Al-Kursi Verse

Al-Kursi Verse (Arabic: آیة الکرسی) is the verse 255 of Sura al-Baqara in Qur'an. Some interpreters of Qur'an have taken its following two verses (256-257) to be part of the al-Kursi Verse. This is the only verse in Qur'an in which "God's Kursi (seat or throne)" is mentioned as extending to the heavens and the Earth. This is why the verse was known as the al-Kursi Verse. It was called so since the time of the Prophet (s).

According to hadiths, it is mustahab to recite this verse in all conditions, particularly after performing prayers, before going to sleep, when leaving home, when facing dangers and troubles, when riding a vehicle, to prevent evil eyes, for health, and so on.

The text of the verse

The verse 255, and also according to some hadiths and views of some scholars of Quranic exegesis verses 256 and 257, of Sura al-Baqara are parts of the al-Kursi Verse.

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اَللَّـهُ لَا إِلَـٰهَ 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 ﴿٢٥٥﴾ لَا إِكْرَ‌اهَ فِي الدِّينِ ۖ قَد تَّبَيَّنَ الرُّ‌شْدُ مِنَ الْغَيِّ ۚ فَمَن يَكْفُرْ‌ بِالطَّاغُوتِ وَيُؤْمِن بِاللَّـهِ فَقَدِ اسْتَمْسَكَ بِالْعُرْ‌وَةِ الْوُثْقَىٰ لَا انفِصَامَ لَهَا ۗ وَاللَّـهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ ﴿٢٥٦﴾ اللَّـهُ وَلِيُّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا يُخْرِ‌جُهُم مِّنَ الظُّلُمَاتِ إِلَى النُّورِ‌ ۖ وَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُ‌وا أَوْلِيَاؤُهُمُ الطَّاغُوتُ يُخْرِ‌جُونَهُم مِّنَ النُّورِ‌ إِلَى الظُّلُمَاتِ ۗ أُولَـٰئِكَ أَصْحَابُ النَّارِ‌ ۖ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ ﴿٢٥٧﴾

Allah! there is no god but he—the living, the self-subsisting, eternal. No slumber can seize him nor sleep. His are all things in the heavens and on earth. Who is there who can intercede in his presence except as he permits? he knows what before or after or behind them [i.e. creatures]. Nor shall they compass out of his knowledge except as he wills. His throne (or seat) does extend over the heavens and the Earth, and he feels no fatigue in guarding and preserving them for he is the most high, the supreme. (255) There is no compulsion in religion: truth stands out clear from error: whoever rejects evil and believes in Allah has grasped the most trustworthy hand-hold, that never breaks. And Allah hears and knows all things. (256) Allah is the protector of those who have faith: from the depths of darkness he will lead them forth into light. And those who reject faith their patrons are the evil: from light they will lead them forth into the depths of darkness. They will be companions of the fire, to dwell therein. (257)

” — Qur'an, 2:255-257

The meaning of the al-Kursi Verse

Of various notions in this verse, the two notions of "qayyum" and "kursi" have been more controversial among Muslim scholars. The word "kursi" means seat, throne, knowledge, and the realm. In different hadiths by Shi'a Imams (a), "kursi" in this verse has been interpreted as divine knowledge; thus the verse means that "his knowledge extends to heavens and the Earth".

According to a hadith from Imam al-Sadiq (a), "kursi" is a sort of knowledge, unique to God, of which He has not informed any of his prophets and Imams.

The virtues and features

With respect to its content, the al-Kursi Verse contains deep religious doctrines, and hadiths have emphasized the virtues of reciting the verse and its positive impacts on one's life.

The verse came to be called "al-Kursi" since the time of the Prophet (s). He is quoted as saying that "the greatest verse in Qur'an is the al-Kursi Verse" and "the master of all words in Qur'an; the master of Qur'an is Sura al-Baqara, and the master of Sura al-Baqara is the al-Kursi Verse". The verse has always been particularly honored by Muslims, since all Islamic doctrines rest upon monotheism, which is comprehensively summarized in the al-Kursi Verse. The verse characterizes both the divine essence and the divine attributes and acts.

There are many hadiths in both Shiite and Sunni sources concerning the features and positive impacts of reciting the al-Kursi Verse in different circumstances. According to these hadiths, it is mustahab to recite this verse in all conditions, particularly after performing prayers, before going to sleep, when leaving home, when facing dangers and troubles, when riding a vehicle, to prevent evil eyes, for health, and so on.

Bibliography

Many scholars have written independent books or essays on the exegesis of this verse, such as Kamal al-Din 'Abd al-Razzaq al-Kashani, Shams al-Din al-Khafri, Mulla Sadra and his son, and among the contemporary scholars, Muhammad Taqi Falsafi.