2. Surah Al Baqarah

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

اللّهُ لاَ إِلَـهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ...

2: 255. Allah! there is no god but He, the living, the Self-subsisting, Eternal.

C296. This is the Ayah al Kursi the "Verse of the Throne".

Who can translate its glorious meaning, or reproduce the rhythm of its well-chosen and comprehensive words. Even in the original Arabic the meaning seems to be greater than can be expressed in words.

The attributes of Allah are different from anything we know in our present world; He lives, but His life is self-subsisting and eternal: it does not depend upon other beings and is not limited to time and space.

Perhaps the attribute of Qayyum includes not only the idea of “Self-subsisting” but also the idea of “Keeping up and maintaining all life.”

His life being the source and constant support of all derived forms of life. Perfect life is perfect activity, in contrast to the imperfect life which we see around us, which is not only subject to death but to the need for rest or slowed-down activity, (something which is between activity and sleep, for which I, in common with other translators, have used the word “slumber”) and the need for full sleep itself.

But Allah has no need for rest or sleep. His activity, like His life, is perfect and self-subsisting. Contrast with this the expressions used in Psalms 78:65;

“Then the Lord awaked as one out of sleep, and like a mighty man that shouteth by reason of wine.” (R).

... لاَ تَأْخُذُهُ سِنَةٌ وَلاَ نَوْمٌ ...

No slumber can seize him nor sleep.

... لَّهُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الأَرْضِ ...

His are all things in the heavens and on earth.

... مَن ذَا الَّذِي يَشْفَعُ عِنْدَهُ إِلاَّ بِإِذْنِهِ ...

Who is there can intercede in His presence except as He permitteth?

... يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ ...

He knoweth what (appeareth to his creatures as) before or after or behind them.

C297. After we realise that His life is absolute Life. His Being is absolute Being, while others are contingent and evanescent our ideas of heaven and earth vanish like shadows. What is behind that shadow is He.

Such reality as our heavens and our earth possess is a reflection of His absolute Reality.

The pantheist places the wrong accent when he says that everything is He. The truth is better expressed when we say that everything is His.

How then can any creatures stand before Him as of right, and claim to intercede for a fellow-creature? In the first place both are His, and He cares as much for one as for the other.

In the second place, they are both dependent on His will and command. But He in His Wisdom and Plan may grade his creatures and give one superiority over another. Then by His will and permission such a one may intercede or help according to the laws and duties laid on him.

Allah's knowledge is absolute, and is not conditioned by Time or Space. To us, His creatures, these conditions always apply. His knowledge and our knowledge are therefore in different categories, and our knowledge only gets some reflection of Reality when it accords with His Will and Plan.

... وَلاَ يُحِيطُونَ بِشَيْءٍ مِّنْ عِلْمِهِ إِلاَّ بِمَا شَاء...

Nor shall they compass aught of his knowledge except as He willeth.

... وَسِعَ كُرْسِيُّهُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضَ ...

His throne doth extend over the heavens and the earth,

C298. Throne; seat, power, knowledge, symbol of authority.

In our thoughts we exhaust everything when we say "the heavens and the earth".

Well, then in everything is the working of Allah's power, and will, and authority. Everything of course includes spiritual things as well as things of sense. (R).

... وَلاَ يَؤُودُهُ حِفْظُهُمَا...

and He feeleth no fatigue in guarding and preserving them.

C299. A life of activity that is imperfect or relative would not only need rest for carrying on its own activities, but would be in need of double rest when it has to look after and guard, or cherish, or help other activities.

In contrast with this is the Absolute Life, which is free from any such need or contingency. For it is supreme above anything that we can conceive.

... وَهُوَ الْعَلِيُّ الْعَظِيمُ ﴿٢٥٥﴾

For He is the Most High, the Supreme (in glory).

Other versions:

2: 255 [al-Bakara, Medina 87]

Yusuf Ali Allah! there is no Allah but He the living the Self-subsisting Eternal. No slumber can seize him nor sleep. His are all things in the heavens and on earth. Who is there can intercede in His presence except as He permitteth? He knoweth what (appeareth to his creatures as) before or after or behind them. Nor shall they compass aught of his knowledge except as He willeth. His throne doth extend over the heavens and the earth and He feeleth no fatigue in guarding and preserving them. For He is the Most High the Supreme (in glory).

Pickthall Allah! There is no God save Him, the Alive, the Eternal. Neither slumber nor sleep overtaketh Him. Unto Him belongeth whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is in the earth. Who is he that intercedeth with Him save by His leave? He knoweth that which is in front of them and that which is behind them, while they encompass nothing of His knowledge save what He will. His throne includes the heavens and the earth, and He is never weary of preserving them. He is the Sublime, the Tremendous.

Yuksel God Alone

2:255 God, there is no god but He, the Living, the Sustainer. No slumber or sleep overtakes Him; to Him belongs all that is in the heavens and in the earth. Who will intercede with Him except by His leave? He knows their present and their future, and they do not have any of His knowledge except for what He wishes. His throne encompasses all of the heavens and the earth and it is easy for Him to preserve them. He is the High, the Great.*

Alla_hu la_ ila_ha illa_ huw(a), al hayyul qayyu_m(u), la_ ta'khuzuhu_ sinatuw wa la_ naum(un), lahu_ ma_ fis sama_wa_ti wa ma_ fil ard(i), man zal lazi yasyfa'un 'indahu_ illa_ bi iznih(i), ya'lamu ma_ baina aidihim wa ma_ khalfahum wa la_ yuhitu_na bi syai'im min'ilmihi illa_ bima_ sya_'(a), wasi'a kursiyyuhus sama_wa_ti wal ard(a), wa la_ ya'u_duhu_ hifzuhuma_, wa huwal 'aliyyul 'azim(u).

[[ Ruby’s note – This is indicating that no one in the universe can have any knowledge without God’s will. Therefore the knowledge anyone has is as per God’s will.}}

[[ Yuksel’s note -

002:255 The verse rejects the distortion seeped into the Old Testament depicting God as resting or sleeping (Genesis 2:2; Exodus 31:17; Psalms 78:65; 44:23). See 7:180. ]]