The Quran is a compilation of stories and teachings, with guidance from Allah told in the span of 114 chapters, each with varying lengths and verses – also referred to as ayat, a derivative of the Arabic word meaning ‘proof’ and ‘miracles’ – denoted the underlying miracles of its Creator and proof of it within the words of the Holy Book.
Collectively, the Quran adds up to having a total of 6236 verses, with some holding a more repetitive stance than others for divine emphasis, simultaneously fulfilling the purpose that is believed to be for the engraving of the Lord’s message to Muslims.
Following the theme, there are verses that were revealed once but are deemed to be more powerful than others in regards to the underlying message they carry to the readers and believers. These include the verses that are part of daily supplications (duas), and those that are declared as guiding rules or laws.
The Most Powerful Verse & Benefits
The verse that is said to be the most powerful is Ayat Al-Kursi – The Verse of the Throne. It declares and confirms that all power solely originates from the Lord – Allah.
Allah – there is no deity except Him, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of [all] existence. Neither drowsiness overtakes Him, nor sleep. To Him belongs whatever is in the Heavens and whatever is on the earth. Who is it that can intercede with Him except by His permission? He knows what is [presently] before them and what will be after them, and they encompass not a thing of His knowledge except for what He wills. His throne extends over the Heavens and the earth, and their preservation tires Him not. And He is the Most High, the Most Great. (Quran 2:255)
Ayat Al-Kursi, regarded to be the most powerful verse in the Quran, has been allocated many benefits, including but not limited to:
- Reciting Ayat Al-Kursi as part of our adhkar (supplications) that follow the daily obligatory prayer is said to guarantee protection from the wrath of the Jinn (evil entities).
- Subsequently, Al-Nasaa’i narrates that there is an assurance from the Prophet (pbuh) that to the regular reciter of Ayat Al-Kursi after daily prayers, the only barrier that stands between them and paradise is the moment of death.
- It was narrated by Abu-Hurayrah (one of the Prophet’s companions) that whoever recites this verse in their homes, then Shaytaan (the devil) would not stay.
- If you integrate the recitation as a dua (invocation) upon leaving your residence, Allah sends down 70,000 angels to surround the reciter as their appointed protector.
- The continuous recitation of Ayat Al-Kursi upon entering a home solidifies the protection against poverty, and it is promised that Allah will provide for the reciter in abundance.
- The Prophet (pbuh) signified the reassurance that for every daily recitation of Ayat Al-Kursi done before going to bed, an angel is appointed to guard the reciter by the bedside throughout the night.
- If a person were to recite Ayat Al-Kursi upon completing Wudu (ablutions), their ranking with Allah is multiplied by 70 times.
- The Prophet (pbuh) taught the believers that whoever recites this verse in the morning, they shall remain protected until the sun sets, and if they were to recite it in the evening, then they shall remain protected until the sun rises.
Taking all the aforementioned benefits, and many more not mentioned, there are several other similar verses in the Quran that carry their own respective benefits and significance in their repetitive recitations.
Unbreakable Promises
There are other verses of the Quran with comparable significance and benefits allocated to them, and while it would neither be sufficient nor fitting to cover and thoroughly explain them all in one piece, research has led me to the verses titled as Allah’s Unbreakable Promises, suitable to be added to this piece. These verses are deemed as such in an effort to instill a reminder to the believers and followers of Islam that, although we as humans tend to break our promises – be it to the Lord or other people, knowingly or unknowingly – the Lord has put in place His promises to us which He shall never break, as mentioned in:
Chapter 2, Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 152
So remember Me; I will remember you. And be grateful to Me and do not deny Me.
Chapter 8, Surah Al-Anfal, verse 33
But Allah would not punish them while you, [O Muhammad], are among them, and Allah would not punish them while they seek forgiveness.
Chapter 14, Surah Ibrahim, verse 7
And [remember] when your Lord proclaimed, ‘If you are grateful, I will surely increase you [in favor]; but if you deny, indeed, My punishment is severe’.
Chapter 40, Surah Al-Ghafir, verse 70
Those who deny the Book and that with which We sent Our messengers – they are going to know
Although it is beneficial and equally respectful to focus most of the attention to the important and favorable (helpful) verses as a way to share the knowledge, diverse interests would deem it appropriate to lay out lighter verses with their own unique features.
For example, of the total 6000+ verses, there is evidently bound to be one with the longest structure, and one with the opposing attribute.
The Longest Verse
The longest verse of the Quran can be found in the second chapter, titled as the Verse of The Loan (Addayn), elaborately and astonishingly covering the rules and legal regards of dealing with debts and loan payments. The underlying beauty is that this verse has been drafted as such that it is miraculously understandable despite its length.
O you who have believed, when you contract a debt for a specified term, write it down. And let a scribe write [it] between you in justice. Let no scribe refuse to write as Allah has taught him. So let him write and let the one who has the obligation dictate. And let him fear Allah, his Lord, and not leave anything out of it. But if the one who has the obligation is of limited understanding or weak or unable to dictate himself, then let his guardian dictate in justice. And bring to witness two witnesses from among your men. And if there are not two men [available], then a man and two women from those whom you accept as witnesses – so that if one of the women errs, then the other can remind her. And let not the witnesses refuse when they are called upon. And do not be [too] weary to write it, whether it is small or large, for its [specified] term. That is more just in the sight of Allah and stronger as evidence and more likely to prevent doubt between you, except when it is an immediate transaction which you conduct among yourselves. For [then] there is no blame upon you if you do not write it. And take witnesses when you conclude a contract. Let no scribe be harmed or any witness. For if you do so, indeed, it is [grave] disobedience in you. And fear Allah . And Allah teaches you. And Allah is Knowing of all things. (Quran 2:282)
The Shortest Verses
There is a difference in opinion on which is to be deemed the actual shortest verse in terms of structure, as the verses made up with a string of only a couple of letters are not considered ‘complete’.
Following the stance that these are ‘complete’, there would be multiple verses that would fall under the category of being the shortest verses, made up of only 2 letters:
يس
Yaa-Seen.
(Quran 36:1)
طھ
Ta-Haa.
(Quran 20:1)
حم
Haa-Meem.
(Quran 40:1 – 41:1 – 42:1 – 43:1 – 44:1 – 45:1 & 46:1)
On the other hand, some scholars believe that the ‘complete’ verse that would be appropriately titled as the shortest verse, is the one whose structure forms a concrete saying, with a fathomable meaning – the description seemingly fit for one of these:
الرحمن
The Most Merciful.
(Quran 55:1)
مدهامتان
Dark green [in color].
(Quran 55:64)
والعصر
By time
(Quran 103:1)
والفجر
By the dawn
(Quran 89:1)
والضحى
By the morning brightness
(Quran 93:1)
The Most Repeated Verses
As made evident in some of the verses above, there are several repetitions within the Quran, supposedly as a note of emphasis on certain matters, creating an engraving of the message being delivered to the followers. The most repeated verses are:
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny? (Quran 55:13)
[Repeated in Surah Ar-Rahman 31 times]
Woe, that Day, to the deniers. (Quran 77:15)
[Repeated in Surah Al-Mursalat 10 times]
This not to say that other verses hold no emphasis due to the lack of repetition, as there are also some that have collectively been repeated merely twice in the whole Quran, but still hold the same strength and contribute to the Quran in their own unique and beautiful way. As there are many such verses, the list is not limited to the ones below:
Nor are you worshippers of what I worship. (Quran 109:3 & 109:5)
The Day He will assemble you for the Day of Assembly – that is the Day of Deprivation. And whoever believes in Allah and does righteousness – He will remove from him his misdeeds and admit him to gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever. That is a great achievement. (Quran 64:9 & 65:11)
Learn More
Share the verse you think is most powerful in the comments below!
Sources
SayPeople, 2012. Aya which have been repeated in Quran Majeed
Truth Of Islam, 2016. Four Unbreakable Promises From Allah.
This is a great post! I love reading about the Quran and finding out what the most powerful verses are.
Some more powerful verses of the Quran, in my opinion:
And ˹remember˺ when your Lord brought forth from the loins of the children of Adam their descendants and had them testify regarding themselves. ˹Allah asked,˺ “Am I not your Lord?” They replied, “Yes, You are! We testify.” ˹He cautioned,˺ “Now you have no right to say on Judgment Day, ‘We were not aware of this.’ (7:172)
Say, ˹O Prophet, that Allah says,˺ “O My servants who have exceeded the limits against their souls! Do not lose hope in Allah’s mercy, for Allah certainly forgives all sins. He is indeed the All-Forgiving, Most Merciful. (39:53)
Very informative . Thank you
These verses caused much reflection. JazakumAllahukhayrun