Sunan Abi Dawud

Sunan Abi Dawud 1460

What Has Been Narrated About Ayat al-Kursi (The Verse Of The Footstool)
Prayer (Kitab Al-Salat): Detailed Injunctions about Witr Search within the hadiths
Sunan Abi Dawud 1460
Arabic hadith text
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الأَعْلَى، حَدَّثَنَا سَعِيدُ بْنُ إِيَاسٍ، عَنْ أَبِي السَّلِيلِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ رَبَاحٍ الأَنْصَارِيِّ، عَنْ أُبَىِّ بْنِ كَعْبٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏أَبَا الْمُنْذِرِ أَىُّ آيَةٍ مَعَكَ مِنْ كِتَابِ اللَّهِ أَعْظَمُ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ قُلْتُ اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ أَعْلَمُ ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏"‏ أَبَا الْمُنْذِرِ أَىُّ آيَةٍ مَعَكَ مِنْ كِتَابِ اللَّهِ أَعْظَمُ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ قُلْتُ ‏‏{‏ اللَّهُ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ الْحَىُّ الْقَيُّومُ ‏}‏ قَالَ فَضَرَبَ فِي صَدْرِي وَقَالَ ‏"‏ لِيَهْنِ لَكَ يَا أَبَا الْمُنْذِرِ الْعِلْمُ ‏"
Translation
Ubayy b. Ka'b said

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: Abu al-Mundhir, which verse of Allah's Book that you have is creates ? I replied: Allah and His Apostle know best. He said: Abu al-Mundhir, which verse of Allah's that you have is greatest ? I said: Allah, there is no god but He, the Living, the Eternal. Thereupon he struck me on the beast and said: May knowledge be pleasant for you, Abu al-Mundhir.

Commentary

Overview & Central Theme

This hadith, recorded by Imam Abu Dawud in the Book of Prayer (Witr section), highlights the supreme greatness of Ayat al-Kursi (Quran 2:255) as the most majestic verse in Allah's Book. The Prophet ﷺ, through a pedagogical dialogue with Ubayy ibn Ka'b (Abu al-Mundhir), affirms the verse's unparalleled status, teaching that true knowledge lies in recognizing and internalizing the Qur'an's core message of divine oneness, life, and eternal sovereignty. The central theme is the exaltation of Allah's attributes and the virtue of deep scriptural awareness, which the Prophet ﷺ rewards with a blessing of knowledge.

Context & Linguistic Insights

The hadith occurs in a gathering where the Prophet ﷺ tests his companions' knowledge, asking Ubayy ibn Ka'b, a renowned reciter, about the greatest verse. The term "greatest" (a'zam) here signifies the most comprehensive in meaning, majesty, and blessing. Linguistically, "Ayat al-Kursi" derives from "kursi" (footstool or throne), emphasizing Allah's infinite dominion. The phrase "Allahu la ilaha illa Huwa al-Hayy al-Qayyum" encapsulates tawhid (absolute oneness), al-Hayy (the Ever-Living, self-subsisting), and al-Qayyum (the Sustainer of all existence), combining essential divine attributes. The Prophet's response, "May knowledge be pleasant for you," uses "tab'an" (pleasant/delightful), indicating that true knowledge brings spiritual joy and is a divine favor.

Key Scholarly Insights & Legal Benefits

  • Theological: Ayat al-Kursi affirms Allah's absolute uniqueness, life, and eternal governance, refuting anthropomorphism and establishing His transcendence—a foundation of Islamic creed.
  • Jurisprudential: The hadith encourages memorizing and reciting this verse, especially after obligatory prayers and before sleep, as recommended in other authentic narrations, though it remains a supererogatory (nafl) act of devotion.
  • Ethical: The Prophet's ﷺ gentle physical tap and verbal praise demonstrate a model of positive reinforcement in teaching, honoring students' efforts and inspiring humility (Ubayy's initial deferral to divine knowledge).
"Ayat al-Kursi is the chief of the Qur'an because it combines the affirmation of Allah's existence, unity, and all-encompassing attributes, making it a fortress for the believer against every evil." — Imam Ibn Kathir, Tafsir al-Qur'an al-Azim

Daily Life & Spiritual Application

Muslims today can embody this teaching by reciting Ayat al-Kursi with presence of heart after every obligatory prayer, before sleeping, and upon leaving home, trusting in its protective and transformative power. Beyond ritual, one should strive to ponder its meanings—internalizing Allah's sovereignty and self-sufficiency—so that daily anxieties dissolve in reliance upon the Ever-Living Sustainer. The hadith also inspires learners to seek knowledge with humility, as Ubayy did, and teachers to nurture students with encouragement, making the pursuit of Qur'anic understanding a lifelong, joyful endeavor.