The Throne Verse (Arabic: آيَة ٱلْكُرْسِيّ, romanized: Ayāh al-Kursī) is the 255th verse of the second chapter of the Quran, al-Baqara 2:255. In this verse, God introduces Himself to mankind and says nothing and nobody is comparable to God. Considered the greatest and one of the most well-known verses of the Quran, it is widely memorised and displayed in the Islamic faith. It is said (ḥadīṯ) that reciting this verse wards off devils (šayāṭīn) and fiends (ʿafārīt).
Problems playing this file? See media help.
Problems playing this file? See media help.
Al-Suyuti narrates that a man from humanity and a man from the jinn met. Whereupon, as means of reward for defeating the jinn in a wrestling match, the jinn teaches a Quranic verses that if recited, no devil (šayṭān) will enter the man's house with him, which is the "Throne Verse".
Due to the association with protection, it is believed to shield against the evil eye.
Text and translations
Arabic
ٱللَّهُ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ٱلْحَىُّ ٱلْقَيُّومُ ۚ لَا تَأْخُذُهُۥ سِنَةٌۭ وَلَا نَوْمٌۭ ۚ لَّهُۥ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۗ مَن ذَا ٱلَّذِى يَشْفَعُ عِندَهُۥٓ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِهِۦ ۚ يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ ۖ وَلَا يُحِيطُونَ بِشَىْءٍۢ مِّنْ عِلْمِهِۦٓ إِلَّا بِمَا شَآءَ ۚ وَسِعَ كُرْسِيُّهُ'ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰت وَٱلْأَرْضَ ۖ وَلَا يَـُٔودُهُۥ حِفْظُهُمَا ۚ وَهُوَ ٱلْعَلِىُّ ٱلْعَظِيمُ ٢٥٥ English
God: there is no god but Him, the Ever Living, the Self Sustaining. 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 permission? 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 throne extends over the heavens and the earth; it does not weary Him to preserve them both. He is the Most High, the Tremendous.
Interpretation and tradition
Ayat al-Kursi is regarded as the greatest verse of Quran according to the hadith. The verse is regarded as one of the most powerful in the Quran because when it is recited, the greatness of God is believed to be confirmed. The person who recites this ayat morning and evening will be under protection of God from the evil of the jinn and the shayatin (devils); this is also known as the daily adkhar.
It is used in exorcism, to cure and protect from jinn and shayatin (devils). Because the Throne Verse is believed to grant spiritual and physical protection, it is often recited by Muslims before setting out on a journey and before going to sleep. Reciting the verse after every prayer is believed to grant quick entry to paradise without any delay.
It is the "seat" of God's power, but without God sitting on it with bones, since bones and body belong to the created things.
Gallery
-
Most of the Throne verse on the back of a standing stone from 17th-century India
-
-
Islamic calligraphy of Throne Verse
See also
Portal:
- Al-Falaq (Daybreak)
- Al-Nas (Mankind)
- Verses of Refuge
- Exorcism in Islam
- Ismul Azam
- Verse of Light
- Al-Baqara 256
Notes
- Al-Kursi refers to a chair or footstool of the throne of God or the throne itself.
References
- Tafsir Tabari 2:225. Internet-link: https://www.altafsir.com/Tafasir.asp?tMadhNo=1&tTafsirNo=1&tSoraNo=2&tAyahNo=255&tDisplay=yes&Page=5&Size=1&LanguageId=1 Archived 9 November 2023 at the Wayback Machine
- Abdullah Yusuf Ali (1983) . The Holy Qur'ān: Text, Translation and Commentary. Brentwood, Maryland: Amana Corp. pp. 102–103.
- Surah Al-Baqara 2:255
- Sahih Muslim 810, V6, The Book of Prayer - Travellers
- Sunan Abu Dawood. Book 8, Hadith 1455.
- ^ Seyyed Hossein Nasr, ed. (2018). The Study Quran. HarperCollins Publishers. p. 110.
- Rassool, G. Hussein. Evil eye, jinn possession, and mental health issues: An Islamic perspective. Routledge, 2018.
- ^ Suyuti, al-Durral-manthur Online: https://www.altafsir.com/Tafasir.asp?tMadhNo=2&tTafsirNo=26&tSoraNo=2&tAyahNo=255&tDisplay=yes&Page=2&Size=1&LanguageId=1 Archived 9 November 2023 at the Wayback Machine
- El-Tom, Abdullahi Osman. "Drinking the Koran: the meaning of Koranic verses in Berti erasure." Africa 55.4 (1985): 414-431.
- Abdel Haleem, M. A. S. (2005). Oxford World's Classics: The Qur'an. Oxford University Press. p. 29. ISBN 0192831933.
- ^ Ephrat, Daphna; Wolper, Ethel Sara; Pinto, Paolo G. (2021). Saintly Spheres and Islamic Landscapes: Emplacements of Spiritual Power across Time and Place (Volume 147 ed.). Brill publishers. p. 290. ISBN 978-90-04-44427-0. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
- Sunan Abu Dawood 1460
- Owais, Muhammad (1 April 2024). "Ayatul Kursi English Translation, Transliteration and Arabic". Retrieved 7 October 2024.
- "Hisn al-Muslim 75 - Fortress of the Muslim (Hisn al-Muslim) - حصن المسلم - Sunnah.com - Sayings and Teachings of Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه و سلم)". sunnah.com. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
- Tafsir Ibn Kathir 2:255
- Sahih al-Bukhari 2311
- Sahihut Targhib: 1/418
- Nasai Kubra 9926, Tabarani 6532, Sahihul Jame 8484
- Wherry, E. M. (1882). A Comprehensive Commentary on the Qurán: Comprising Sale's Translation & Preliminary Discourse, with Additional Notes & Emendations. Together with a Complete Index to the Text, Preliminary Discourse, & Notes, by the Rev. E.M. Wherry... (Volume 1 ed.). Cambridge, New York: R.S. Publishing House. p. 383. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
- al-Jawzi Zad al-Masir fi Ilm al-Tafsir