Friday, July 28, 2023

Ayatul Kursi - notes from a lesson on the meaning and benefits

 My Notes from lesson on the meaning of Ayatul-Kursi by Ustadh Hassan Somali

At masjid Tawheed on 7th May 2023

In the name of Allah, Most Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy.

All praise is due to Allah, Lord of all creation, and may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family and all his Companions.

(All benefit is from Allah; any mistakes are from me)

 


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 ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ ۖ وَلَا يَـُٔودُهُۥ حِفْظُهُمَا ۚ وَهُوَ ٱلْعَلِىُّ ٱلْعَظِيمُ

 

Allah – there is no deity except Him, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of [all] existence.
Neither drowsiness overtakes Him nor sleep.
To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth.
Who is it that can intercede with Him except by His permission?
He knows what is [presently] before them and what will be after them, and they encompass not a thing of His knowledge except for what He wills.
His Kursi extends over the heavens and the earth, and their preservation tires Him not.
And He is the Most High, the Most Great.                                                                                

Surah Baqarah: Ayah 255


Ayatul Kursi is an aqeedah; it contains:

·        3 categories of Tawheed

·        5 names of Allah (Allah ٱللَّهُ, the eternal ٱلْحَىُّ, The Self-Subsisting ٱلْقَيُّومُ, the most high ٱلْعَلِىُّ, the great ٱلْعَظِيمُ.

·        20 attributes of Allah

 

It is advised to memorise ayatul-Kursi 8 times a day

One after each of the salah (5)

Morning and evening athkar (2)

Before bed (1)

 

Narrated Abu Umamah (RA):
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: "Whoever recites Ayat al-Kursi at the end of every obligatory prayer, nothing but death will prevent him from entering Paradise."

[An-Nasa'i reported it, and Ibn Hibban graded it Sahih (authentic).
(book 2: hadith 324): Riyad as-Salihin 1020


Narrated Abu Hurairah:
that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Whoever recites Ha Mim Al-Mu'min - up to - To Him is the return (40:1-3) and Ayat Al-Kursi when he reaches (gets up in) the morning, he will be protected by them until the evening. And whoever recites them when he reaches the evening, he will be protected by them until the morning."

Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2879
In-book reference : Book 45, Hadith 5
English translation : Vol. 5, Book 42, Hadith 2879

 

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) put me in charge of charity of Ramadan (Sadaqat-ul- Fitr). Somebody came to me and began to take away some food-stuff. I caught him and said, "I must take you to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)." He said, "I am a needy man with a large family, and so I have a pressing need." I let him go. When I saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) next morning, he asked me, "O Abu Hurairah! What did your captive do last night?" I said, "O Messenger of Allah! He complained of a pressing need and a big family. I felt pity for him so I let him go." He (ﷺ) said, "He told you a lie and he will return." I was sure, according to the saying of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) that he would return. I waited for him. He sneaked up again and began to steal food-stuff from the Sadaqah. I caught him and said; "I must take you to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)." He said, "Let go of me, I am a needy man. I have to bear the expenses of a big family. I will not come back." So I took pity on him and let him go. I went at dawn to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) who asked me, "O Abu Hurairah! What did your captive do last night?" I replied, "O Messenger of Allah! He complained of a pressing want and the burden of a big family. I took pity on him and so I let him go." He (ﷺ) said, "He told you a lie and he will return." (That man) came again to steal the food-stuff. I arrested him and said, "I must take you to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), and this is the last of three times. You promised that you would not come again but you did." He said, "Let go of me, I shall teach you some words with which Allah may benefit you." I asked, "What are those words?" He replied, "When you go to bed, recite Ayat-ul- Kursi (2:255) for there will be a guardian appointed over you from Allah, and Satan will not be able to approach you till morning." So I let him go. Next morning the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) asked me, "What did your prisoner do last night." I answered, "He promised to teach me some words which he claimed will benefit me before Allah. So I let him go." The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) asked, "What are those words that he taught you?" I said, "He told me: 'When you go to bed, recite Ayat- ul-Kursi from the beginning to the end i.e.,[ 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 compass anything of His Knowledge except that which He wills. His Kursi encompasses the heavens and the earth, and preserving them does not fatigue Him. And He is the Most High, the Most Great].' (2:255). He added: 'By reciting it, there will be a guardian appointed over you from Allah who will protect you during the night, and Satan will not be able to come near you until morning'." The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Verily, he has told you the truth though he is a liar. O Abu Hurairah! Do you know with whom you were speaking for the last three nights?" I said, "No." He (ﷺ) said, "He was Shaitan (Satan)."

[Al-Bukhari].
Riyad as-Salihin 1020
In-book reference : Book 8, Hadith 30

 

Breakdown of Ayah

1.      Allah – there is no deity except Him

This is a blessed statement – those who live and die on it will enter paradise. (La ilaha ilah – is why we have paradise and hellfire). It separates believers and disbelievers.

 

2.     the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of [all] existence

Allah being described as ever-living – Allah is perfect – no deficiency. Deserves to be worshipped alone. The sustainer – place tawakkul (trust) in him. Allah does not need our worship, it is legislated for your benefit.

 

3.      Neither drowsiness overtakes Him nor sleep

Allah is not over taken by any slumber or sleep – like us. As humans, we are weak.

 

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

Everything belongs to Allah – he is the true king. Intelligence tells us not to get attached to the dunya.

 

5.      Who is it that can intercede with Him except by His permission?

No one can do anything without the permission of Allah. – This is a refutation to those who worship others than Allah. (those who ask intercession.)

 

6.      He knows what is [presently] before them and what will be after them

7.      and they encompass not a thing of His knowledge except for what He wills.

Allah knows everything – Al-Alim. He knows the past/ present and future. Nothing escapes his knowledge. His creation grasps nothing of his knowledge – without his permission. Knowledge that makes you arrogant is not beneficial. Arrogance is when you look down upon people – the sin of iblis. May Allah protect us from him.

 

8.      His Kursi extends over the heavens and the earth,  and their preservation tires Him not

Kursi is related to the footstool. The kursi literally: footstool is mawdi’ul qadamayn (place of the Feet) of Allaah, Most Mighty and Most Majestic, and it is before the arsh like a front to it. 

The greatest of al-Kursi is clearly stated in the hadeeth in which the Prophet (ﷺ),said:

“The seven heavens and the seven earths by the side of al kursi us naught but as a ring thrown down in a desert land, and such is al kursi with respect to al-arsh (the throne)” [65]

 

        And He is the Most High, the Most Great

Allah is above all the creation 

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