“Those (angels) who bear the Throne (of Allah) and those around it glorify the praises of their Lord, and believe in Him, and ask forgiveness for those who believe (saying): ‘Our Lord! You comprehend all things in mercy and knowledge, so forgive those who repent and follow Your way, and save them from the torment of the blazing Fire!’” (40:7)
The Messenger of Allah (saws) said: “I have been granted permission to speak about one of the angels of Allah, one of the bearers of the Throne. The space between his earlobes and his shoulders is the distance of seven hundred years travelling.” (Abu Dawood)
“The Throne is above the Kursi, and is above all of creation.”(Al-Haafiz Ibn Hajar, Fath Al Bari)
“…and above them eight shall bear on that day your Lord’s power.” (The four arch Angels bearing the throne in this life, and the four major Prophets of Allah will join them in the next life. Imam Ibn Arabi)(69:17)
We can’t see the forces that subatomic particles create in our life, they are like an invisible wind moving around us, but we experience them all the time, for example if we place our hand in a fridge it will become cold because of them, temperature and the weather is an easy example because heat, cold and every other climate is created as a result of the particles in the atmosphere, but they do more complex things that make it possible for life to exist. Because the universe is filled with a multitude of particles all doing different things Allah tells us in Surah al Shams (the sun) their major role in man’s spirituality.
Allah also teaches that we influence the subatomic world around us through our actions, and the prophet (saws) explains that this becomes very significant if an entire society is involved together in any type of act good or bad, because it increases the sub atomic impact of its force. As a result of this reality we live under evil acts create evil influence, and good acts create positive influences, Allah explains this in a number of verses in the Quran, religion as a whole teaches us how to have control over that chaos and protect ourselves;
Allah took an oath by this and said, “By the Soul, and the proportion and order given to it (by everything mentioned earlier in this surah); Then He inspired it (through the sub atomic world) to understand what is right and wrong for it; He will indeed be successful who purifies it, and he will indeed fail who corrupts it.” (91:7-10)
The question is, to what degree does our body sense into the subatomic world, according to the scholars of Islam and Allah in the Quran, we can sense to the deepest sub atomic depths because of our unique physiology, unlike other creatures, hence through our senses we can understand every kind of quality Allah placed in the universe.
Imam Tustari in his tafsir explained “the nafs (self) has seven celestial veils (hujub samawiyyah) and seven earthly veils (hujub ardiyyah)”, a veil is something that covers our inner perception about things, the imam then explained “when ever man buries his nafs (self) in earth upon earth (ardan ardan), (lowers his esteem and ego), his heart (qalb) is raised up Heaven upon Heaven (sama’an sama’an), And when he (completely) buries the nafs (ego) under the ground (tahta at tara), the heart reaches the throne” (Arsh) .
When man’s self is purified, his inner perception is allowed to reach the throne of Allah because Allah built this ability into man’s physiology and its systems, not just because of his body, but because of the very particles, Allah created him from. This ability of man is only possible because of his unique soul that is created from particles at the deepest sub atomic depth, in a region inside the Arsh. Through the soul, man can sense matters about the universe from inside the place Allah established Himself, so man can know Allah better than any other creature, even the Angels.
Allah states this indirectly in the Quran and because He senses the universe from the place Allah is established, he has the Most complete picture of life with him, almost as if through Allah’s eyes except for the fact Allah sees all things at the same time.
Allah in the Quran said He breathed into man from His own spirit and this is the crux of that meaning; “Then He fashioned him and breathed into him of His (Allah’s) Spirit; and appointed for you hearing and sight and hearts (to take advantage of this unique soul, meaning our faculties revolve around the input of our soul which is different from the souls other creatures were given). Small thanks give ye!” (32:9).
Allah is exalted above creation and only when something represents Him perfectly does He associate it with Himself directly, like Time. The phrase Istawa (established) on the Arsh means this place is equivalent in what it is responsible for to Allah’s own self, therefore verse 32:9 means, since Allah established Himself and His control over the universe on the Arsh, the particles the soul is created from are from the deepest sub atomic depths inside the Arsh, “breathed into him of His (own) Spirit”, of His own nature, of His own qualities, of His own reality, of His own responsibilities.
Ahadith confirm this since we know the point in time Allah created the souls of mankind at the beginning of the universe when nothing else existed except the Arsh and a few other things.
Another fact pointing to this reality is that if the Arsh is the place Allah controls the forces of the universe and its laws from, and Allah said the Soul is “By His command”, it means it behaves like one of the forces and laws of the universe, which He likewise said are His commands (this is the language of science 1400 years ago that we need to understand), therefore if the soul is the force that creates life, just like the Arsh, it is also something that controls the Laws of the universe to produce life.
The forces and Laws of the universe are created by the smallest/deepest particles in existence and they dictate how larger particles behave creating things like Mass in every object or gravity, and so the particles the soul is created from move the universe as other particles are agents for the forces and laws of space. The soul gives life (control/energy) to inanimate matter (our body) and ultimately after we are fully formed gives control of our body to us, our consciousness.
Life is created through forces, laws and systems built on top of each other, all relying on the things that created them. But once the soul’s energy (life force) runs out, we die, science today says this is because of entropy or when the usable energy in a system (our body) becomes unusable.
The soul is a type of pure intellect (not needing a body) which is why it persists after the body dies, but the soul needs a body to grow and effect change in it (either into something good or wretched through our actions in life), once we die the soul is who we were in life and is tainted or blessed by our actions, becoming exceedingly pure or exceedingly dark and foul, it stays in the state we are in at the moment of death until it is given another body when we are resurrected.
“And say not of those who are slain in the way of Allah: ‘They are dead.’ Nay, they are living, though ye perceive
Because the soul is unable to effect change within itself without a body Imam al Ghazali explained that a person is punished in the grave with the things he indulged himself in whilst alive. Since he can’t ever acquire them again, his unfulfilled lust for them stays with him torturing him until he is resurrected into a new body.
“and (We) appointed for you hearing and sight and hearts (to take advantage of this unique soul). Small thanks give ye!” (32:9).
If we use the term psychology to describe spirituality it limits the subject we are talking about to our mind and self, but the term spirituality encompasses matters occurring from the depths of subatomic space and the soul, to our world and physiology and how we fit into that larger ecosystem, it is a more comprehensive term. Modern society has cut itself off from understanding the reality we live under, because the soul is from the depths of sub atomic space this is important because explains to us how our actions as a society can have spiritual consequences on the world around us reverberating to the same depths.
The prophet (saws) outlined these consequences in Ahadith when talking about oppression and injustice;
‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar said, “The Prophet, peace be upon him, came to us and said, ‘O Muhajirun, (emigrants from Makkah to al-Madinah) you may be afflicted by five things; God forbid that you should live to see them. If fornication should become widespread, you should realise that this has never happened without new diseases befalling the people which their forebears never suffered. If people should begin to cheat in weighing out goods, you should realise that this has never happened without drought and famine befalling the people, and their rulers oppressing them. If people should withhold zakat, you should realise that this has never happened without the rain being stopped from falling; and were it not for the animals’ sake, it would never rain again. If people should break their covenant with Allah and His Messenger, you should realise that his has never happened without Allah sending an enemy against them to take some of their possessions by force. If the leaders do not govern according to the Book of Allah, you should realise that this has never happened without Allah making them into groups and making them fight one another.’ ” [Ibn Majah]
These are all the sub atomic reactions to our actions in life, the cause and effect, the Karma we will suffer.
‘Ali ibn Abi Talib said, “The Prophet said: ‘If my Ummah bears fifteen traits, tribulation will befall it.’ Someone asked, ‘What are they, O Messenger of Allah?’ He said, ‘When any gain is shared out only among the rich, with no benefit to the poor; when a trust becomes a means of making a profit; when paying Zakat becomes a burden; when a man obeys his wife and disobeys his mother; and treats his friend kindly whilst shunning his father; when voices are raised in the mosques; when the leader of a people is the worst of them; when people treat a man with respect because they fear some evil he may do; when much wine is drunk; when men wear silk; when female singers and musical instruments become popular; when the last ones of this Ummah curse the first ones – then let them expect a red wind, or the earth to swallow them, or to be transformed into animals.’ ” [At-Tirmidhi]
The Prophet (saws) is teaching us that what we do as a society affects the spiritual part of the universe, Allah said about this, “I swear by time, Most surely mankind is in loss (He exists in a state of Loss in the universe), Except those who believe and do good (these are the only things that negate his state of loss), and enjoin on each other (create a society that adheres to) truth, and enjoin on each other patience (or constancy. Basically society creates a larger influence on the sub atomic world than any individual, so you need to effect positive change as a society).
Allah promised to answer everything about the universe for mankind before the end, and today we are doing exactly that discovering the science behind the universe until “it will become clear unto them that this is indeed the truth”.
But how is all this related to the Arsh of Allah like the verse states, “So exalted is Allah (He is Above the nature of everything), the Sovereign (of the universe), the Reality (of everything); there is no deity except Him (who created the order we see in the universe), Lord of the Noble Throne.” (23:116)
The relationship starts with the human soul because man’s body is like a spiritual lamp that shapes the reality of those around him, whose source of origin and power to affect the universe is the Arsh of Allah;
The Prophet (saws) prayed “Make for me light, and make me light”…and Allah said “O Prophet! surely We have sent you as a witness, and as a bearer of good news and as a summoner (to people) unto Allah by His permission, and as a lamp that giveth light (to others)” (33:46)
Since the Arsh (throne) and Kursi (footstool) are similar in nature the answer comes by first understanding what the Kursi of Allah is because it is clearly explained in ahadith and the Quran. Knowledge of the Kursi (footstool of Allah) makes it clear what the role of the Arsh is in the Haq (Reality) of everyone because it is one of the major building blocks of the universe that is responsible for shaping the creation of everything in it.
The Kursi (footstool) is an area in space and it is given its name because of its distance to the Arsh (Throne) which is the outer most part of space going all the way to the edge of the universe. The name Footstool comes from the relationship between it and the Throne just like a footstool sits at the base of every throne so the King can rest his feet, but because we are talking about science and how the universe was created it also means it forms part of the foundation of what the Arsh is, just like knowledge is needed for wisdom to exist, so if the Kursi is responsible knowledge in the universe the Arsh is responsible for Wisdom.
Our night sky and the visible part of the universe to us are all contained within the Kursi, and that is inside the Arsh. Ahadith explain once we reach the Kursi in the universe there are no more stars in the sky, no galaxies, nebulas, black holes, suns or planets only the Kursi and Arsh and what is in them exist to the edge of the universe and that distance is immense.
Allah’s Messenger (saws) said: “The seven heavens (space) are no more in comparison to the Kursi (footstool) than seven dirhams set in a shield” (this is the same shape as the Milky way which looks like a shield, this tells us the observable universe is inside a seven cluster region that looks like seven coins, more than likely the “coins”are orbiting each other, which is in a larger expanse of space that is the Kursi, and it is shaped like a shield (or the milky way) which itself is surrounded by another larger expanse which begins at sidrat al muntaha in the Quran, the furthest created limit, the Arsh, and it exists to the edge of the universe.
This hadith tells us one more important thing, the blackness of space, dark matter and energy in physics, does not exist to the edge of the universe, it either stops at the Kursi or the Arsh, more than likely the latter since the Kursi is involved in quantum entanglement (the ability of particles to interact with each other and create everything) and the prophet (saws) described the Arsh as surrounding the universe almost like it something different from what is inside.
On top of this Allah describes in the Quran how the Kursi (and by extension the Arsh) are spread throughout all subatomic space, they aren’t just at the end of the universe they are also at the end of all subatomic depths (2:255) because unlike space which contains solid and physical matter governed by gravity, the Kursi and Arsh are entirely made of subatomic particles which are tightly clustered together like photons in visible light, or light coming from a light bulb, it creates a visible field of particles we can see that illuminates the room.
Basically, the universe we know that is filled with planets, suns, stars, black holes and all solid matter, at its edge is surrounded by two large regions made entirely of subatomic particles. Solid matter in the universe seems to have ”gravitated” towards the centre, most likely because of black holes which exist at the centre of each galaxy and act like giant pegs in the universe (the fabric of space) making all the stars and solar systems revolve around them. Some types of mountains on earth act like giant pegs in the earths crust stabilising its tectonic plates and mantle stopping it from quaking, black holes play a similar role in the universe stabilising it and causing all solid matter to stay in the centre.
Abu Zarr (ra) said: “I heard Allah’s Messenger (saws) say: “The Kursi is no more in comparison to the Arsh (Throne) than an iron ring thrown in a vast desert.”
With every deep subject in the Quran Allah teaches us about it in gradual steps through several related verses each describing an aspect of it so the picture can gradually form in your mind, the Kusri and Arsh are no different;
Allah says, “It is Allah Who created the seven heavens (space) and of the earth, it’s like (the other planets in the universe). The command (laws of the universe) comes forth between them (from sub atomic space) so that perhaps you would know that Allah is Powerful over everything (His laws govern everything) and that Allah, truly, enclosed everything in Knowledge (there is a mechanism in sub atomic space that surrounds all things with Allah’s knowledge.” (65:12)
Because of the layered nature of subatomic space, as things form from the depths to the surface, this force of “knowledge” shapes the creation of things, in physics today this “force” is called quantum entanglement.
The Kursi has a purpose in the universe like the laws of physics, and so does the Arsh which relate to how Allah enclosed all things in knowledge, meaning how everything is created with knowledge, purpose and design.
Allah created the Universe from subatomic particles (or “Light” (24:35), a general term for all particles that people of 1400 years ago could understand, He then encompassed the entire universe with His knowledge and created what was in it (65:12) according to the designs we now see in every object and creature.
Deliberate design doesn’t come from repeated accidents and never in the quantity we see around us, which is basically everything created, even in science according to the scientific method when frequency has been established the scientist must conclude there is intent/purpose/direction in what he is looking at, especially with the frequency of complex systems within a single creature. Had everything come from accidents we would have seen half finished creations for every kind of thing in existence, all displaying varying stages of being created, finished and half finished, as matter tried to find its way blindly as it evolved into something meaningful let alone a complex living creature, had this been the true reality of the universe the misery of living things would have been immense.
Allah placed His Blueprint (knowledge) for all things in the Universe so it could shape the evolution of the universe things were being created, today physics is looking at this influence (blueprint) from sub atomic space on life that formed as the universe evolved. The theory of evolution by natural selection was first theorised when they had no idea sub atomic space existed and placed the entire process at the feet of “survival of the fittest”, a competition, which is ridiculous in the face of science since change begins at the subatomic level and not the will of animals.
From the moment the universe came into existence all particles in the universe began to entangle with each other (form links over large distances influencing each other), over time this became more complex as new things began to appear in the universe and it cooled down, a giant web of entangled particles spread through out the entire universe appeared, just like the Kursi described in the Quran, this web is basically the subatomic influence that shaped the evolution (design) of everything, today they call it quantum entanglement and how it shaped the creation of everything is the focus of many research papers.
Entanglement of particles is something many scholars like Imam Ibn Arabi, Imam Ghazali and Imam Rumi understood from its presence and effects in the universe and wrote about in the language of their time to varying degrees. To illustrate this; the heart and body produce a strong electromagnetic field made of subatomic particles that send and receives (signals) information to the world us (which the prophet (saws) mentioned in the hadith of Jabir) just like a mobile/cellular phone, this information directs our instincts and what our body senses, this system is the basis for our spirituality.
It is widely known that Imam Jalal al Deen Rumi used poetry to teach deep subjects on Allah, Islam and the universe to people, He said:
“Don’t feel sad you have the entire universe inside you” (the subatomic world and all its laws)
“Stop acting small you are the universe in ecstatic motion” (subatomic particles and Quantum mechanics).
“Love is the bridge between you and everything else” (Quantum entanglement of all particles).
“Love is the energizing elixir of the universe the cause and effect of all harmonies” (Quantum entanglement through the coherence of waves, the mode/medium through which spiritual communication is possible).
“Love is the religion and the universe is the book”. (Through our physiology man is connected to the universe and impacts it/writes his story/Karma, how your story is written is in your hands.)
“Allah tasketh not a soul beyond its scope. For it (is only) that which it hath earned, and against it (only) that which it hath deserved.” (2:286) This is the universe reacting to our moral choices in life, other religions called it Karma.
If we ask how does a plant know to grow into the shape of a plant, Allah teaches us His knowledge influences its creation at the subatomic level, and this is the role of the Kursi in the universe, which Ahadith and the Quran teach.
Allah encompasses all things with His knowledge (65:12) and Ibn Abbas (ra) explained, “His Kursi is His knowledge” (kursiyyuhu `ilmuhu) (Bukhari).
If we look at the answer sheet and get our answers ahead of time, we would see that the Kursi from its description and role is almost certainly responsible for quantum entanglement in the universe, it is that subatomic layer or depth that makes it happen. Physics teaches that Quantum entanglement is responsible for the existence of all knowledge in the universe and how everything was created, “His Kursi is His knowledge”.
The Quran explains this reality in relation to Allah’s existence very clearly because the qualities of what He created is His will, Him. The following verse called ayat al Kursi (which is the greatest verse in the Quran) is a picture being painted of the Kursi and Allah’s hand in the universe through it. It isn’t individual unrelated statements, it was because of this fact that the Prophet (saws) said by understanding the picture (verse) you can learn Allah’s greatest name/Quality from it by which if He is asked, He answers;
“Allah! There is no deity save Him, the Alive, the Eternal. Neither slumber nor sleep overtaketh Him (the universe like Him has perpetual qualities). Unto Him belongeth whatsoever is in the heavens (sub atomic space) and whatsoever is in the earth (physical world, hence, every kind of science around us exists because of Him). Who can intercedeth (in the universe) with Him save by His leave? (Who can change the universe, or has control over anything in the universe except through Him and the things He created in it) He knoweth that which is in front of them (death) and that which is behind them (this life they left) [He has complete knowledge of their lives, He is the Span of Time while man’s existence is limited to his own lifespan], while they encompass nothing of His knowledge (over the span of time. Allah is quantifying Knowledge here, giving it dimension, we can’t encompass time in our self or the universe that all knowledge unraveled in) save what He will. (Because) His Kursi (which is His knowledge) encompasses the heavens and the earth (everything. Every subject raised so far in the verse is about the Kursi and is related to its existence in the universe because that was the culminating remark of ayat al Kursi), and He is never weary of preserving them (at every moment of existence). He is the Sublime (Exalted above His creation, the same word is used as verse 23:116, Ali-u), the Tremendous (Azzim/ the vast. Allah’s qualities that He gave to his Kursi).” (2:255)
The verse was called ayat al Kursi by the prophet (saws), the Kursi represents specific qualities of Allah in the universe which He mentions in the verse alongside the Kursi itself to teach us by association.
In the general order that subjects appear, in modern terms the verse is saying; the Kursi is responsible for the Tawheed that every creature senses (our Fitrah, natural disposition), as well as the existence of all life and the persistence of the universe. It is responsible for the perpetual nature of matter, energy, particles in the universe, as well as control of the entire universe. You cannot act in the universe except through what the Kursi is responsible for bringing about and that is everything, it is also responsible for the future of the universe, its evolution and direction, as well as the actions of its past, meaning their consequences in the present.
In physics quantum entanglement is responsible for all of these things including the evolution of the universe based on the consequences of its past (entanglement).
This means that the persistence/result/preservation/karma of all past creature’s actions in the universe and how that impacts life today, the Kursi is responsible for it; “Allah tasketh not a soul beyond its scope. For it (is only) that which it hath earned, and against it (only) that which it hath deserved” (2:286), this is Karma in the language of the Arabs, hence the Kursi is responsible for Karma itself from the beginning of time to our present existence and entanglement is Karma by an ancient name.
When the sacred pen was commanded to write the future of all things by Allah at the beginning of the universe, it was because of the existence of the Kursi that it could do so, everything relies on the things Allah created in the universe to work and the Kursi is responsible for the future of the universe. The Kursi spans the entire universe up to the Arsh (Throne) and preserves everything in the Universe that is within it, hence it is fundamental for the existence of all laws the universe runs by, (this isn’t dissimilar from how the sub atomic Higgs field is responsible for the Mass of all particles, the Kursi is another field at a greater sub atomic depth which is how it is described in ahadith).
Allah mentioned it is Exalted and Tremendous in its nature, in the context of the Quran and Allah, this is what exalted means in the universe in relation to created things they exist at the depths of sub atomic space and Allah says He is above them in the literal sense.
All of this points to an even deeper relationship relating to the fact Allah said He is time and time is created by the entanglement of particles which is at the heart of what reality is created from.
Allah in a hadith Qudsi said “I Am Time”…(“In My Hand” is change in the universe), so the Kursi’s role is almost as important as the Arsh which Allah is established upon, meaning from where He controls all affairs in the Universe, this is the tafsir Allah Himself gave to the word Istiwa in the Quran. The Kursi is Allah’s knowledge in the universe through which everything comes into existence according to how Allah planned it, it is a force that helps mould sub atomic particles according to His will.
Physics explains that quantum entanglement is responsible for how things are created as well as the evolution of the universe, but more deeply entanglement is also responsible for the existence of time itself, since time was created with the first particles to exist, and it came about from their entanglement, or as Allah described in the Hadith Qudsi change/alternation/evolution in the universe is in My hand, and these are its mechanisms.