his family and his neighbours.”  Lastly, Abu Munthir, one of the prophet’s close companions, narrates: Prophet Muahmmad, peace be upon him, asked me: "O Abu Munthir, do you know which verse of the Book of God holds tremendous value?” I replied: “Allah and His Messenger know best.” Prophet Muhammad repeated the question: "O Abu Munthir, do you know which verse of the Book of God holds tremendous value?” I answered: “Allah: there is no god but Him, the Ever Living, the Ever Watchful. Neither drowsiness nor sleep overtakes Him.” The messenger of God then patted my chest and said: “May Allah bless your knowledge and grant you more.”

Scholars have poured over this verse to unlock its secrets.  Some attributed the verse’s blessings to its name.  It is the verse of the seat, the seat of absolute power, the seat of Lordship, the seat of grand majesty.  God is the one.  ‘there is no god but Him, the Ever Living, the Ever Watchful. Neither drowsiness nor sleep overtakes Him.’  He has full knowledge of the heaves and the earth, and He is beholden to no one.  ‘Who is there that can intercede with Him except by His leave?’

Other scholars attributed the value of the verse to the number of times the Almighty was referenced in it.  We find sixteen mentions of the Divine in this single verse.  Let’s count together:

  • ‘Allah’ mentioned at the very beginning is the ultimate name of the Divine.
  • Second, we find the reference ‘Him’ in the phrase: ‘there is no god but Him’. 
  • Third, He is ‘The ever living’
  • Then, ‘the Ever Watchful.’
  • Fifth we read the reference ‘Him’ in ‘Neither drowsiness nor sleep overtakes Him.’
  • Again, the reference ‘Him’ in ‘All that is in the heavens and in the earth belongs to Him.’
  • Seventh and eighth ‘Who is there that can intercede with Him except by His leave?’
  • Ninth, tenth and eleventh in the following:  He knows what is before them and what is behind them, but they do not comprehend any of His knowledge except what He wills.’
  • Another reference to the divine in the following phrase: ‘His seat encompasses the heavens and the earth.’ And we are up to twelve.
  • The thirteenth is mentioned here: ‘it does not weary Him to preserve them both.’
  •  The pronoun ‘He’ is the fourteenth mentions. 
  • And lastly, ‘the Most High, the Tremendous’ complete the fifteenth and sixteenth. 

Some scholars pointed to the verb ‘to preserve them both’ as another reference to God, making the total seventeen.

              Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him, said: “Nothing stands between the person who recites Ayatu Al Kursi after each prayer and paradise expect death.”

Allah: there is no god but Him, the Ever Living, the Ever Watchful. Neither drowsiness nor sleep overtakes Him. All that is in the heavens and in the earth belongs to Him. Who is there that can intercede with Him except by His leave? He knows what is before them and what is behind them, but they do not comprehend any of His knowledge except what He wills. His seat encompasses the heavens and the earth; it does not weary Him to preserve them both. He is the Most High, the Tremendous. (Chapter 2: Verse 255)