AYATAL KURSI - PART TWO (AYAHS 256 & 257 OF SURAH AL-BAQARAH)

Ayatl kursi Part one dealt with the Unity of Allah, His Pure Essence and Attributes.

Ayahs 256 and 257 are stated below:

“There is no compulsion in the religion; truly the right way has become clearly distinct from error; therefore, whoever disbeliefs the rebels  (false deities) and believes in Allah, he indeed has laid hold on the strongest handle, for which there is no break off; and Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing. Allah is the Guardian of those who believe; He brings them out of the darkness into the light; and (as to) those who disbelieve, their guardians are the rebels, they take them out of the light into the darkness. They are the inmates of the Fire in it they abide forever.”

Religion is faith and belief, it is a matter of conscience, and such a thing cannot be created by coercion and compulsion. One may force someone to do a certain physical action against his will, but he cannot be forced to believe against his will. Belief follows reason and understanding; and nothing but reason and understanding can create it.

In Islam, man is invited to investigate the “Roots of Islam” before accepting the faith. Roots of Islam are Unity of Allah, the Justice of Allah, the Prophet hood; Allah sent 124,000 prophets to guide the humanity, the last one being the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.), the Imamate to continue the guidance by interpretation of the Last Message; the Glorious Qur’an, and narrating the authentic Traditions of the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.), and lastly the concept of accountability on the Day of Resurrection and Judgment.

After a man has thoroughly understands Islam by scrutinizing the Roots of Islam, testifies the Shahadah, he has laid hold on the unbreakable and strongest handle. To practice Islam, one needs the correct guiding principles as practiced by the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) and his Pure Infallible Progeny (s.a.). This is provided by the “Furu-e-Deen” or Branches of Islam. These are Salat, Fasting, Hajj, Zakat, Khums, Jihad, Amre bil Maruf, Nahianil Munkar, Tawalla, Tabarra.

The reason for the revelation of Ayah 256 was that there was a man from Madinah named Abu Haseen who had two sons. Some of the merchants who were Christian used to invite them to Christianity while transacting business with them. The boys were seriously influenced by them. He went to the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) and requested him to bring back his sons. At that time Ayah 256 was revealed and manifested this fact that there is no compulsion in accepting the religion. This Ayah seriously answers those people who insist that Islam was spread by the force of sword and martial power.

As for the Ayah 257 which says, “Allah brings them out of the darkness into the light and the guardians of disbelievers take them out of light into the darkness.”, it may be said that man in his creation has the light of natural faith; it is a general light which needs details and particularization but he is in darkness about the detailed knowledge and good deeds. When the believer acquires the correct faith, he goes out from the darkness into the light of knowledge and good deeds. And the disbeliever, by his disbelief, goes out from the natural light into the darkness of disbelief and evil deeds. It is worth mentioning that Allah has used light as singular indicating that truth is One; and that false hood is used as plural exhibiting multifaced, diverse and variable.

                Sources:  Tafsir-e-Namoonah by Ayatullah Nasir Makarem Shirazi

                                  Tafsir al-Mizan by Ayatullah Muhammad Husayn Tabatabaei

AYATAL KURSI - PART ONE (AYAH 255 OF SURAH AL-BAQARAH)

Complete Ayatal Kursi consists of Ayahs 255 to 257 of the Surah al-Baqarah of the Glorious Qur’an. The importance and excellence of Ayatal Kursi may be assessed by a couple of traditions; The Noble Messenger(s.a.w.a.s.) was asked as to what was the best Ayah that was revealed to him and He (s.a.w.a.s.) replied “the Ayah of the “Chair” (Kursi).” Imam Ali (a.s.) said, “I have not spent a single night, since I heard it from the Messenger of Allah, without reciting it (Ayatal Kursi)”. The Infallible Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (a.s.)said , “The one who recites Ayatal Kursi once, Allah will remove one thousand unbecoming things from his worldly unbecoming affairs, the easiest of which is poverty, and one thousand unbecoming things from his (affairs) in the Hereafter, the easiest one among which is the pain of the grave.” (Bihar-al-Anwar volume 92 page 262)

Ayah 255 of Surah al-Baqarah states:

“Allah! There is no God but He, the Ever-Living, the Self-Subsisting (the Sustainer of all things); slumber seizes Him not, nor sleep; to Him belongs whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is in the earth. Who is it that can intercede with Him save by His leave? He knows what is before them and what is behind them, while they comprehend nothing of His knowledge except what He wills. His Kursi (Knowledge) extends over the heaven and the earth; and preserving them both tires Him not; and, He is the Highest, the Greatest. “

The Ayah begins with the Pure Essence of Allah and continues with the subject of Unity, Asma-ul-Husna and His Attributes:

Allah! There is no God but He: Allah is the appellation of God which means the Essence which includes all the Attributes of Divine Perfection, Glory and Beauty.

Ever Living and Self-Subsisting: It is evident that life for Allah is the real life, because His life is the same as His Essence, His Knowledge and His Power. Human life as He created is transitory.

Slumber seizes Him not nor sleep: The governance of Absolutely bountiful Allah, is perpetual, and never ceases.

Whatsoever is in the heavens and the earth belongs to Him: When people know whatever they posses really belongs to Allah; they surely will avoid transgressing other people’s rights.

Who is it that can intercede with Him save by His leave: No one can intercede without His permission?

He knows what is before them and what is behind them: Whatever is in the expose of time and place is entirely manifested in His knowledge. That’s why everything, even intersession, depends on his Command.

They comprehend nothing of His knowledge except what He wills: He has let others know only a small part of His knowledge that has been advisable and proper for them. Limited knowledge of others is a beam of light of His unlimited knowledge.

His Kursi (knowledge)extends over the heavens and the earth; and preserving both tires Him not: Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (a.s.) said, “Heavens and the earth, compared to Kursi, is like a ring in the midst of a desert, and Kursi, in comparison with ‘Arsh, is like a ring in the midst of a desert. (Al-Burhan fi Tafsir -il-Qur’an Volume1 page 241)

He is the Highest and the Greatest: The Lord who is the Highest and the infinite, can do everything and nothing is difficult for Him. He is never tired of managing the world of existence. He never remains neglectful, nor unaware of it. His knowledge involves all things because He is Omnipotent, Omnipresent.

                Sources: Tafsir al-Mizan by al-Allamah as-Sayyid Muhammad Husayn at-Tabatabaei

                                  Tafsir -e- Namoonah by Ayatullah Nasir Makarem Shirazi