This verse is clled “ayatul kursi”
[The verse of the Throne/Seat of Power]
GOD IS ONE / THE TRUTH) / Nothing like Him / Eternal / Infinite/FINAL GOAL/ Beyond human comprehension/ Ultimate Reality-Cause
[ Upanishad says – God is the Ultimate Reality on which all transitory realities are based. This verse conveys that.]
2. Surah al-Baqara, Medina 87
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.
... 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.
... 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,
... وَلاَ يَؤُودُهُ حِفْظُهُمَا...
and He feeleth no fatigue in guarding and preserving them.
... وَهُوَ الْعَلِيُّ الْعَظِيمُ ﴿٢٥٥﴾
For He is the Most High, the Supreme (in glory).
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).
Asad’s Version:
2: 247…And God bestows His dominion upon whom he wills: for God is infinite, all-knowing.
2: 255 [Ayatul Kursi ]
Asad God –there is no deity save Him, the Ever-Living, the Self- Subsistent Fount of All Being. Neither slumber overtakes Him, nor sleep. His is all that is in the heavens and all that is on earth. Who is there that could intercede with Him, unless it be by His leave?
He knows all that lies open before men and all that is hidden from them [note 247], whereas they cannot attain to aught of His knowledge save that which He wills [them to attain].
His eternal power [note 248] overspreads the heaven and the earth, and their uploading wearies Him not. And he alone is truly exalted, tremendous.
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 includeth the heavens and the earth, and He is never weary of preserving them. He is the Sublime, the Tremendous.
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[ Asad’s note – 247 – Lit., “that which is between their hands and that which is behind them”. The commentators give most conflicting interpretations to this phrase…….]
note 248 – Lit., “His seat [of power]”. Some of the commentators (e.g., Zamakhshari) interprets this as “His sovereignty” or “His dominion”, while others take it to mean “His knowledge” …………..]
Ali’s notes - 296 This is the Ayat-ul-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. (2.255)
297 After we realize 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. God'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. (2.255)
298 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 God's power, and will, and authority. Everything of course includes spiritual things as well as things of sense. Cf. Wordsworth's fine outburst in "Tintern Abbey": "Whose dwelling is the light of setting suns, And the round ocean and the living air, And in the blue sky, and in the mind of man: A motion and a spirit that impels alll thinking things, all objects of all thought, And rolls through all things." (2.255)
299 Wrong (themselves as well as others): Zalimun: for the root meaning of zulm see n. 51. ii. 35. (2.255) ]
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