The Excellence Of Ayat-ul-Kursi
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) put me in charge of charity of Ramadan (Sadaqat-ul-Fitr). Somebody came to me and began to take away some foodstuff. I caught him and said, “I must take you to the Messenger of Allah (PBUH).” He said, “I am a needy man with a large family, and so I have a pressing need.” I let him go. When I saw the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) next morning, he asked me, “O Abu Hurairah! What did your captive do last night?” I said, “O Messenger of Allah! He complained of a pressing need and a big family. I felt pity for him so I let him go.” He (PBUH) said, “He told you a lie and he will return.” I was sure, according to the saying of the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) that he would return. I waited for him. He sneaked up again and began to steal foodstuff from the Sadaqah. I caught him and said; “I must take you to the Messenger of Allah (PBUH).” He said, “Let go of me, I am a needy man. I have to bear the expenses of a big family. I will not come back.” So I took pity on him and let him go. I went at dawn to the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) who asked me, “O Abu Hurairah! What did your captive do last night?” I replied, “O Messenger of Allah! He complained of a pressing want and the burden of a big family. I took pity on him and so I let him go.” He (PBUH) said, “He told you a lie and he will return.” (That man) came again to steal the foodstuff. I arrested him and said, “I must take you to the Messenger of Allah (PBUH), and this is the last of three times. You promised that you would not come again but you did.” He said, “Let go of me, I shall teach you some words with which Allah may benefit you.” I asked, “What are those words?” He replied, “When you go to bed, recite Ayat-ul-Kursi (2:255) for there will be a guardian appointed over you from Allah, and Satan will not be able to approach you till morning.” So I let him go. The next morning the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) asked me, “What did your prisoner do last night.” I answered, “He promised to teach me some words which he claimed will benefit me before Allah. So I let him go.” The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) asked, “What are those words that he taught you?” I said, “He told me: `When you go to bed, recite Ayat-ul-Kursi from the beginning to the end i.e.,
[ Allah! none has the right to be worshiped but He, the Ever Living, the One Who sustains and protects all that exists. Neither slumber nor sleep overtakes Him. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the 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 encompasses the heavens and the earth, and preserving them does not fatigue Him. And He is the Highest, the Most Great].’ (2:255).
He added: `By reciting it, there will be a guardian appointed over you from Allah who will protect you during the night, and Satan will not be able to come near you until morning.” The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, “Verily, he has told you the truth though he is a liar. O Abu Hurairah! Do you know with whom you were speaking for the last three nights?” I said, “No.” He (PBUH) said, “He was Shaitan (Satan).” [Al-Bukhari].
Commentary: This Hadith tells us the excellence of Ayat-ul-Kursi and the importance of reciting it before going to bed.
PROPHET Mohammad (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said:-
” The one who recites ‘Ayat Al-Kursi’. after each of the obligatory prayers, then Death will be the only thing preventing him from entering Paradise. ”
The Virtue of Ayat Al-Kursi
The Following Authentic Hadith describes it as ‘ the Greatest Ayah in the Book of Allah.’
Imam Ahmad (R) recorded that `Ubayy bin Ka`b [Radi Allah ‘Anhu ] said that the PROPHET~ [peace be upon him] asked him about the greatest Ayah in the Book of Allah, and `Ubayy bin Ka`b [Radi Allah ‘Anhu ] answered… “Allah and His Messenger know better.”
When the PROPHET [peace be upon him] repeated his question several times, `Ubayy bin Ka`b [Radi Allah ‘Anhu ] answered…
‘Ayat Al-Kursi’.
PROPHET~ [peace be upon him] commented…
” Congratulations for having knowledge O Abu Al-Mundhir”!
It is said that when the angel of death is taking the rooh (soul) out of the body whom passes away…it is a painful experience. They say that when the dead awake on Qiyaamah, the effect of the rooh being taken out will
still be there.
Therefore, ALLAH has told us to recite the Ayatul Kursi after any Fardh salaat and they have stated that whoever recites this, their rooh will be taken out as you would take out a strand of hair from a pile of flour. How light would that feel, Ma’shALLAH! May Allah save us from any sort of pain and may He let us die with Imaan in our hearts and save us from the adhaab.
There is no word as beautiful as Allah, no example as beautiful as Rasulallah Salallahwualaihe wasallam, no lesson as beautiful as Islam no song as melodious as Adhan, no charity as meaningful as Zakaat, no encyclopedia as perfect as Al Quran, no exercise as perfect as Namaz, no diet as perfect as fasting, no journey as perfect as Hajj.
Let’s realize that Islam is ever beautiful & perfect.