Ayat ul-Kursi after Fardh Salat

Abu Umamah (radi Allahu anhu) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said, "Whoever recites Ayat ul-Kursi immediately after each prescribed Prayer, there will be nothing standing between him and his entering Paradise except death." [Nasai, Ibn Hibban, Darimi]

Ayat ul-Kursi is so important because it contains a description of the attributes of Allah (subhana wa ta'ala). The only way we can know Him is through His sifaat/characteristics.

One of the attributes of Allah (subhana wa ta'ala) mentioned in Ayat ul-Kursi is that He is always awake and fully alert. No sleep overtakes him, nor does He ever get drowsy. To sleep is one of the attributes of created beings, and all of creation is limited in many ways.

Bani Israil asked Musa (alaihis salam) to ask Allah (subhana wa ta'ala) if He ever slept. Allah's response to Musa (alaihis salam) was to tell him to take two glass bottles and remain standing with them. A day passed, and then two. Finally Musa (alaihis salam) was overcome by tiredness and sleep. For the fraction of a second that his eyes closed and his grip on the bottles loosened, the bottles crashed to the ground and shattered into tiny fragments. Allah (subhana wa ta'ala) told Musa (alaihis salam) that if He were to sleep for the blink of an eye, the universe would similarly be destroyed.

Knowing that Allah (subhana wa ta'ala) does not sleep allows us to sleep soundly. We put our trust in Him since no one can do a better job than Him in watching over us.

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