Kursi
كُرسيDefinition
The Footstool of Allah — distinct from the Throne in the majority Sunni position. Ayat al-Kursi (Qur'an 2:255) takes its name from this attribute. Ibn Kathir cites the hadith: the seven heavens compared to the Kursi are like a ring thrown into a desert; the Kursi compared to the 'Arsh is the same.
As understood in the classical tradition of Ibn Kathir and the scholars of his school.
How the scholars use Kursi.
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"Al-Hafiz Abu Bakr ibn Mardaway reported that Abu Dharr al-Ghifari asked the Prophet about the kursi, and the Prophet replied, by him in whose hand is my soul, the seven heavens and the seven earths, in relation to the kursi, are like a ring left on a deserted land, and the superiority of the throne over the kursi is like the superiority of the desert over that ring."
— Ibn Kathir, Volume 1 — From Creation to Mūsā
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"Ibn Jubair also mentioned similar views from Abu Musa al-Ashari, Al-Daqq ibn Muzahim, Ismail ibn Abd al-Rahman al-Sudi al-Kabir, and Muslim al-Batin. Al-Sudi narrated from Abu Malik, stating, the kursi is below the throne. He added, the heavens and the earth are within the kursi, and the kursi is in front of the throne."
— Ibn Kathir, Volume 1 — From Creation to Mūsā
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"Rather, the correct statement from him and others among the companions and successors is that it is different. Ibn Abbas and Sa'id Ibn Jubair said regarding the verse, his kursi extends over the heavens and the earth, that it means his knowledge. The preserved account from Ibn Abbas as narrated by Al-Hakim in his Mustadrak, certified according to the criteria of Al-Bukhari and Muslim, but not extracted by them, from the route of Sufi and Al-Thawri, through Amr al-Duhni, Muslim al-Batin, Sa'id Ibn Jubair, from Ibn Abbas, stated that the kursi is the place of the feet, and the throne can only be comprehended by Allah, the Exalted."
— Ibn Kathir, Volume 1 — From Creation to Mūsā
Appears in
1 book in the library
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