Baqarah 255

255- ALLAH, THERE IS NO GOD OTHER THAN HIM, THE LIVING AND THE SUSTAINER. NEITHER SLUMBER NOR SLEEP OVERTAKES HIM. TO HIM BELONGS ALL THERE IS IN THE HEAVENS AND IN THE EARTH. WHO IS HE WHO MAY INTERCEDE TO HIM EXCEPT WITH HIS PERMISSION? HE KNOWS WHAT IS BEFORE THEM AND WHAT IS BEHIND THEM, BUT THEY KNOW NONE OF HIS KNOWLEDGE EXCEPT WHAT HE WILLS. HIS CHAIR EMBRACES THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH AND HE NEVER TIRES OF KEEPING THEM, AND HE IS THE HIGHEST THE GREATEST.

- This is Ayah Al-Korsi, meaning the Chair or Throne. Allah’s messenger, prayer and peace upon him, told us that this is the greatest Ayah in the Quran. Allah’s messenger, prayer and peace upon him, said to one of his companion called Aba Al-Monzer: “Aba Al-Monzer, do you know which Ayah in the Quran is the greatest?” He said: “ALLAH, THERE IS NOT GOD OTHER THAN HIM, THE LIVING AND THE SUSTAINER” Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said: “By Allah, you have good knowledge Aba Al-Monzer” (M:Mosafreen;258 & D:Horouf;35 & Da:Fadael El-Quran;14 & A:5;58,142)
- Ayah Al-Korsi protects the Muslim from Satan. Abu Huraira reported that Allah’s messenger, prayer and peace upon him, put him in charge of the Zakah of Ramadan. One night I caught a man stealing the food and said: “I will take you to Allah’s messenger, prayer and peace upon him,” the man said: “Let me go for I am poor, have many children and in great need” So he let him go. Next day, Allah’s messenger, prayer and peace upon him, asked: “What did the person you caught last night do?” I said: “Allah’s messenger, he complained about being in great need and having many children, I had mercy upon him and let him go” Allah’s messenger, prayer and peace upon him, said: “He lied and he will come again”. This was repeated and on the third time that man said to Abu Huraira to let him go and he will teaching him some words of benefit to him, he said: “When you go to bed recite Ayah Al-Korsi to it’s end, Allah will protect you and Satan will not approach you until the morning” When Abu Huraira told Allah’s messenger, prayer and peace upon him, he told him: “He told you the truth, although he is a liar. Do you know whom did you talk to the last three nights Abu Huraira?” I said: “No” He said: “This was Iblis (Satan)” (B:Fadael El-Quran;10)
The Ayah starts with the statement of Faith “ALLAH, THERE IS NO GOD OTHER THAN HIM” which is the essence of our faith. Allah’s messenger, prayer and peace upon him, said to his companions Moaz Ibn Jabal and Obada Ibn El-Samet on two separate occasions: “He who testifies that there is no god other than Allah and that Mohamed is Allah’s messenger, Allah forbids the Fire from touching him” (B:Elm;49 & M:Eman;53 & T:Salah;200 & Ma:Zohd;19 & Da:Jehad;8)
Allah the Highest tells us about Himself:
THE LIVING AND THE SUSTAINER: Allah the Highest is living and does not die. Allah was living before life began, and will be living after all life ends. For Allah the Highest is the Beginning and the End. The beginning without a beginning Himself and the End without and end to Himself.
Allah the Highest does not need any thing or any one to live, but Allah sustains every thing else, keeps it and preserve it. This is contrary to all His creations, as we all need things and others to sustain our life and very existence.
We are used to see all living things begin, but Allah the highest is without a beginning. And we see all living things end and die, while Allah the Highest does not die.
These two Characteristics, the Living and the Sustainer mentioned again in the Quran:
1- “ALEF, LAM, MEEM, ALLAH; THERE IS NO GOD OTHER THAN HIM, THE LIVING, THE SUSTAINER” (S:3 A:1)
2- “AND THE FACES WILL HUMBLE THEMSELVES BEFORE THE LIVING, THE SUSTAINER”. (S:20 A:111)
3- “AND PUT YOUR TRUST IN THE LIVING WHO DOES NOT DIE”. (S:25 A:58)
4- “HE IS THE LIVING, THERE IS NO GOD OTHER THAN HIM” (S:40 A:65)
“NEITHER SLUMBER NOR SLEEP OVERTAKES HIM”
We have to work in shifts to keep something going, but Allah the Highest who sustains the Heavens and Earth, does not sleep nor slumber. He does not tire and does not need rest. Allah’s messenger, prayer and peace upon him, said: “Allah does not sleep and it is not becoming of him to sleep. He lowers the scales down and raises them up. The deeds of the day are sent to him before those of the night, and the deeds of the night are sent to him before those of the day. His shield, shielding Him from us is of light or fire, should He removes it, the waves from His face would burn His creation as far as His vision reaches” (M:Eman;293 & Ma:Moqademah;13 & A:4;395,401)

“TO HIM BELONGS ALL THERE IS IN THE HEAVENS AND IN THE EARTH”
Every thing in the Heavens and the Earth are of Allah’s creation, therefore they all belong to Him. All the things we know or do not know belong to Allah, who said: “TO HIM BELONGS ALL THERE IS IN THE HEAVENS AND IN THE EARTH, AND WHAT IS BETWEEN THEM AND IS UNDER THE SOIL” (S: 20 A: 6)
This applies to things as well as beings; they all belong to Allah and are His slaves. “EVERY ONE IN THE HEAVENS AND IN THE EARTH WILL COME TO HIM AS A SLAVE * HE MADE AN ACCOUNT OF THEM AND COUNTED THEM EXACTLY * AND EACH OF THEM WILL COME TO HIM ON THE DAY OF RESURRECTION INDIVIDUALLY” (S: 19 A: 93-95)

“WHO IS HE WHO MAY INTERCEDE TO HIM EXCEPT WITH HIS PERMISSION?”
Nothing happens in the Universe without Allah’s Permission, especially on the Day of Resurrection, when no one will be able even to speak without Allah’s permission. “THE DAY WHEN THE SPIRITS AND THE ANGELS SHALL STAND IN A ROW, THEY DO NOT SPEAK EXCEPT FOR THOSE THE MERCIFUL PERMITS AND SPEAK RIGHTFULLY AND TRUTHFULLY” (S: 78 A: 38)
Some of the believers will be allowed to intercede for others however, like the righteous people and the martyrs. The Greatest intercession will be given to Mohamed, prayer and peace upon him, which reflects his special status before Allah the Highest. Allah’s messenger, prayer and peace upon him, intercedes on the Day of Resurrection on twice:
1- First is an intercession for all Mankind for Allah the Highest to start judging us.
2- Then there is the intercession for the sinful of the Muslims.

“HE KNOWS WHAT IS BEFORE THEM AND WHAT IS BEHIND THEM, BUT THEY KNOW NONE OF HIS KNOWLEDGE EXCEPT WHAT HE WILLS”
Allah’s knowledge embraces every thing that exists and for all time. Not only the material things are known to Allah the Highest, but even thoughts and desires. Allah the Highest said: “NOTHING IS HIDDEN FROM ALLAH ON THE EARTH OR IN THE HEAVENS”. (S: 14 A: 38)
“HE KNOWS WHAT IS MANIFEST AND WHAT IS HIDDEN”. (S: 87 A: 7)
Our knowledge is restricted however by our senses, and what Allah the Highest allows us to encounter and know of His knowledge. In knowledge there is great power, it is also a test.
Allah the Highest tests us with the knowledge He allows us, to see if we use it for our good or destruction. A test, to see if knowledge increases our faith and humility, or increases our disbelief and arrogance. This knowledge might make us know Allah more, or fill us with more self importance. The more we know Allah the Highest, the more we should love Him and fear Him. Allah the Highest said: “BUT THOSE WHO FEAR ALLAH MOST OF HIS SLAVES ARE THE KNOWLEDGEABLE” (S: 35 A: 28)
Knowledge is a great bounty and a great responsibility too.

“HIS CHAIR EMBRACES THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH AND HE NEVER TIRES OF KEEPING THEM”
The Heavens and the Earth and every thing in them, is Allah’s Kingdom. This kingdom was created from nothing and is kept in being only by Allah the Highest. Existing for billions and billions of years that we know off, and Allah the Highest did not stop looking after them, get tired, needed rest or a holiday. These are the characteristics of Allah’s creations, but not of Him.

“AND HE IS THE HIGHEST THE GREATEST”
It is very fitting to end this great Ayah of the Quran, describing Allah the Highest with His two names “The Highest” and “The Greatest”

B: Bukhari M: Muslim Mal: Malek A: Ahmed D: Abu Dawood
Da: Daremy Ma: Ibn Magah N: Nesae T: Termezi