Grandeur of Ayatul Kursi

The Arabic word ‘ayah’ means ‘sign’. Every smallest unit of the Quran is called ‘ayah’, because every small part of the Quran is a sign of Allah's existence. An ayah of the Quran directly points to Allah’s (SWT) wisdom, power and presence as well. On the other hand, the word 'Kursi' means ‘Throne’. The 255th verse of Surah Al-Baqarah (second chapter of the Holy Quran) is known as Ayatul Kursi. The verse  is named ‘Ayatul Kursi', or the Verse of the Throne, because Allah (SWT) says in this ayah, ‘His Kursi extends over the heavens and the earth.’ This little portion of the verse highly mentions the supreme authority and absolute power of Allah over His creations and His control over the universe.
Ayatul Kursi is the greatest verse in the Quran. Porphet Muhammad (PBUH) and his companions acknowledged it. Ubay Ibn Ka’b (Ra) was one of the most beloved companions of our beloved Prophet (PBUH). He was among the Ansar (the people of Madinah, who provided shelter, protection and all the necessary support to the Muslims who migrated from Makkah), and he was one of the experts of the Quran. Once, the Prophet (PBUH) asked him which verse of the Quran holds the highest status. When Ubay Ibn Ka’b replied, ‘Ayatul Kursi', the Prophet (PBUH) became very happy and supported his statement. Upon hearing this answer, the Prophet (SAW) struck him gently on the chest. Ubay Ibn Ka’b (Ra) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said, ‘O Abul Mundhir (Abul Mundhir was Ubay’s Kuniyah, or nickname), do you know the verse from the Book of Allah which, according to you, is the greatest?' I said, ‘Allah and His Apostle (SAW) know best’. He again said, ‘Abul Mundhir, do you know the verse from the Book of Allah which, according to you, is the greatest?’ I said, ‘Allahu la-Ilaha illa huwal hayul qayum’ (Ayatul Kursi).

Thereupon he struck me on my breast and said, ‘May knowledge be pleasant for you, O Abu’l-Mundhir!’ (Sahih Muslim: 810). The following sentence is also included with the above hadith in the 5837th number. Hadith of Musannaf Abdur Razzaq: ‘By him, in Whose hand is my soul, it truly has a tongue and two lips, glorifying the Sovereign near the leg of the Throne (Arsh of Allah).’ It is mentioned in a hadith that the Messenger of Allah mentioned the verse as the greatest individual verse of the Quran. Aifa‘ Ibn ‘Abd al-Kila’i told of a man who asked the Messenger of Allah which Sura of the Qur’an was greatest and was told that it is “Say, He is God, One. (Sura Ikhlas). " He asked which verse of the Qur’an was greatest and was told that it is the Throne Verse, “God, there is no god but He, the Living, He Eternal... (Ayatul Kursi)” (Mishkatul Masabih: 2169). So, it is unanimously recognised that Ayatul Kursi is the greatest verse in the Quran.
This verse is such a significant verse of the Quran that it is called the Sayyedatul Quran, or the leader of all verses within the Quran. The supreme significance of Ayatul Kursi is mentioned in a Hadith. Abu Hurayrah (Ra) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said, "For everything there is a hump (pinnacle), and the hump (pinnacle) of the Qur'an is Surat Al-Baqarah; in it there is an Ayah which is the master of the Ayat in the Qur'an; (it is) Ayatul Kursi" (Jami Tirmiji: 2878). The verse is composed of exactly fifty words and one hundred and eighty letters; the recitation of this single verse grants a Muslim the reward of one thousand eight hundred good deeds. Because reciting every single letter from the Quran brings at least ten rewards. Abdullah bin Mas'ud narrated that the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said, "Whoever recites a letter from Allah's Book, then he receives the reward from it, and the reward of ten times the like of it. I do not say that Alif Lam Mim is a letter, but Alif is a letter, Lam is a letter and Mim is a letter." (Jami Tirmiji: 2910).  On the other hand, this blessed verse organised five of the Beautiful Names of Allah (Al-Asma’ul Husna). These are Allah, Al-Hay (The Ever-Living), Al-Qayyum (The Sustainer of existence), Al-Aliyy (The Most High), and Al-Azeem (The Most Great).
This verse also contains ten profound and eloquent sentences that describe the magnificent identity of Allah and His ultimate power over everything. The verse begins with the sentence 'Allah!' There is no god except Him’ establishes Tawheed (oneness of Allah), the absolute foundation of Islam, proving that Allah is the only worthy of all worship. The second sentence, ‘Neither drowsiness overtakes Him nor sleep', makes it absolutely clear that Allah is completely free from human limitations like sleeping and drowsiness and emphasises His continuous vigilance over all creatures. The third sentence, ‘To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth', declares the absolute ownership of Allah over everything in the universe. The fourth sentence, ‘Who is it that can intercede with Him except by His permission?', addresses the supreme authority of Allah and the reality of the Day of Judgement and clears that no one can intercede or speak on behalf of another without His ultimate consent. In this way, every single sentence of this blessed verse indicates the identity and absolute power of Allah, the Almighty.

The writer is Khatib of Baitush Shafiq Mosque and Principal of Baitul Hikmah Academy, Gazipur