Khaberni - There is no doubt that the question of why we read Ayat al-Kursi after prayers is one of the hidden secrets about Ayat al-Kursi and signifies its great virtue. It is one of the verses of Surah Al-Baqarah, and perhaps the answer to the question sheds light on the Prophet's recommendation -peace be upon him- to read it specifically in many texts of the prophetic Hadith about the Prophet -peace be upon him- and its recitation after each prayer, before sleep, or in the morning and evening invocations.
Why do we read Ayat al-Kursi after prayers?
Dr. Abdullah Al-Ajmi, the Secretary of Fatwa at Dar Al-Ifta in Egypt, in his response to the question: (Why do we read Ayat al-Kursi after prayers?), said that when a person completes his prayer, he should read Ayat al-Kursi, and listen to the Prophet -peace be upon him- saying whoever reads Ayat al-Kursi in the morning, an angel will be sent to protect and keep him until evening.
Al-Ajmi continued in his response to the question: Why do we read Ayat al-Kursi after prayers?: When a person finishes the prayer and reads Ayat al-Kursi, they should then read the three Qul chapters as they act as a protection, namely "Say, He is Allah, One", "Say, I seek refuge with the Lord of Dawn," and "Say, I seek refuge with the Lord of mankind", then read each one of them three times because when you read Surah Al-Ikhlas, it is as if you read the entire Quran because it equates to a third of the Quran for its declaration of God's oneness.
It is stated that for reading it after every prescribed prayer there is great reward, since the Prophet -peace be upon him- used to read Ayat al-Kursi after every prayer; as he said -peace be upon him-: "Whoever recites Ayat al-Kursi after every prescribed prayer, nothing but death prevents him from entering Paradise."
And it is mentioned that it protects the reader from the evil eye, magic, and possession; as God, the Exalted, made it a protection from the devil, jinn, sorcerers, and charlatans. Whoever recites it in the morning is protected by God Almighty until the evening, and whoever recites it in the evening is protected by God Almighty until the morning. Indeed, the Prophet -peace be upon him- used to recite it at bedtime to ward off demons.
The virtue of reading Ayat al-Kursi after prayers
Imam Ibn Kathir, may God have mercy on him, spoke about the virtue of reading Ayat al-Kursi after prayers, explaining Ayat al-Kursi from Surah Al-Baqarah: This is Ayat al-Kursi, and it has a great status. The Hadith about the Prophet -peace be upon him- is authentic, stating that it is the greatest verse in the book of God.
It was reported by Ubayy ibn Ka'b that the Prophet -peace be upon him- asked him which verse in the book of Allah is the greatest. He said: God and His Messenger know best. He repeated it several times then said: "Ayat al-Kursi".
The prophetic Hadith highlights the virtue of reading Ayat al-Kursi after prayers, as narrated by Abu Umamah al-Bahili, may God be pleased with him: from the Messenger of God -peace be upon him- who said: "Whoever recites Ayat al-Kursi after every prescribed prayer will not be prevented from entering Paradise, except by death." Narrated by an-Nasa'i in Sunan al-Kubra, al-Tabarani in al-Mu'jam al-Kabir, and Ibn al-Sunni.
The Hadith clarifies that those who persistently recite Ayat al-Kursi after prayers and continue to do so are deserving of Paradise, and the only separator between him and it is death because it ends the act and merits the reward -Paradise-. Ayat al-Kursi is the saying of God Almighty: "Allah! La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He), the Ever Living, the One Who sustains and protects all that exists. Neither slumber nor sleep overtakes Him. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth." Surat Al-Baqarah, verse 255.
It is named for its mention of the Throne, and whoever recites it night or day any number of times (at least three times), it opens the chests, relieves worries, sorrows, and distresses, and protects oneself, children, and wealth.
