Translation:
God (Allah)138—there is no one worthy of worship but He, the ever Living, the Self-Sub- sisting (by Whom everyone subsists). Drowsiness or sleep does not overtake Him.
He owns whatever is in the heavens and in the earth. Who is there to plead to Him for someone except with His permission? He knows their past and their future. They acquire none of His knowledge except what He allows. His dominion extends all over the heavens and the earth, and He does not get tired of preserving them. He alone is truly Exalted, Magnificent!
Interpretation:
138 The Arabic word for God is Allah—even the non-Muslims in the Middle East use this term. Hence, it is not unique for Muslims to call God Allah. Allah comes from the word “Ilaha,” meaning someone worthy of worship. The name Allah is also unique in that it is always in the form of a singular noun and is neither masculine nor feminine. Traditionally, “He” is used as a pronoun for God (and I have followed the same style in this book), and it is used here more as a matter of style rather than an attribution of the masculine gender to Allah (God).
This particular verse is known as “Ayat-ul Kursi,” meaning the verse of dominion or verse of knowledge. This verse describes God’s relentless power and control over the universe and his all-encompassing knowledge in a most eloquent and forceful manner. The verse breaks down into the following points about God: (1) He alone deserves to be worshiped, (2) He is not subject to human failings and weaknesses such as death, dependence, and temporary incapacitation, (3) He owns the universe without any partners, (4) His knowledge of the universe is complete and He imparts some of that knowledge upon those He selects, (5) No one can intervene in any affairs without His permission, and (6) He maintains this universe without being exhausted or coming short of resources.
One of the key essences of faith is to develop a keen sense of understanding and consciousness about God, His created universe as we see it, and His magnificent presence in all that is beautiful and sublime. The cycle of life and death in all that is created, the enormous creativity of the human species, the transfer of water mole- cules from the ocean to the air and back to the earth, the resources hidden in the belly of the earth for human usage, and the tremendous varieties of fruits, plants, vege- tation, fish, birds, and animals all serve as constant sources of reminders for a person of faith that God is ever present in our lives and constantly regulating the affairs of our universe. One cannot achieve true faith until one develops this sense of God’s presence. Also, faith without accountability and action without consequence are foreign to the Islamic way of thinking.
Reflection:
Islam demands complete faith in God and His capabilities so that we can also feel secure in our faith. In the Qur’an, God also took extraordinary care and diligence to explain His essence, His attributes, and His workings in terms of our everyday experiences so that we can relate to His essence and comprehend His attributes. Faith without comprehension and conviction is a faith that lacks proper foundation and, hence, can be easily misguided and misplaced. Too many Muslims today suffer from superficial faith whereby they claim faith but have very little of it.
Action:
It is important for all Muslims to internalize God’s essence and presence in their lives and then try their best to lead their lives according to His guidance for the betterment of humanity, individually and collectively. With the rise of technology and the expansion of human knowledge, some people feel that the concept of God originated out of ignorance and out of fear of a natural world against which people of ancient times felt powerless. Yet, from an Islamic perspective, the ever-expanding sphere of human knowledge and our ability to extract from nature using continuously innovated technologies only reinforce the presence of an omnipotent and omniscient God Who has gifted human beings with limitless potential. A sense of purpose, a sense of humility in light of infinite knowledge and order that permeates in nature, the grand scale of our existence, and the enormous potential of each and every man are forever reminders of the creative power of God and His grace on humanity.