The Power and Beauty of Ayat al Kursi
Ayat al Kursi, also known as the "Verse of the Throne", is one of the most sublime but above all one of the most famous and powerful verses of the Quran. It is found in Surah Al-Baqarah (surah 2) and is considered a verse so important that it is recommended to recite it after every obligatory prayer, but also upon waking and at the moment of going to sleep. In this article, we will explore what the protective verse called Ayat al Kursi represents, but also how to understand it in French and in Arabic, as well as the different ways of writing and learning it.
Ayat al Kursi in French and in Arabic
To better grasp the meaning of Ayat al Kursi, it is useful to read it both in French and in Arabic. Here is the French translation of the verse:
"Allah! There is no divinity apart from Him, the Ever-Living, the One who subsists by Himself. Neither drowsiness nor sleep overtakes Him. To Him belongs all that is in the heavens and on the earth. Who can intercede with Him without His permission? He knows their past and their future. And, of His science, they encompass only what He wills. His Throne extends over the heavens and the earth, and their preservation costs Him no effort. And He is the Most High, the Most Great."
And here is the verse in Arabic:
"اللَّهُ لَا إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ ۚ لَا تَأْخُذُهُ سِنَةٌ وَلَا نَوْمٌ ۚ لَهُ 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"
Ayat al kursi in phonetics:
« Allahou la ilaha illa houwa alhayyou alqayyoum la ta/khoudhouhou sinatoun wala nawm lahou ma fi ssamawati wama fi l-ard man dha alladhi yachfa`ou `indahou illa bi-idhnih ya`lamou ma bayna aydihim wama khalfahoum wala youhitouna bichay-in min `ilmihi illa bima cha-a wasi`a koursiyyouhou ssamawati waal-arda wala yaoudouhou hifdhouhouma wahouwa al`aliyyou al`adhim. »
The meaning of Ayat al Kursi
Ayat al Kursi is verse 255 of Surah al Baqara, which defines the power, majesty and oneness of Allah. It mentions that nothing and no one can exist without Him and that He needs no one to maintain His creation. This verse also reminds believers that Allah Alone, to Him belong the Majesty and the Glory, possesses the power to grant intercession and that He knows perfectly everything concerning His creatures.
It strengthens the faith in Allah and in His Names and Attributes of the one who recites it, and it also protects him from the temptations of the Devil.
The protection granted by Ayat al Kursi
Muslims are encouraged to recite Ayat al Kursi in order to seek protection against evil and dangers, but also during the adhkar to recite when one finishes the Fajr prayer and before going to sleep. Indeed, it is reported in several hadiths that the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) encouraged the recitation of Ayat al Kursi to obtain divine protection.
This verse is to be recited in various situations to:
- protect oneself daily from the temptations of Satan,
- protect oneself against anguish and fear
- protect our home from the whisperings of the Devil
- in the hope of access to Paradise
- a guardian is assigned to whoever recites it in the evening before sleeping, and this, until morning
This is what is reported to us in Sahih Bukhari, in which a prophetic narration relates that a chaytan (demon), captured by a companion, taught the latter the merits of the Verse of the Throne in these terms:
Abû Hurayra (radhiallâhu 'anhu) said: « The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) entrusted me with the guarding of the Zakat of ramadan (food supplies given as obligatory alms on the eve of the day of Aid El Fitr). And then someone came to take some supplies and I seized him and said to him: I will take you to the messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). He said to me: « Let me go, my family and I are in great need ». I released him.
In the morning, I went to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and he said to me: « He mentioned a great need and a [large] family. That is why I had pity on him and released him. » « The truth is, said the Prophet, that he lied to you and he will return. »
It was then that I knew he would return since the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) predicted it. I watched out for him and he came back to take some food and I seized him and said to him: I will present you to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). He then said: « Let me go, my family and I are in great need ». I released him. In the morning I went to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and he said to me: « What did your prisoner of yesterday do?
– I said to him, O Messenger of Allah! He mentioned the need and a [large] family. That is why I had pity on him and released him.» The truth is that he lied to you and he will return, said the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).
I watched out for him for the third time and he came back to take some food and I seized him and said to him, I will take you to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) because this is the third time that you claim you will not return but you have done so. He said: « Let me teach you some words that will be useful to you. Which ones, I said to him? When you lie down on your bed, recite the Verse of the Throne [Ayat al-Kursi]: « Allah, there is no divinity apart from Him, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer » until the end of the verse. If you do so, Allah will assign you a guardian, and Satan [Chaytân] will not approach you until morning. » I released him. And then, in the morning, I went to the messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and he said to me: « What did your prisoner of yesterday do?
– I said to him: « He claimed to have taught me some words from which Allah would make me benefit… » What are these words? He said to me: when you lie down on your bed, recite the Verse of the Throne from the beginning until you finish it: « Allah, there is no divinity apart from Him, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer » And he told me that Allah would assign me a guardian and that Satan [Chaytân] would not approach me until morning ».
– The people (of that time) were the most eager to learn all that was good. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: « In reality, he told you the truth, even though he is a liar. Do you know who you have been dealing with for three nights?
– No.
– It is Satan [Chaytan]
Reported by al-Bukhârî
The different ways of writing Ayat al Kursi
There is not just one authentic version of Ayat al Kursi in Arabic, since there exist several classical Arabic writing styles. Thus, several ways of writing it using different calligraphic styles are found around the globe through the different copies of the Quran, but also in ornamental scripts. Among the most popular, we find:
- The Kufic style: an ancient and geometric style, originating from the city of Kufa in Iraq
- The Naskh style: a more fluid and flowing style, widely used for copying the Quran
- The Thuluth style: an elegant and artistic style, prized for monumental inscriptions and the decoration of mosques.
Beyond these traditional calligraphic styles, one can also find representations of Ayat al Kursi in the form of drawings or modern works of art, which highlight the beauty and power of this verse.
It should be recalled that despite a certain enthusiasm for interior decorations representing certain parts of the Quranic text, this should be proscribed, because the Word of Allah was revealed to His Messenger as a guide in order to educate humanity and beautify hearts. And not our walls!
How to learn Ayat al Kursi?
To memorize Ayat al Kursi, here are a few steps to follow:
- Listen attentively to the recitation of Ayat al Kursi by a competent reciter, in order to familiarize yourself with its pronunciation and its rhythm
- Recite the verse aloud regularly, focusing on the correct pronunciation of the letters and words
- Divide the verse into several parts and learn them one by one, reciting them frequently throughout the day
- Once you master each part individually, recite the whole of Ayat al Kursi several times in a row, until you are able to recite it without hesitation or error
Can Ayat al Kursi be recited during prayer?
Reciting Ayat al Kursi during prayer is a permitted practice. Indeed, this verse can be recited after having finished the recitation of the Fatiha (the first surah of the Quran, also called the Surah of Opening) and other passages of the Quran.
In short, Ayat al Kursi is a powerful and magnificent verse that strengthens the faith of Muslims in the Greatness and Oneness of Allah. Its understanding, its memorization and its regular recitation offer the protection of Allah to the one who recites it and bring an inner serenity to those who seek refuge with Allah.