Throne Verse

²⁵⁵ Allah: there is no god but Him, the Ever-Living, the Ever-Watchful. Neither slumber nor sleep overtakes Him. All that is in the heavens and in the earth belongs to Him. Who is there that can intercede with Him except by His leave? He knows what is before them and what is behind them, but they do not comprehend any of His knowledge except what He wills. His Seat extends over the heavens and the earth; it does not weary Him to preserve them both. He is the Most High, the Tremendous^[7]

The structure of the ayah (verse) is represented by concentrism, which is the most prevalent type of symmetry in the Qur'an.^[8] a symmetrical structure, wherein units of text are arranged concentrically (ABCD/x/D’C’B’A’). The relationship between those units is one of identity: terms and segments have similar meanings, and each segment responds or corresponds to its pair.^[9]

The word "al-Kursī" could be casually translated today as a stool or chair.^[b] Sevan Nişanyan says that this word is derived from the Aramaic-Syriac word kūrsayā כרסא/כרסיא, which has the same meaning as 'chair' or 'throne'.^[11]

However, by examining Islamic texts where God is depicted as a king,^[c] this translation —which implies worthlessness in contrast to His greatness— is converted to a throne. Historically, however, the word may be connected to another usage, the pulpit.^[12] A pulpit is a place where an orator delivers informative talks to an audience, either standing or seated, and some narratives associate it with knowledge. In Turkish, "Kürsü" is also used to refer to an -academic- department.

In Early Islam, the concepts of the Throne (Arsh), Pulpit (Kursi), Pen (Qalam), and others Bearers of the Throne etc described as being in the immediate vicinity of Allah, who is considered a personal deity,^[13] living in the heavens^[14] along with concepts such as Allah's sitting on a Throne, His right, and His left, led to problems of understanding in later periods, when Islamic theology developed and adopted a transcendent understanding of God.^[15] While these concepts were sometimes interpreted by theologians as metaphorical expressions intended to emphasize transcendence, others approached them with the attitude of "we believe in the essence, but we don't investigate how it is" ; "It (al-Kursī) is the "seat" of God's power, but without God sitting on it with bones, since bones and body belong to the created things".^[16]

It is said (ḥadīṯ) that reciting this verse wards off devils (šayāṭīn)^[17] and fiends (ʿafārīt),^[18] and its recitation after every obligatory prayer prevents nothing from entering Paradise except death.^[19][20][21]

Al-Suyuti narrates that a man from humanity and a man from the jinn met. Whereupon, as means of reward for defeating the jinn in a wrestling match, the jinn teaches a Quranic verses that if recited, no devil (šayṭān) will enter the man's house with him, which is the "Throne Verse".^[18]

Due to the association with protection, it is believed to shield against the evil eye.^[22]

Ayat al-Kursi is regarded as the greatest verse of Quran according to the hadith.^[23][24][25] The verse is regarded as one of the most powerful in the Quran because when it is recited, the greatness of God is believed to be confirmed. The person who recites this ayat morning and evening will be under protection of God from the evil of the jinn and the shayatin (devils); this is also known as the daily adkhar.^[26]

It is used in exorcism, to cure and protect from jinn and shayatin (devils).^[27] Because the Throne Verse is believed to grant spiritual and physical protection, it is often recited by Muslims before setting out on a journey and before going to sleep.^{[28][6][23][29]} Reciting the verse after every prayer is believed to grant quick entry to paradise without any delay.^[30][31]

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  Rug that would be placed on the Mihrab containing ayat al-Kursi (1570-80)
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  Amulet with Throne verse on outer band (19th century)
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  Another Kiswah cloth with Ayat al Kursi (1907-1918)
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  Late 10th century Fatimid freize of Aleppo pine with Throne verse
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  Most of the Throne verse on the back of a standing stone from 17th-century India
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  Contemporary Islamic calligraphy of Throne Verse