Reciting Aayatul Kursi does not contradict with taking physical means of protection

15-1-2009 | IslamWeb

Question:

Asslam O Alaikum, I have heard that if you read Ayatul Kursi everyday, nothing can harm you? Is that True? If that is true then why learn martial arts or anything like that? People say do your part and put the rest trust in Allah (SWT), but I still don't understand this, because i would be wasting my time learning martial arts if I know that if I read Ayatul Kursi everyday, I would be protected. Thanks
Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) is His slave and Messenger.

 

At-Tabaraani may Allaah have mercy upon him reported that the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said: "Whoever reads Aayatul-Kursi (i.e. Quran 2:255) after every obligatory prayer, he is in the protection of Allaah until the next obligatory prayer" However, this narration is classified as weak by the scholars may Allaah have mercy upon them.

Nonetheless, there are some authentic narrations with the same meaning like the narration which is reported by Imaam Muslim may Allaah have mercy upon him that the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said: "Whoever performs the Fajr prayer is under the Protection of Allaah." Moreover, ‘Uthmaan, may Allaah be please with him, narrated that the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said: "There is no person who says every morning and every evening ‘In the name of Allaah with whose name nothing is harmed on earth nor in the heavens and He is The All-Seeing, The All-Knowing’, three times, except that nothing harms him." [At-Tirmithi]

All these narrations are within the context of protecting oneself with these good deeds, and this does contract the concept of taking the physical means (of protecting oneself). Both things are required from a Muslim, and the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) used to recite these supplications and mention of Allaah, and in addition to this, he takes the proper means. If a person supplicates Allaah to bless him with children but he does not seek to get married, or that he supplicates Allaah for provision but he does not seek work, then the people would consider him as insane, and it is the same thing in this situation. 

Allaah Knows best.

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