Ayat ul Kursi

Today we read the greatest verse in the Quran and discussed the benefits of this verse in some detail. Here are some which were mentioned:

• Protection against evil, illness and financial hardship
• Prosperous life
• Shield against evil and nightmares when sleeping if recited before going to sleep
• If recited after every fard salah, the only thing left between you and paradise is death
• Ease at the time of death
• Blessings within marriage

We also noticed a couple of things, Allah SWT refers to Himself, by the name Allah, his attributes or pronouns, 17 times in this verse.

Another interesting fact about this verse is that it is symmetric. It has nine parts which sort of mirror each other, in that they talk about similar topics, with the fifth part acting as the mirror. Have a look at the fifth part and think about the verse with that in mind.

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 god ˹worthy of worship˺ except Him, the Ever-Living, All-Sustaining.

Neither drowsiness nor sleep overtakes Him.

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

Who could possibly intercede with Him without His permission?

He ˹fully˺ knows what is ahead of them and what is behind them,

but no one can grasp any of His knowledge—except what He wills ˹to reveal˺.

His Seat encompasses the heavens and the earth,

and the preservation of both does not tire Him.

For He is the Most High, the Greatest.

Surah Al Baqarah Verse 255

Lessons from Prophet Ibrahim AS

As we read further, we learned about the conversation between Ibrahim AS and Nimrood, a king. When Prophet Ibrahim AS went to him with the truth and said that Allah SWT is the one who gives and takes life, Nimrood argued that he too has the power to give life and cause death.

This is a reminder for all of us that we need to purify our hearts and get rid off the diseases of the heart. If someone is telling you the truth, giving you advice, do not be arrogant just because they are “lesser” than you in your eyes.

Prophet Ibrahim then replies to him with a challenge, he says that it is Allah SWT who raises the sun from the east and that if Nimrood does have power he should raise it from the west. This left the arrogant king speechless and defeated.

This is a reminder that the same approach will not work with everyone and that not everyone will react the same way. For some, a simple example will be enough to convince them of the truth but others may require a lot more time and effort. We need to be able to adapt our approach as needed when talking to different people.

Another thing we learn from Prophet Ibrahim AS is that we should not be afraid to ask questions to those who would know the answers when we feel lost or confused. Even Prophet Ibrahim AS asked for signs to increase his faith.

أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى ٱلَّذِى حَآجَّ إِبْرَٰهِـۧمَ فِى رَبِّهِۦٓ أَنْ ءَاتَىٰهُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْمُلْكَ إِذْ قَالَ إِبْرَٰهِـۧمُ رَبِّىَ ٱلَّذِى يُحْىِۦ وَيُمِيتُ قَالَ أَنَا۠ أُحْىِۦ وَأُمِيتُ ۖ قَالَ إِبْرَٰهِـۧمُ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَأْتِى بِٱلشَّمْسِ مِنَ ٱلْمَشْرِقِ فَأْتِ بِهَا مِنَ ٱلْمَغْرِبِ فَبُهِتَ ٱلَّذِى كَفَرَ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يَهْدِى ٱلْقَوْمَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ

Are you ˹O Prophet˺ not aware of the one who argued with Abraham about his Lord because Allah had granted him kingship? ˹Remember˺ when Abraham said, “My Lord is the One Who has power to give life and cause death.” He argued, “I too have the power to give life and cause death.” Abraham challenged ˹him˺, “Allah causes the sun to rise from the east. So make it rise from the west.” And so the disbeliever was dumbstruck. And Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people.

Surah Al Baqarah Verse 258

وَإِذْ قَالَ إِبْرَٰهِـۧمُ رَبِّ أَرِنِى كَيْفَ تُحْىِ ٱلْمَوْتَىٰ ۖ قَالَ أَوَلَمْ تُؤْمِن ۖ قَالَ بَلَىٰ وَلَـٰكِن لِّيَطْمَئِنَّ قَلْبِى ۖ قَالَ فَخُذْ أَرْبَعَةًۭ مِّنَ ٱلطَّيْرِ فَصُرْهُنَّ إِلَيْكَ ثُمَّ ٱجْعَلْ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ جَبَلٍۢ مِّنْهُنَّ جُزْءًۭا ثُمَّ ٱدْعُهُنَّ يَأْتِينَكَ سَعْيًۭا ۚ وَٱعْلَمْ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌۭ

And ˹remember˺ when Abraham said, “My Lord! Show me how you give life to the dead.” Allah responded, “Do you not believe?” Abraham replied, “Yes I do, but just so my heart can be reassured.” Allah said, “Then bring four birds, train them to come to you, ˹then cut them into pieces,˺ and scatter them on different hilltops. Then call them back, they will fly to you in haste. And ˹so you will˺ know that Allah is Almighty, All-Wise.”

Surah Al Baqarah Verse 260

Charity

Allah SWT tells us that the reward for those who spend their wealth in the cause of Allah and do not follow with constant reminders is with Him. Our aim when we give charity should be to forget about it and move on, we should not constantly remind the person who we helped about it, and we should not keep it at the back of your head either, we need to purify our intentions.

ٱلَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ أَمْوَٰلَهُمْ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ ثُمَّ لَا يُتْبِعُونَ مَآ أَنفَقُوا۟ مَنًّۭا وَلَآ أَذًۭى ۙ لَّهُمْ أَجْرُهُمْ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ وَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ

Those who spend their wealth in the cause of Allah and do not follow their charity with reminders of their generosity or hurtful words—they will get their reward from their Lord, and there will be no fear for them, nor will they grieve.

Surah Al Baqarah Verse 262

Interest

As we read on, we came across a verse reminding us that Allah SWT has forbidden interest. This made us think about the economy today. In every country today, it is based on interest. Today some people say that if it’s your first house or mortgage, it is allowed. But we need to remember that whether it is 1% or 50%, interest is interest and haram is haram. A think to note it that verses leading up to this verse, encouraged all type of charity, open and private, charity circulates the wealth and helps the needy. Interest, however, only takes away more from the needy.

ٱلَّذِينَ يَأْكُلُونَ ٱلرِّبَوٰا۟ لَا يَقُومُونَ إِلَّا كَمَا يَقُومُ ٱلَّذِى يَتَخَبَّطُهُ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُ مِنَ ٱلْمَسِّ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّمَا ٱلْبَيْعُ مِثْلُ ٱلرِّبَوٰا۟ ۗ وَأَحَلَّ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْبَيْعَ وَحَرَّمَ ٱلرِّبَوٰا۟ ۚ فَمَن جَآءَهُۥ مَوْعِظَةٌۭ مِّن رَّبِّهِۦ فَٱنتَهَىٰ فَلَهُۥ مَا سَلَفَ وَأَمْرُهُۥٓ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ ۖ وَمَنْ عَادَ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلنَّارِ ۖ هُمْ فِيهَا خَـٰلِدُونَ

Those who consume interest will stand ˹on Judgment Day˺ like those driven to madness by Satan’s touch. That is because they say, “Trade is no different than interest.” But Allah has permitted trading and forbidden interest. Whoever refrains—after having received warning from their Lord—may keep their previous gains, and their case is left to Allah. As for those who persist, it is they who will be the residents of the Fire. They will be there forever.

Surah Al Baqarah Verse 275

Mercy and Debt

Allah SWT encourages us to make it easier for those in debt to repay their debt. He tells us to postpone the repayment date if the one is debt finds it difficult to pay back at this time. Allah SWT also tells us that it is better for us, the one who had loaned out money, to write off the debt as an act of charity. There is also a hadith which mentions that Allah SWT forgave someone after their death for doing this.

وَإِن كَانَ ذُو عُسْرَةٍۢ فَنَظِرَةٌ إِلَىٰ مَيْسَرَةٍۢ ۚ وَأَن تَصَدَّقُوا۟ خَيْرٌۭ لَّكُمْ ۖ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ

If it is difficult for someone to repay a debt, postpone it until a time of ease. And if you waive it as an act of charity, it will be better for you, if only you knew.

Surah Al Baqarah Verse 280

حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، حَدَّثَنَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ سَعْدٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُتْبَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ “‏ كَانَ الرَّجُلُ يُدَايِنُ النَّاسَ، فَكَانَ يَقُولُ لِفَتَاهُ إِذَا أَتَيْتَ مُعْسِرًا فَتَجَاوَزْ عَنْهُ، لَعَلَّ اللَّهُ أَنْ يَتَجَاوَزَ عَنَّا‏.‏ قَالَ فَلَقِيَ اللَّهَ فَتَجَاوَزَ عَنْهُ ‏”‏‏.‏

Narrated Abu Huraira:

Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “A man used to give loans to the people and used to say to his servant, ‘If the debtor is poor, forgive him, so that Allah may forgive us.’ So when he met Allah (after his death), Allah forgave him.”

Sahih Bukhari 3480

The Power of Dua

Zakariah AS asks Maryam AS where she gets her provisions. She replied it is from Allah. This encouraged him to make dua for a child. When he is given the good news of a child, Yahya AS, he asks Allah SWT how is it possible. Be and it is. This is a reminder for all of us to turn to Allah SWT whenever we have a problem, make dua to him

فَتَقَبَّلَهَا رَبُّهَا بِقَبُولٍ حَسَنٍۢ وَأَنۢبَتَهَا نَبَاتًا حَسَنًۭا وَكَفَّلَهَا زَكَرِيَّا ۖ كُلَّمَا دَخَلَ عَلَيْهَا زَكَرِيَّا ٱلْمِحْرَابَ وَجَدَ عِندَهَا رِزْقًۭا ۖ قَالَ يَـٰمَرْيَمُ أَنَّىٰ لَكِ هَـٰذَا ۖ قَالَتْ هُوَ مِنْ عِندِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَرْزُقُ مَن يَشَآءُ بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍ

So her Lord accepted her graciously and blessed her with a pleasant upbringing—entrusting her to the care of Zachariah. Whenever Zachariah visited her in the sanctuary, he found her supplied with provisions. He exclaimed, “O Mary! Where did this come from?” She replied, “It is from Allah. Surely Allah provides for whoever He wills without limit.”

Surah Aal-e-Imran Verse 37

هُنَالِكَ دَعَا زَكَرِيَّا رَبَّهُۥ ۖ قَالَ رَبِّ هَبْ لِى مِن لَّدُنكَ ذُرِّيَّةًۭ طَيِّبَةً ۖ إِنَّكَ سَمِيعُ ٱلدُّعَآءِ

Then and there Zachariah prayed to his Lord, saying, “My Lord! Grant me—by your grace—righteous offspring. You are certainly the Hearer of ˹all˺ prayers.”

Surah Aal-e-Imran Verse 39

فَنَادَتْهُ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ وَهُوَ قَآئِمٌۭ يُصَلِّى فِى ٱلْمِحْرَابِ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُبَشِّرُكَ بِيَحْيَىٰ مُصَدِّقًۢا بِكَلِمَةٍۢ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَسَيِّدًۭا وَحَصُورًۭا وَنَبِيًّۭا مِّنَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ

So the angels called out to him while he stood praying in the sanctuary, “Allah gives you good news of ˹the birth of˺ John who will confirm the Word of Allah and will be a great leader, chaste, and a prophet among the righteous.”

Surah Aal-e-Imran Verse 39

قَالَ رَبِّ أَنَّىٰ يَكُونُ لِى غُلَـٰمٌۭ وَقَدْ بَلَغَنِىَ ٱلْكِبَرُ وَٱمْرَأَتِى عَاقِرٌۭ ۖ قَالَ كَذَٰلِكَ ٱللَّهُ يَفْعَلُ مَا يَشَآءُ

Zachariah exclaimed, “My Lord! How can I have a son when I am very old and my wife is barren?” He replied, “So will it be. Allah does what He wills.”

Surah Aal-e-Imran Verse 40