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Tafseeru
Aayatil Kursi Explanation of Aayat al-Kursi |
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By Shaykh
Muhammad bin Saalih Al-’Uthaymeen
With
Related Points of Benefit
From
the Shaykh’s Commentary on
Imaam
ibn Taymeeyah’s
Sharhul ’Aqeedatil-Waasitiyyah
Prepared
by Dr. Saleh As-Saleh
All Praise is due to Allaah. We praise Him, and seek His help and
forgiveness. We seek refuge in Allaah, Most High, from the evils of our own
selves and from our wicked deeds. Whomever Allaah guides cannot be misguided,
and whomever He leads astray cannot be guided. I testify that there is no
true God worthy of being worshipped except Allaah, alone, without partner or
associate. I further testify that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger (r).[1]
May Allaah’s salaah and salaam also be granted to the Prophet’s pure family and to all of his
noble companions.
O you who believe! Fear Allaah [by doing all that He ordered and abstaining from all that He forbade]
as He should be feared [obey Him, be thankful to Him, and remember Him
always] and die not except in a state of Islaam. [Qur’aan, Soorat
Aal-’Imraan (3:102)].
O mankind! Be dutiful to your Rabb[2] [Allaah], Who created you from a single person [Adam] and
from him [Adam] He created his wife [Eve], and from them both He created
many men and women. And fear Allaah through Whom you demand your mutual
[rights] and [do not cut
the relations of] the wombs [kinship]. Surely, Allaah is ever an
All-Watcher over you.
[Qur’aan, Soorat An-Nisaa’ (4:1)].
O you who believe! Keep your duty to Allaah and fear Him, and speak [always] the truth. He will direct you to
do righteous good deeds and will forgive you your sins. And whosoever obeys
Allaah and His Messenger has indeed achieved a great success. [Qur’aan, Soorat Al-Ahzaab (33:70-71)].
It proceeds that the most truthful speech is that of Allaah's Book [the
Qur’aan] and that the best of guidance is that of Muhammad (r). The worst of evils are the muhdathaat (newly-invented
matters [in the deen][3]), and every innovated matter (in the deen)
is a bid’ah;
every bid’ah is a dalaalah (misguidance), and every dalaalah
is in the Fire of Hell.
INTRODUCTION
Know, O Muslims, may Allaah bestow upon us from His Mercy, that
knowledge is the basis for the understanding and application of Islaamic
principles and laws. This is in accordance with the sayings of Allaah, the
Exalted:
So know [O! Muhammad r] that la ilaaha illaallaah [none has the right to be worshipped but
Allaah]. [Qur’aan, Soorat Muhammad (47:19)].
In a related context, the Prophet (r) affirmed that:
"He
upon whom Allaah intends goodness, He confers upon him a true understanding and
keen insight into the deen," and
[in the narration by Imaam Al-Bukhaari], he (r) said: "Truly
knowledge is attained by learning."[4]
Imaam Al-Bukhaari commented: “So Allaah stated that one should acquire
knowledge first, and scholars are the inheritors of the Prophets (i.e. they
inherit knowledge).” He added: “It is essential to know a thing first before
saying or acting upon it.”[5]
Imaam ibnul Qayyim said: “The salaf did not generalize the name “fiqh” except
on the knowledge which is associated with action.” He further added: “al-’ilm
imaamul-'amal (Knowledge is the Imaam of actions) and its leader,
and al-’amal is adherent to knowledge and is led by it. Every action
which is not led by knowledge is of no benefit for the one who initiates it. On
the contrary, it inflicts harm upon him, just as some of the salaf said
“Whoever worships Allaah without knowledge, the mischief he causes is more than
the goodness he may bring about.” He also stressed that: “Deeds vary with
respect to their acceptance or rejection respectively depending upon their
adherence or opposition to knowledge. Action which is in accordance with ‘ilm
is an approved thing, and what opposes al-’ilm is repudiated. Knowledge,
therefore, is the measure and is the test. Allaah said:
[Blessed be Allaah] Who has created death that He may test you as
to which of you is best in deeds, and He is al-’Azeez [Who subdues everthing by His Might; the
Mighty in His Revenge; the Unapproachable, none will prevail against Him; none
is like unto Him], al-Ghafoor [The One Who is Oft-Forgiving]. [Qur’aan, Soorat Al-Mulk (67:2)].
Al-Fudail bin ‘Iyaad explained that, “The best of deeds are those which are done
with sincerity [seeking Allaah’s Face] and are upright.” They said, “What is
considered sincere and right of
the deeds?” He replied, “Deeds which are sincere but not correct are not
accepted, and if they are correct but not sincere then they are also not
accepted, until they are sincere and right. In order to be sincere, they
must be done for Allaah alone, and for them to be correct, they must comply
with the [authentic] sunnah. Indeed Allaah, Most High, says:
Whoever hopes for the meeting of his Rabb let him work righteousness and associate none as a partner in the worship
of his Rabb [Allaah]. [Qur’aan, Soorat Al-Kahf (18:110)].
The doer will not be able to act in a way which comprises both
qualities (sincerity and rightness) except by the way of knowledge. For if
he does not know what the Messenger (r) brought, he will not be able to follow him
in the straight way. On the other hand, if he does not know of the One Who
deserves to worshipped alone [Allaah], he will be unable to seek Him solely.”[6]
In the absolute sense, what is meant by al-’ilm (knowledge) is
the Islaamic knowledge, based upon kitaabullaah [the Book of Allaah, the
Qur’aan], and the authentic sunnah in accordance with the understanding and
methodology (manhaj) of as-salaf as-saalih Shaykh ‘Abdul ‘Azeez bin Baaz (hafithahullaah: May Allaah preserve him) explained:
“When generalized, al-’ilm, pertains to the intended knowledge in the
Book of Allaah and the sunnah of His Messenger (r). It is knowledge of Allaah, His Names and Attributes, knowledge of
His rights over His creation, and what He I (subhaanahu wata’aala: Far is He
removed from every imperfection, the Most High) has prescribed for them. And it
is the detailed knowledge of the path that leads to Allaah; knowledge of the
purpose of our creation, and the final outcome, in the Hereafter, which the ‘ibaad[7] will ultimately wind up in...It is of the
duty of taalib al-’ilm (the student seeking knowledge) to understand and
study the deen,
to learn and reflect upon what Allaah has prescribed, to know the authentic salafi ‘aqeedah which the Prophet (r) was upon, his companions, and their follower in righteousness...”[8]
The greatest, most excellent “and most honorable knowledge is
that of Allaah, Most High, His Names, Attributes, and Actions, the knowledge of
His deen and of His Messenger (r) with love and magnification, being pleased with it all.”[9]
The ranks of people with respect to this knowledge varies to a great
extent. “Some people know of Allaah by virtue of His Generosity, Bounties, and
Favors, others know of Him through His Forgiveness, Clemency, and Pardoning,
others through His Knowledge and Wisdom, others recognize Him by His Might and
Majesty, others by His Mercy, Goodness, Kindness, and Courtesy, others by His
Subduing and Sovereignty, and others by the fact that He answers their
supplications, and fulfills their needs, and relieves their grief.
The one who is most comprehensive in his knowledge of Allaah, knows of
Him by means of His own Words. He knows a Rabb to whom belongs the Most Majestic and
Perfect Attributes. Far is He removed from having anything comparable to Him or
any equal; free from all kinds of defects and imperfections; qualified with
every beautiful Name and every perfect Attribute; Doer of what He intends
(wills); Above everything [istawaa (ascended) upon the ‘arsh above the seven heavens] and with everything [He encompasses
everything with His Knowledge, Ability, Authority, and so forth from the
meanings of His ruboobiyyah, while He is the Most High, above
everything]; the One who is Able to do everything; the One Who manages the affairs
of everything. He commands and forbids. He speaks the legislative (deeniyyah)[10] and universal (kawniyyah)[11]
words. He is Greater than everything, and He is the Most Beautiful. the
Most Merciful, the All-Able, the All-Wise.
Allaah, Most High, sent down the Qur’aan in order to inform His ‘ibaad about
Himself, so that they know of Him, of the way that leads to Him, and of
the status of travellers to Him after their arrival.”[12]
One of the great suwar [plural of soorah (chapter)] of
the Qur’aan that was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (r) is soorat al-baqarah (The second soorah
of the Qur’aan). In it is an aayah (verse) in which Allaah, the Exalted, Speaks
about Himself and His Attributes. This aayah is aayatul-kursi, which is highly distinguished because:
(1) The
Prophet (r) described as the greatest aayah in the Qur’aan.
(2) In it the Most Great Name of Allaah (ismullaahi
al-’atham) is mentioned.
(3) It
protects from the shayateen (sing. shaytaan).[13]
(4) The
believer who recites it following an obligatory salaah is under the Care
and Protection of Allaah until the commencement of the next prayer.[14]
(5) “The
one who recites it after each of the obligatory prayers, then death will be the
only thing [i.e. barrier] preventing him from entering
al-Jannah.”[15]
Shaykh-ul-Islaam ibn Taymeeyah said: “There is no single aayah in the Qur’aan which includes that which is
comprised in aayatul-kursi.”[16]
Because of the great importance of this aayah, I have decided, after making istikhaarah[17]to introduce the english-speaking Muslim communities
to the salaf’s tasfeer of the Words of Allaah in this noble aayah.
In this regard, I found that an excellent summarized explanation of its meaning
by Shaykh Muhammad ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah protect Him) was published by Daar ibnul-Jawzi in
Dammaam, KSA. I chose it because of the many major points of benefit it
contains. Many other related beneficial points from the Shaykh’s discussions in
other books or treatises[18] and from other discussions by the great salafi scholars are introduced.
I ask Allaah, Most High, to make this effort sincerely for His Majestic
Face, and that He grant the best reward to its author and the salafi scholars, and that He grants us a share of
the reward for it, and that He makes it a benefit for all Muslims.
The slave of Allaah
Saleh As-Saleh
P.O. Box 3228
‘Unayzah, 81888
KSA
The Words of Allaah in Aayatul Kursi
and the Translation of Their Meanings,
Allaah! [none
has the right to be worshipped but He], the Ever Living, the One Who
sustains and protects all that exists. Neither slumber, nor sleep overtake Him.
To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on earth. Who is he
that can intercede with Him except with His Permission? He knows what happens
to them [His creatures] in this world, and what will happen to them in
the Hereafter. And they will never compass anything of His Knowledge except
that which He wills. His kursi extends over the heavens and the earth,
and He feels no fatigue in guarding and preserving them. And He is the Most
High, above everything, the Most Great.
Tafseer Aayatul Kursi
Prelude
All Praise is due to Allaah, the Rabb of al-’aalameen (creation). I
supplicate Allaah to have His salaah and salaam upon our Prophet Muhammad, his household, and all of his companions.
It Proceeds that this [treatise] is the tafseer of aayatul kursi [Qur’aan,
Soorat Al-Baqarah (2:255)] presented together with points of benefit
deduced from it in the course of establishing its explanation.
We ask Allaah ÊÚÇáì to make us benefit from the knowledge which He bestowed upon us, certainly He is Al-Jawaad