Ubayy bin Ka’ab (RA) said: [1]
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “O Abu al-Mundhir, do you know which verse in the Book of Allah is the greatest?” I said, “Allah and His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) know best.” He then said, “O Abu al-Mundhir, do you know which verse in the Book of Allah is the greatest?” I said, “Allah, there is no god but Him, the Ever-Living, the Eternal.” At this, he struck me on the chest and said, “May knowledge please you, O Abu al-Mundhir!”
Ayat al-Kursi refers to verse 255 of Surah al-Baqarah. This article provides the complete translation and tafsir of Ayat al-Kursi.
Here is the complete Arabic text of the verse:
Translation
Allah! There is no deity except Him, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of all existence. Neither drowsiness nor sleep overtakes Him. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. Who is it that can intercede with Him except by His permission? He knows what is before them and what will be after them, and they encompass not a thing of His knowledge except for what He wills. His Throne extends over the heavens and the earth, and their preservation tires Him not. And He is the Most High, the Most Great.
This verse describes the oneness of Allah and His attributes in a unique way. Let’s look at Ayat al-Kursi in detail.
Tafsir
Allah! There is no deity except Him, the Ever-Living, the Self-Subsisting.
This statement means that there is no god but Allah, and that He is the supreme Lord of all creation/worlds. Furthermore, there is absolutely nothing worthy of worship except Him. In Surah An-Nisa, Allah says: [2]
Indeed, Allah does not forgive that partners be associated with Him. Apart from that, He forgives whom He wills. But whoever associates partners with Allah has certainly committed a grave sin.
The Living, the Eternal means that Allah is self-existent (that is, nothing created Him) and that He is always living and eternal, never dying, sustaining everyone and everything. All of creation needs Allah and is entirely dependent on Him, while He is the Most Rich, needing nothing. Nothing can exist without His command and will. In Surah Ar-Rum, Allah says: [3]
And among His signs is that the heavens and the earth are held together by His command; then when He calls you with a call, behold, you will emerge from the earth.
Neither drowsiness nor sleep overtakes Him.
Allah is beyond all states of drowsiness or sleep. Allah can never be negligent, unaware, or mistaken concerning His creation. Rather, He is Supreme and Aware of what every soul earns. Among His perfect attributes is the fact that He is never affected by sleep or slumber. His power is absolutely perfect. In Surah Qaf, Allah says: [4]
Indeed, We created the heavens and the earth and what is between them in six days, and We were not weary.
To Him belongs all that is in the heavens and on the earth.
This indicates that everyone is a servant of Allah, under His power and authority. Everything on earth and in the heavens belongs to Allah. He is the ultimate authority. In Surah Ta-Ha, Allah says: [5]
Who can intercede with Him without His permission?
No one can intercede in His Presence without His permission on the Day of Judgment. The pagans thought that their idols would intercede on their behalf; therefore, Allah explained that no intercession will work in His Court unless He permits it. In Surah al-Anbiya, Allah says: [6]
He knows what is before them and what is behind them. And they only intercede for those with whom He has been pleased, while being filled with awe of Him.
While (except by His permission) refers to the Intercession of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), the intercession of certain prophets, angels, and the intercession of certain Muslims that they will make for others.
Narrated by Abu Hurairah (RA): [7]
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: « For every Prophet, there is a supplication which is definitively fulfilled by Allah, and I wish, if Allah wills, to keep this (special) supplication as the intercession for my followers on the Day of Resurrection. »
He knows their past and their future.
This refers to His perfect knowledge of all creation; including the past, present, and future. This is proof of Allah’s knowledge encompassing all worlds. In Surah Ta-Ha, Allah says: [8]
He knows what is before them and what is behind them, while they themselves do not encompass Him with their knowledge.
And they encompass nothing of His knowledge except what He wills.
This part of the verse affirms that no one attains any knowledge except that which Allah permits. Comprehensive knowledge of every particle in the universe is a unique attribute of none other than Allah.
In Surah al-Jinn, Allah says: [9]
[He is] the One who knows the unseen. He does not reveal His unseen to anyone except to those He chooses as Messengers, and He places vigilant guardians before and after them.
His Throne, « Kursiy », overflows the heavens and the earth,
Literally, al-Kursi means « the footstool, » but here the word Kursi represents the Throne of Allah. It is also referred to as power or knowledge by some translators of the Quran, such as Shakir or Dr. Ghali. The reality of its attributes is above and beyond human comprehension. This magnificent verse explains the existence, sovereignty, power, and knowledge of Allah, which extend over the heavens and the earth.
whose care costs Him no trouble.
Allah has no difficulty in preserving and managing all that is in the heavens and the earth, and all that is in Allah’s dominion. Rather, it is an easy matter for Him.
And He is the Most High, the Most Great.
Allah is the Most Exalted and the Greatest. All honor, power, and supremacy belong to Allah alone. He is the Highest, the Greatest. There is no deity worthy of worship except Him, and no lord other than Him. In Surah Al-Imran, Allah says: [10]
Allah bears witness, and so do the angels and those endowed with knowledge, that there is no deity except Him, the Maintainer of justice. There is no deity except Him, the Exalted in Might, the Wise!
Thus, Ayat al-Kursi gives a summary description of the unity of Allah and His perfections.
References
Sahih Muslim Book 04, number 1768:
The Quran 04:48 (Surah an-Nisa),
The Quran 30:25 (Surah ar-Rum),
The Quran 50:38 (Surah Qaf),
The Quran 20:06 (Surah Ta-Ha)
, The Quran 21:28 (Surah al-Anbiya).
Sahih Bukhari Volume 9, book 93, number 566:
The Quran 20:110 (Surah Ta-Ha),
The Quran 72:26-27 (Surah al-Jinn),
The Quran 03:18 (Surah al-Imran).