| The Virtue of Ayat Al-Kursi
This is Ayat Al-Kursi and tremendous virtues have been associated with it,
for the authentic Hadith describes it as `the greatest Ayah in the Book of
Allah.' Imam Ahmad recorded that `Ubayy bin Ka`b said that the Prophet asked him
about the greatest Ayah in the Book of Allah, and `Ubayy answered, "Allah and
His Messenger know better.'' When the Prophet repeated his question several
times, `Ubayy said, "Ayat Al-Kursi.'' The Prophet commented,
«لِيَهْنِكَ
الْعِلْمُ أَبَا الْمُنْذِرِ، وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ، إِنَّ لَهَا لِسَانًا
وَشَفَتَيْنِ، تُقَدِّسُ الْمَلِكَ عِنْدَ سَاقِ الْعَرْش»
(Congratulations for having knowledge, O Abu Al-Mundhir! By He in Whose Hand
is my soul! This Ayah has a tongue and two lips with which she praises the King
(Allah) next to the leg of the Throne.)
This Hadith was also collected by Muslim, but he did not include the part
that starts with, "By He in Whose Hand...''
Imam Ahmad recorded that Abu Ayyub said that he had some dates and a Ghoul
used to take some, and he complained to the Prophet. The Prophet said to him,
"When you see her, say, `In the Name of Allah, answer to the Messenger of
Allah'.'' Abu Ayyub said that when she came again, he said these words and he
was able to grab her. She begged, "I will not come again,'' so Abu Ayyub
released her. Abu Ayyub went to the Prophet and the Prophet asked him, "What did
your prisoner do'' Abu Ayyub said, "I grabbed her and she said twice, `I will
not come again,' and I released her.'' The Prophet said, "She will come back.''
Abu Ayyub said, "So I grabbed her twice or three times, yet each time ﴿I would
release her when﴾ she vowed not to come back. I would go to the Prophet who
would ask me, `What is the news of your prisoner' I would say, `I grabbed her,
then released her when she said that she would not return.' The Prophet would
say that she would return. Once, I grabbed her and she said, `Release me and I
will teach you something to recite so that no harm touches you, that is, Ayat
Al-Kursi.' Abu Ayyub went to the Prophet and told him, and the Prophet said,
"She is liar, but she told the truth.'' At-Tirmidhi recorded this Hadith in the
chapter of the virtues of the Qur'an and said, "Hasan Gharib.'' In Arabic,
`Ghoul' refers to the Jinn when they appear at night.
Al-Bukhari recorded a similar story in his Sahih from Abu Hurayrah, in the
chapters on the virtues of the Qur'an and the description of Shaytan. In this
narration, Abu Hurayrah said,
"Allah's Messenger assigned me to keep watch over the Sadaqah (charity) of
Ramadan. A person snuck in and started taking handfuls of foodstuff. I caught
him and said, `By Allah, I will take you to Allah's Messenger.' He said,
`Release me, for I am meek and have many dependents and am in great need.' I
released him, and in the morning Allah's Messenger asked me, `What did your
prisoner do yesterday, O Abu Hurayrah' I said, `O Allah's Messenger! He
complained of being needy and of having many dependents, so I pitied him and let
him go.' Allah's Messenger said, `Indeed, he told you a lie and will be coming
again.' I believed that he would show up again, for Allah's Messenger had told
me that he would return. So, I watched for him. When he (showed up and) started
stealing handfuls of foodstuff, I caught hold of him again and said, `I will
definitely take you to Allah's Messenger.' He said, `Leave me, for I am very
needy and have many dependents. I promise I will not come back again.' I pitied
him and let him go. In the morning Allah's Messenger asked me, `What did your
prisoner do last night, O Abu Hurayrah!' I replied, `O Allah's Messenger! He
complained of his great need and of too many dependents, so I took pity on him
and set him free.' Allah's Messenger said, `Verily, he told you a lie; he will
return.' I waited for him attentively for the third time, and when he (came and)
started stealing handfuls of the foodstuff, I caught hold of him and said, `I
will surely take you to Allah's Messenger as it is the third time you promised
not to return, yet you returned.' He said, `Let me teach you some words which
Allah will give you benefit from.' I asked, `What are they' He replied,
`Whenever you go to bed, recite Ayat Al-Kursi- Allahu la ilaha illa
Huwal-Hayyul-Qayyum, till you finish the whole verse. (If you do so), Allah will
appoint a guard for you who will stay with you, and no Shaytan will come near
you until morning.' So, I released him. In the morning, Allah's Messenger asked,
`What did your prisoner do yesterday' I replied, `O Allah's Messenger! He
claimed that he would teach me some words by which Allah will grant me some
benefit, so I let him go.' Allah's Messenger asked, `What are they' I replied,
`He said to me: Whenever you go to bed, recite Ayat Al-Kursi from the beginning
to the end, Allahu la ilaha illa Huwal-Hayyul-Qayyum. He further said to me: (If
you do so), Allah will appoint a guard for you who will stay with you, and no
Shaytan will come near you until morning.' (One of the narrators) then commented
that they (the Companions) were very keen to do good deeds. The Prophet said,
`He spoke the truth, although he is a liar. Do you know whom you were talking
to, these three nights, O Abu Hurayrah' Abu Hurayrah said, `No.' He said, `It
was Shaytan.''' An-Nasa'i also recorded this Hadith in Al-Yawm wa Al-Laylah.
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