Ayat al-Kursi
آية الكرسي
The Verse of the Throne — 1 verse, revealed in Madinah. Read it in Arabic with transliteration and meaning, then learn its background, virtues and tajweed.
Ayat al-Kursi is verse 255 of Surah Al-Baqarah, meaning “The Verse of the Throne”. It has 1 verse and was revealed in Madinah. Ayat al-Kursi, verse 255 of Surah Al-Baqarah, describes Allah's greatness, knowledge and power over everything.
Ayat al-Kursi with transliteration & meaning
- 255
اَللّٰهُ لَاۤ اِلٰهَ اِلَّا هُوَ ۚ اَلْحَیُّ الْقَیُّوْمُ ۚ۬ لَا تَاْخُذُهٗ سِنَةٌ وَّلَا نَوْمٌ ؕ لَهٗ مَا فِی السَّمٰوٰتِ وَمَا فِی الْاَرْضِ ؕ مَنْ ذَا الَّذِیْ یَشْفَعُ عِنْدَهٗۤ اِلَّا بِاِذْنِهٖ ؕ یَعْلَمُ مَا بَیْنَ اَیْدِیْهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ ۚ وَلَا یُحِیْطُوْنَ بِشَیْءٍ مِّنْ عِلْمِهٖۤ اِلَّا بِمَا شَآءَ ۚ وَسِعَ كُرْسِیُّهُ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَالْاَرْضَ ۚ وَلَا یَـُٔوْدُهٗ حِفْظُهُمَا ۚ وَهُوَ الْعَلِیُّ الْعَظِیْمُ ۲۵۵
Allahu la ilaha illa huwal-hayyul-qayyum, la ta'khudhuhu sinatuw-wa la nawm, lahu ma fis-samawati wa ma fil-ard, man dhal-ladhi yashfa'u 'indahu illa bi'idhnih, ya'lamu ma bayna aydihim wa ma khalfahum, wa la yuhituna bishay'im-min 'ilmihi illa bima sha', wasi'a kursiyyuhus-samawati wal-ard, wa la ya'uduhu hifzuhuma, wa huwal-'aliyyul-'azim.
Allah — there is no god except Him, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of all. Neither drowsiness nor sleep overtakes Him. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and the earth. Who can intercede with Him except by His permission? He knows what is before them and what is behind them, and they grasp nothing of His knowledge except what He wills. His Kursi extends over the heavens and the earth, and protecting them does not tire Him. He is the Most High, the Most Great.
Background: when and why it was revealed
Revealed in Madinah. Ayat al-Kursi, verse 255 of Surah Al-Baqarah, describes Allah's greatness, knowledge and power over everything.
Ubayy ibn Ka'b told the Prophet ﷺ that the greatest verse in the Book of Allah is Ayat al-Kursi, and the Prophet ﷺ congratulated him on his knowledge (Sahih Muslim 810). In another hadith, reciting it before sleeping brings protection from Allah through the night (Sahih al-Bukhari 2311).
Virtues
- The greatest verse in the Quran. (Sahih Muslim 810)
- Protection through the night when recited before sleeping. (Sahih al-Bukhari 2311)
How Ayat al-Kursi was taught — the story of Abu Hurairah and the night visitor
A visitor came three nights to steal the Ramadan charity food… and on the third night he revealed the secret of Ayat al-Kursi. Read the full true story for kids.
Tajweed tip
- Stretch “laaa ilaaha” (لَآ اِلٰهَ) for four or five counts — a separated madd (madd munfasil) — and pause briefly at each stop sign.
When to recite it
- Before sleeping
- After every Salah
- In the morning and evening
What we learn from Ayat al-Kursi
Allah never sleeps
Allah is always watching over us.
Allah knows everything
Nothing is hidden from Allah.
Protection
Recite it before sleeping.
Frequently asked questions
How many verses are in Ayat al-Kursi?
Ayat al-Kursi has 1 verse.
What does Ayat al-Kursi mean?
Ayat al-Kursi means “The Verse of the Throne”. Ayat al-Kursi, verse 255 of Surah Al-Baqarah, describes Allah's greatness, knowledge and power over everything.
Was Ayat al-Kursi revealed in Makkah or Madinah?
It was revealed in Madinah.
When should I recite Ayat al-Kursi?
Before sleeping, After every Salah, In the morning and evening.
References & sources
Quran references link to Quran.com and hadith references to Sunnah.com, so you can check every source. Spotted a mistake? Please tell us and we will correct it.
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