The Throne Verse (yat al-Kurs), like a resplendent gem within Surah al-Baqarah, holds an unparalleled position among the verses of the Holy Qurannot only due to its matchless eloquence but also because of its profound divine insights and esoteric uniqueness. This verse, which encapsulates the essence of monotheism, the attributes, and the boundless authority of God, stands as one of the wondrous divine verses that throughout history have summoned mystics, sages, and the perfected ones toward it. This treatise, employing a scientific and systematic approach, explores the external, esoteric, narrative, and experiential dimensions of yat al-Kurs, while concurrently adopting a critical perspective on the religious sciences educational system and offering strategies for its dynamism and modernisation. The structure of this work, with precise segmentation and profound analyses, is designed for educated audiences and researchers of religious sciences, aiming to maintain the authenticity of meanings and to establish a meaningful link between Quranic concepts and the demands of the contemporary era.
اللَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ ۚ لَا تَأْخُذُهُ سِنَةٌ وَلَا نَوْمٌ ۚ لَهُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ ۗ مَنْ ذَا الَّذِي يَشْفَعُ عِنْدَهُ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِهِ ۚ يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ ۖ وَلَا يُحِيطُونَ بِشَيْءٍ مِنْ عِلْمِهِ إِلَّا بِمَا شَاءَ ۚ وَسِعَ كُرْسِيُّهُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ ۖ وَلَا يَئُودُهُ حِفْظُهُمَا ۚ وَهُوَ الْعَلِيُّ الْعَظِيمُ (Al-Baqarah: 255)
Godthere is no deity except Himthe Ever-Living, the Sustainer of existence. Neither drowsiness overtakes Him nor sleep. 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 is behind them, and they encompass not a thing of His knowledge except for what He wills. His Kurs extends over the heavens and the earth, and their preservation does not burden Him. And He is the Most High, the Most Great.
yat al-Kurs, as the master among the verses of Surah al-Baqarah, is one of the marvels and wonders of the Quran owing to its comprehensiveness in elucidating monotheism, the divine attributes, and the system of creation.
Known as the "Master of Surah al-Baqarah," this verse holds an unparalleled position in the Quran due to its rhetorical structure and profound content. Its comprehensiveness in expressing intrinsic monotheism and attributes, alongside elucidating divine authority within the cosmic order, has rendered it an unmatched source for reflection and exegesis. The uniqueness of this verse is rooted not only in its apparent structure but also in its profound meanings and internal influences that have occupied scholars and mystics throughout centuries.
One of the fundamental inquiries concerning yat al-Kurs is the number of verses constituting it. Is it a cohesive single verse or composed of three verses? Moreover, does this verse encompass ten segments or fewer? These questions, which relate to the division of verses in different Quranic codices, form part of the structural discourse of this verse. In some recitations, yat al-Kurs is viewed as a single verse with multiple clauses, whereas others consider it to be three separate verses. This difference depends on the manner of script and codex segmentation and necessitates precise examination within Quranic sciences.
yat al-Kurs, with its exalted status in Surah al-Baqarah, is among the most prominent verses of the Quran not only because of its rhetorical structure and profound content but also due to its uniqueness and esoteric influences. This verse, by elucidating monotheism and divine authority, provides a foundation for profound mystical and scientific reflections, and its structural questionssuch as the number of verses or segmentsenhance its exegetical richness.
yat al-Kurs possesses two dimensions: the apparent and the esoteric. The former pertains to its Quranic structure in rhetoric and syntax, while the latter relates to its mystical experiences and narrative aspects.
The apparent dimension of yat al-Kurs concerns its syntactic and rhetorical structure. This verse, with its arrangement of words and phrases, exemplifies an unparalleled instance of Quranic eloquence and rhetoric. The use of brief, rhythmic sentences coupled with emphasis on divine attributes endows the verse with a verbal power that distinguishes it from other verses. For example, the phrase "لَا تَأْخُذُهُ سِنَةٌ وَلَا نَوْمٌ" (Neither drowsiness overtakes Him nor sleep) conveys negation of any deficiency in the divine essence with brevity and emphasis.
The esoteric dimension of yat al-Kurs, manifest in mystical experiences and narrations, transforms this verse into a source for the discovery of hidden divine knowledge. Mystics and sages have engaged with this verse throughout centuries, employing it as a means to reach spiritual ranks. Shiite narrations, such as the recommendation to recite yat al-Kurs for protection against evil and divine guidance, reinforce this dimension. For instance, a narration states:
Whoever recites yat al-Kurs after every prayer will be protected from the devil's harm, and God will shelter him in His care.
This narration points to the spiritual and metaphysical effects of the verse, presenting it as a remembrance with talismanic properties.
Alongside certain other Qur
