What is the meaning of “Whoever recites Ayat al-Kursi after every prayer…”?
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Question:
Finally, the questioner, O His Eminence Shaykh Abdulaziz, is inquiring about the meaning of this hadith; the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Bulugh al-Maram 2:220 What is the meaning of this hadith?
Answer:
This hadith has several chains of transmission, and some of them are acceptable. It indicates that it is recommended to recite this verse after every prayer: [Surat al-Baqarah: 255]. It is the greatest verse in the Qur'an, and it is recommended to recite it after each of the five daily prayers. This is because some of the chains are authentic and good, and there is no harm in them. Its meaning is a promise of good, and that this is one of the causes of entering Paradise, provided that nothing prevents it, such as persisting in major sins. This is like the other hadiths that promise Paradise to whoever fasts on the Day of 'Arafah, or fasts on the Day of Ashura, or fasts on Mondays and Thursdays; that is, provided that one does not persist in major sins.
This hadith is a promise, provided that one does not persist in major sins. As for the one who persists in major sins, his sins are not forgiven. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Mishkat al-Masabih 564 And Allah says in His great Book, addressing the believers and others: [Surat al-Nisa: 31].
So the condition for the expiation of sins and entering the Gardens is avoiding major sins. As for the one who does not avoid them, and dies while persisting in them, whether it be zina, undutifulness to parents, consuming riba, severing family ties, or the like, then his case is suspended and he is in danger. His good deeds will not expiate his sins; rather, he is in danger until he avoids major sins.
If the prayer, which is the pillar of Islam, does not expiate sins except by avoiding major sins, and likewise the fasting of Ramadan, then what about other acts? He (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Mishkat al-Masabih 564 And in another wording: Sunan Ibn Majah 1086Sahih (Darussalam) Muslim narrated it in his Sahih. This indicates that the hadiths promising forgiveness and mercy to whoever seeks forgiveness or does such and such are conditional upon avoiding major sins. The text of the verse is clear in this regard. He, the Exalted, says: [Surat al-Nisa: 31].
So the hadiths that mention the expiation of sins and the removal of errors for whoever does such and such, or does such and such, mean: provided that one does not persist in a major sin, provided that one does not have persistence in any of the major sins. If one persists in a major sin, his sins are not expiated by that act. We ask Allah for well-being for us and for all Muslims. Yes.
Finally, the questioner, O His Eminence Shaykh Abdulaziz, is inquiring about the meaning of this hadith; the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Whoever recites Ayat al-Kursi at the end of every obligatory prayer, nothing but death will prevent him from entering Paradise.
من قرأ آية الكرسي دبر كل صلاة مكتوبة لم يمنعه من دخول الجنة إلا أن يموتAnswer:
This hadith has several chains of transmission, and some of them are acceptable. It indicates that it is recommended to recite this verse after every prayer:
Allah - there is no deity except Him, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of [all] existence
اللَّهُ لا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُThis hadith is a promise, provided that one does not persist in major sins. As for the one who persists in major sins, his sins are not forgiven. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
The five [daily] prayers, Friday to Friday and Ramadan to Ramadan make atonement for what has happened since the previous one when major sins have been avoided.
الصلوات الخمس، والجمعة إلى الجمعة، ورمضان إلى رمضان، كفارات لما بينهن إذا اجتنب الكبائرIf you avoid the major sins which you are forbidden, We will remove from you your lesser sins and admit you to a noble entrance [into Paradise].
إِنْ تَجْتَنِبُوا كَبَائِرَ مَا تُنْهَوْنَ عَنْهُ نُكَفِّرْ عَنْكُمْ سَيِّئَاتِكُمْ وَنُدْخِلْكُمْ مُدْخَلًا كَرِيمًاSo the condition for the expiation of sins and entering the Gardens is avoiding major sins. As for the one who does not avoid them, and dies while persisting in them, whether it be zina, undutifulness to parents, consuming riba, severing family ties, or the like, then his case is suspended and he is in danger. His good deeds will not expiate his sins; rather, he is in danger until he avoids major sins.
If the prayer, which is the pillar of Islam, does not expiate sins except by avoiding major sins, and likewise the fasting of Ramadan, then what about other acts? He (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
The five [daily] prayers, Friday to Friday and Ramadan to Ramadan make atonement for what has happened since the previous one when major sins have been avoided.
الصلوات الخمس، والجمعة إلى الجمعة، ورمضان إلى رمضان كفارات لما بينهن إذا اجتنب الكبائرso long as one does not commit any major sin
ما لم تغش الكبائرIf you avoid the major sins which you are forbidden, We will remove from you your lesser sins and admit you to a noble entrance [into Paradise].
إِنْ تَجْتَنِبُوا كَبَائِرَ مَا تُنْهَوْنَ عَنْهُ نُكَفِّرْ عَنْكُمْ سَيِّئَاتِكُمْ وَنُدْخِلْكُمْ مُدْخَلًا كَرِيمًاSo the hadiths that mention the expiation of sins and the removal of errors for whoever does such and such, or does such and such, mean: provided that one does not persist in a major sin, provided that one does not have persistence in any of the major sins. If one persists in a major sin, his sins are not expiated by that act. We ask Allah for well-being for us and for all Muslims. Yes.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.