by Olaide Akande

Created on: July 14, 2009   Last Updated: July 24, 2009

Aayat al Kursi is the 255th verse of the second chapter of the Noble Quran, Surat al-Baqaraah. It is regarded as the greatest ayah (verse) in the whole Quran .Most Muslims are familiar with and have memorized this verse including those that have not learnt to recite the Quran. This is because of the importance and virtues attached to the verse. These have been gathered from the Sayings of the prophet Muhammad (May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.) and further expounded by scholars skilled in the exegesis of the Quran.

The interpretation of the meaning of the verse (from The Noble Qur'an in English Language by Dr Khan& Dr Al-Hilali) goes thus:

"Allah! None has the right to be worshipped but He, the Ever Living, the One Who sustains and protects all that exists. Neither slumber nor sleep overtakes Him. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. Who is he that can intercede with Him except with His permission? He knows what happens to them (His creatures) in this world and what will happen to them in the hereafter. And they will never encompass anything of His Knowledge except that which He wills. His kursi extends over the heavens and the earth, and He feels no fatigue in guarding and preserving them. And He is the Most High, the Most Great."

Perhaps the most significant thing about Ayat al Kursi is that it contains Allah's Greatest Name. This is found in the second line of the verse which states thus; "Al Hayyul-Qayyum" the meaning of which is The Ever Living-The Sustainer. The question of what is God's greatest name is one that has been asked by other monotheist faiths. For Muslims, the answer is in this great verse.

The verse is ten sentences long and most of it expounds other wonderful attributes of Allah. An example is the line "Neither slumber nor sleep overtakes him". This shows that He is aware of all of His creation at all times; taking into account their deeds, always available to provide their needs and to respond when they call on Him. No single event on earth can escape His notice.

The verse gets its name from the line "His Kursi extends over the heavens and the earth". Ibn Kathir, the great scholar of Tafsir (Quran exegesis) records in his book that the Kursi refers to Allah's foot stool rather than the throne (The more correct term for Allah's throne, which is also mentioned in the Quran is Arsh). If just His foot stool was this extensive, then how can we begin to comprehend the majesty of his

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