interprets Kursi as "Allah's Knowledge (Ilm)". Islamic religious belief holds that anyone who recites the verse enters the protection and security of God. Commonly, it is recited by Muslims before they go to sleep.
Symmetry of Ayat in Ayatul Kursi[edit]
Ayat Al-Kursi displays a perfect internal symmetry comprising concentric looping verses surrounding a pivotal chiasm 'x' of the type A B C D X D' C' B' A' The reciter imagines him or herself walking through Ayat Al-Kursi until reaching the centre and seeing what is in front and what is behind, finds they represent a perfect reflection of each other. The central chiasm is represented by "Ya'lamu ma baina aidihim wa ma khalfahum = He knows what is before them and what is behind them" this is flanked symmetrically outwards so that A corresponds to A', B corresponds to B' and so forth.. For example line 3 "he is the lord of the heavens and the earth" corresponds exactly to line 7 "his throne extends over heavens and earth".
Authentic, or Sahih[edit]
Imam Ahmad recorded that Ubayy bin Ka`b said that;
The Prophet asked him about the greatest Ayah in the Book of Allah, and Ubayy answered, "Allah and His Messenger know better. When the Prophet repeated his question several times, Ubayy said, "Ayat Al-Kursi. The Prophet commented, Congratulations for having knowledge, O Abu Al-Mundhir! By He in Whose Hand is my soul! This Ayah has a tongue and two lips with which it praises Allah next to the Throne. [Imam Ahmad , Muslim][1] This Hadith was also collected by Muslim, but he did not include the part that starts with, "By He in Whose Hand...
Muhammad said :
“Whoever recites Ayat ul-Kursi immediately after each prescribed Prayer, there will be nothing standing between him and his entering Paradise except death.” [Narrated by an-Nasaaee. Imaam Al-Albaanee authenticated it in Saheeh al Jam i as-Sagheer
Hurayrah said,
"Allah's Messenger assigned me to keep watch over the Sadaqah (charity) of Ramadan. A person sneaked in and started taking handfuls of foodstuff. I caught him and said, `By Allah, I will take you to Allah's Messenger.' He said, `Release me, for I am meek and have many dependents and am in great need.' I released him, and in the morning Allah's Messenger asked me, `What did your prisoner do yesterday, O Abu Hurayrah!' I said, `O Allah's Messenger! He complained of being needy and of having many dependents, so I pitied him and let him go.' Allah's Messenger said, `Indeed, he told you a lie and will be coming again.' I believed that he would show up again, for Allah's Messenger had told me that he would return. So, I watched for him. When he (showed up and) started stealing handfuls of foodstuff, I caught hold of him again and said, `I will definitely take you to Allah's Messenger.' He said, `Leave me, for I am very needy and have many dependents. I promise I will not come back again.' I pitied him and let him go. In the morning Allah's Messenger asked me, `What did your prisoner do last night, O Abu Hurayrah!' I replied, `O Allah's Messenger! He complained of his great need and of too many dependents, so I took pity on him and set him free.' Allah's Messenger said, `Verily, he told you a lie; he will return.' I waited for him attentively for the third time, and when he (came and) started stealing handfuls of the foodstuff, I caught hold of him and said, `I will surely take you to Allah's Messenger as it is the third time you promised not to return, yet you returned.'. He said, `Let me teach you some words which Allah will give you benefit from.' I asked, `What are they?' He replied, `Whenever you go to bed, recite Ayat Al-Kursi- Allahu la ilaha illa Huwal-Hayyul-Qayyum, till you finish the whole verse. (If you do so), Allah will appoint a guard for you who will stay with you, and no Satan will come near you until morning.' So, I released him. In the morning, Allah's Messenger asked, `What did your prisoner do yesterday?' I replied, `O Allah's Messenger! He claimed that he would teach me some words by which Allah will grant me some benefit, so I let him go.' Allah's Messenger asked, `What are they?' I replied, `He said to me: Whenever you go to bed, recite Ayat Al-Kursi from the beginning to the end, Allahu la ilaha illa Huwal-Hayyul-Qayyum. He further said to me: (If you do so), Allah will appoint a guard for you who will stay with you, and no Satan will come near you until morning.' (One of the narrators) then commented that they (the Companions) were very keen to do good deeds. The Prophet said, `He spoke the truth, although he is a liar. Do you know whom you were talking to, these three nights, O Abu Hurayrah!' Abu Hurayrah said, `No.' He said, `It was Satan. [AL-Bukhari ; An-Nasa'i also recorded this Hadith in Al-Yawm wa Al-Laylah. ]
(This Verse 2:255 is called Ayat al-Kursi)
Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Raheem = In the Name of Allâh, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
Allahu la ilaha illa Huwal Haiyul-Qaiyum = Allah — there is no God but He, the Living, the Self-Subsisting and All-Sustaining.
La ta'khudhuhu sinatun wa la nawm = Slumber seizes Him not, nor sleep.
lahu ma fis-samawati wa ma fil-'ard = To Him belongs whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is in the earth.
Man dhal-ladhi yashfa'u 'indahu illa bi-idhnih = Who is he that will intercede with Him except by His permission?
Ya'lamu ma baina aidihim wa ma khalfahum = He knows what is before them and what is behind them;
wa la yuhituna bi shai'im-min 'ilmihi illa bima sha'a = and they encompass nothing of His knowledge except what He pleases.
Wasi'a kursiyuhus-samawati wal ard = His knowledge extends over the heavens and the earth;
wa la ya'uduhu hifdhuhuma Wa Huwal 'Aliyul-Adheem = and the care of them burdens Him not; and He is the Most High. The Supreme (in glory).
The verses 255 to 257 of 2nd chapter of Quran is famously known asaayat al-kursi or verse of the throne. It contains both esoteric and exoteric vastness of meaning and the Prophetic tradition speak very high of the merit of the verses. Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, is recorded as saying that everything has a zenith, and the zenith of the Quran is Sura al-Baqarah; and as for verses, it is Ayat al-Kursi.
A beautiful mystical interpretative version of the verses are given by sufi teacher Lex Hixon in his wonderful book, The Heart of the Koran. Here is the version with slight modification. ... Bismil'Llah.
A beautiful mystical interpretative version of the verses are given by sufi teacher Lex Hixon in his wonderful book, The Heart of the Koran. Here is the version with slight modification. ... Bismil'Llah.
2:255. There exists only One Supreme Source, One inexhaustible Power calling Itself Allah, the Profoundly Living One, the Life beyond time that never diminishes. The One Reality never unconscious, nor even for a moment rests Its embracing Awareness. To the One alone belongs the emanation of planetary existence and all beings.
There is no being who can turn toward the Ever Present Source in prayer or contemplation except through the Power and Love that flows from the Source Itself.
The Ultimate Source abiding beyond time, always remains perfect aware of what causes precede and what results follow from each event. Human beings can comprehend nothing of His encompassing awareness save what Allah Most High transmit to them as gifts of Grace.
All creation, including planetary and heavenly planes, is The Brilliant Throne of Allah. To sustain and protect this vast manifestation of Divine Energy involves no effort at all for the Original Source, Who is Supremely Transcendent and Who subsists solely as Radiance.
2:256. There should never be the slightest compulsion brought to bear upon any being to walk the exalted way of Islam. Allow humanity to be attracted spontaneously to Islam by its utmost clarity, for Islam simply makes clear the truth that there can be only One Source. This Truth alone dissolves the primal error that turns away from the Ultimate Source by mistaking various limited view to be ultimate.
Whoever ceases to rely on any idol, on any limited human understanding, and relies solely on the Limitless Source Allah, has grasped the most trustworthy support, the clear and indestructible essence of Islam. Indeed Allah Most Wise hears inwardly the spoken and unspoken prayers, and perceives intimately the open and hidden motivations of all things.
2:257. Allah Most Merciful gives the perfect guidance and full protection of His Divine Friendship to those who affirm the Source of Love with their being. Those who live the life of constant spiritual affirmation, Allah Most High brings forth from the shadow realm of subjective impulses and limited concepts into the clear Light of the Source. But those who turn away from the Source of Light, who for guidance and protection rely on the graven images of limitation, are drawn from the clarity of revelation into the realm of shadows, and will inevitably experience the Majesty of Allah as tremendous fire.
- Meditation on Holy Quran, 2:255-257
note. some school of thought maintain that aayat al-kursi is only verse 2:255, whereas other maintain that it includes 255 to 257. you may listen and download (right click and select Save as...) the original arabic verses here.