[Ramzan, 19] Welcome to Day 19 of our Ramzan Writing Series.

Today I wanted to discuss a beautiful point in Ayat ul Kursi.

Ayat ul Kursi is one of the most beautiful ayaat in the Quran. In English, its name is often translated to “The Throne Verse”. In this ayah, Allah has introduced Himself to all His creations by telling us about His Attributes. One cannot help but feel the immense sense of power and grandeur when studying it.

In Ayat ul Kursi, which is Surah Baqarah’s 255th ayat, Allah says, وَلاَ يُحِيطُونَ بِشَيْءٍ مِّنْ عِلْمِهِ إِلاَّ بِمَا شَاء. This translates to “Nor can they encompass any knowledge of Him except what He wills.”

In easy words, it means we cannot comprehend His knowledge and also, we can gain only that knowledge which He allows for us.

I have come to appreciate the beauty of this thought that it is indeed my Rabb who makes things clearer to me. All ilm whether it is of the heavens or of the earth is derived from Him. His knowledge knows no bound. My meager knowledge is what He wrote in my rizq (Providence) too. I want to talk about this little providence today.

In the beginning of Surah Baqarah, Allah tells us the story of Hazrat Adam (elehessalaam). Allah was the one who gave knowledge to him thereby making him superior over the angels and the jinns.

There is one important point to consider here. We start feeling proud of ourselves often when we excel in our respective fields. Or it can be that when we start getting the knowledge of Deen, we start feeling superior to others. This is the time to remind ourselves of this important part in Ayat ul Kursi.

None of what you have learnt or achieved is by yourself alone. Allah has made it easier for you, and hence you were able to do it. This is not to say that your efforts count for nothing. Of course they do. But let’s not forget it was Allah who gave you a receptive mind. It was He who made ways for you to get good quality education, and while you did, it was He who kept the circumstances favorable for you to continue getting that education.

Then comes the bigger aspect of knowledge: it is “hikmat”, which means wisdom in literal terms.

Allah says in Surah Baqarah, ayat 269, “He grants Hikmah to whom He pleases, and he, to whom Hikmah is granted, is indeed granted abundant good. But none remember (will receive admonition) except men of understanding.”

According to Ibn Abbas, hikmat is the understanding of the Quran. According to other scholars, hikmat is knowledge of the deen, knowledge of the world, the ability to take right decisions at the right time, to be able to see the “maslihat” in Allah’s decisions for us. In light of Ramzan, the ability to spend the righteous way is also part of hikmat.

In many places in the Quran, Allah has said that it is indeed Allah who teaches man His Ayaat.

Allah is the ultimate Teacher. He opens gates of knowledges for you when you start pondering on your life and the things around you.

Let us take today to appreciate this beautiful mention in the Quran regarding Allah’s ilm and our ilm, how His Mercy knows no bounds when He chooses us with a chance at knowledge and hence a better chance in this life and the next life.

Alhumdullilah for His countless blessings and gifts.

What would you like to add to this? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.