Applicable Translations پښتو اردو عربي

Chapter on the Creation of the Kursi (Footstool)

We believe that the Kursi is the greatest creation after the Throne. Highlighting its massive size, Allah Almighty says: {His Kursi extends over the heavens and earth.} [Surat al-Baqarah: 255]

The Kursi is in front of the Throne, and it is the place for the two feet. Commenting on this verse, Ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "The Kursi is the place for the two feet, and no one can estimate the size of the Throne." [Narrated by Ad-Dāraqutni in As-Sifāt (36), marfū‘ and mawqūf, ‘Uthmān ibn Sa‘īd ad-Dārimi in Ar-Radd ‘Ala Bishr Al-Marīsi (84, 89), ‘Abdullāh ibn Ahmad in As-Sunnah (586), Ibn Khuzaymah in At-Tawhīd (154), and Abu Ash-Shaykh in Al-‘Azhamah (216, 217)] The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The seven heavens in comparison to the Kursi are only like a ring thrown in a desert, and the size of the Throne in comparison to the Kursi is like that desert compared to that ring." [Narrated by Ibn Hibbān (361), and in Al-Majrūhīn (3/130), At-Tabarāni in Al-Kabīr (1651), and in Al-Makārim (1), Al-Ājurrri in Al-Arba‘īn (40), Abu Ash-Shaykh in Al-‘Azhamah (259), Abu Na‘īm in Al-Hilyah (1/18, 166 -168), Al-Bayhaqi in Al-Asmā’ (510 - 511), and in Ash-Shu‘ab (4325, 7668), and Ibn ‘Abdul-Barr in At-Tamhīd (9/199). It is a long Hadīth, and the Hadīth in question is part of it. The Hadīth has numerous chains of transmission, all of which are weak and inauthentic. Al-‘Aqīli mentioned some of these chains of transmission and referred to their weakness. They were also mentioned by Ibn ‘Adyy, who said: "This Hadīth is munkar from this chain of transmission, related by Ibn Jurayj from ‘Atā’ from ‘Ubayd ibn ‘Umayr from Abu Dharr. And this Hadīth has no chain of transmission except the narration from Abu Idrīs al-Khawlāni and Al-Qāsim ibn Muhammad from Abu Dharr. The third is the Hadīth by Ibn Jurayj, which is the most munkar of all narrations." This Hadīth, however, is Mashhūr (famous), and there is no other marfū‘ Hadīth on the Kursi. Hence, we have cited it in spite of it being weak and munkar.]

Al-Bayhqai also narrated that Al-‘Abbās ibn Muhammad reported: I heard Abu ‘Ubayd say: "These Hadīths which relate that Allah laughs at the despair of His servants, that Hellfire will not become filled until Allah places His foot therein, and that the Kursi is the place for His two feet - we regard them as true in terms of narration, as they were transmitted and related from some to others. But if we are asked about their interpretation, we do not interpret them, and we do not know about anyone who interpreted them." [Al-Asmā’ Wa As-Sifāt for Al-Bayhaqi (2/198)]