Ayat al-Kursi: Full Text, Meaning & Virtues
Ayat al-Kursi is the greatest verse in the Qur’an (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:255) — Arabic text, word-by-word translation, transliteration, and authentic hadith on its virtues, graded and sourced for you.
Arabic Text, Transliteration & Translation
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Allāhu lā ilāha illā huwal-Ḥayyul-Qayyūm, lā ta’khudhuhū sinatun wa lā nawm, lahū mā fis-samāwāti wa mā fil-arḍ, man dhal-ladhī yashfa’u ‘indahū illā bi-idhnih, ya’lamu mā bayna aydīhim wa mā khalfahum, wa lā yuḥīṭūna bi-shay’im-min ‘ilmihī illā bi-mā shā’, wasi’a kursiyyuhus-samāwāti wal-arḍ, wa lā ya’ūduhū ḥifẓuhumā, wa Huwal-‘Aliyyul-‘Aẓīm.
“Allah — there is no deity except Him, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of 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 before them and what will be after them, and they encompass not a thing of His knowledge except what He wills. His Kursi extends over the heavens and the earth, and their preservation tires Him not. And He is the Most High, the Most Great.”
Surah Al-Baqarah 2:255 · Compare translations on Quran.com
Ayat al-Kursi Word-by-Word Meaning
Understanding each phrase deepens reflection (tadabbur) on the verse. Tap below to reveal a simplified word-by-word breakdown.
Ayat al-Kursi: Meaning & Tafsir Summary
Ayat al-Kursi (“the Verse of the Footstool”) is verse 255 of Surah Al-Baqarah and is widely regarded by scholars as the greatest single verse in the Qur’an, based on an authentic hadith in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet ﷺ affirmed this to Ubayy ibn Ka’b.
Classical commentators such as Ibn Kathir and al-Tabari explain that the verse is built around ten distinct statements affirming Allah’s oneness (Tawhid), His eternal self-sufficiency, His complete knowledge, and His absolute authority over creation:
- His exclusive divinity — “there is no deity except Him.”
- His eternal life — al-Hayy, the Ever-Living who never dies.
- His self-sustaining nature — al-Qayyum, upon whom all creation depends, while He depends on none.
- His freedom from any weakness — neither drowsiness nor sleep affects Him.
- His total ownership — everything in the heavens and earth belongs to Him.
- His sole authority over intercession — no one intercedes except with His permission.
- His complete knowledge — of the past, present, and future of His creation.
- The limits of human knowledge — none grasp His knowledge except what He allows.
- The vastness of His Kursi — scholars differ on whether “Kursi” refers to Allah’s footstool as distinct from the ‘Arsh (Throne), but agree it signifies immense, incomprehensible greatness.
- His effortless power — sustaining the heavens and earth causes Him no fatigue, for He is al-‘Aliyy al-‘Azim, the Most High, the Most Great.
Virtues of Ayat al-Kursi (Authentic Hadith)
Every narration below is graded and sourced. In line with our editorial standards, we only present hadith that are authentically graded, and we clearly mark their status.
Ubayy ibn Ka’b reported that the Prophet ﷺ asked him which verse of the Qur’an was the greatest. When Ubayy answered “Ayat al-Kursi,” the Prophet ﷺ struck his chest and said, “May knowledge be pleasant for you, O Abu al-Mundhir.”
Sahih Muslim 810 · View on Sunnah.com
Abu Hurairah narrated that the Prophet ﷺ appointed him to guard the charity of Ramadan. A figure came repeatedly to steal food, and when finally caught, taught Abu Hurairah that reciting Ayat al-Kursi before sleeping brings a protector from Allah, keeping shaytan away until morning. The Prophet ﷺ confirmed the figure — a devil — had told him the truth, though he is a habitual liar.
Sahih al-Bukhari 2311 · View on Sunnah.com
Abu Umamah reported that the Prophet ﷺ said whoever recites Ayat al-Kursi immediately after every obligatory prayer, nothing prevents them from entering Paradise except death — meaning they die upon this practice as people of steadfast faith.
Graded Sahih by al-Albani (Sahih al-Targhib 972); collected by al-Nasa’i in ‘Amal al-Yawm wal-Laylah · View reference on Sunnah.com
It is reported that the greatest name of Allah (ism al-a’zam) — by which, if He is called upon, He answers — is contained within Surah Al-Baqarah’s Ayat al-Kursi and the opening of Surah Aal ‘Imran.
Collected by Abu Dawud (1496) and Ibn Majah (3855); graded Hasan by al-Albani · View on Sunnah.com
When & How to Recite Ayat al-Kursi
After Each Fard Prayer
Recite once immediately after the five daily obligatory prayers, before other adhkar.
Before Sleeping
Recite before bed each night, following the authentic guidance narrated by Abu Hurairah.
Morning & Evening Adhkar
Many scholars include it within the daily morning and evening remembrance routine.
Entering the Home / Travel
Commonly recited when leaving the house, before travel, or entering a new place for protection.
There is no fixed count required — reciting it once with presence of heart (khushu’) and reflection on its meaning is sufficient for each of the occasions above.
Infographic: 5 Virtues of Ayat al-Kursi at a Glance
Frequently Asked Questions
Ayat al-Kursi literally means “the Verse of the Footstool/Throne-Chair.” It is verse 255 of Surah Al-Baqarah and describes Allah’s oneness, eternal life, complete knowledge, and the vastness of His Kursi.
This is based on an authentic hadith in Sahih Muslim (810) in which the Prophet ﷺ confirmed to Ubayy ibn Ka’b that Ayat al-Kursi is the greatest verse, because of its concentrated declaration of Allah’s names and attributes.
Most classical scholars, including Ibn Kathir, hold that the Kursi is distinct from and smaller than the ‘Arsh, though both are immense beyond human comprehension. The exact nature of both is among the unseen (ghayb) matters left to Allah’s knowledge.
There is no obligatory count. Authentic narrations recommend reciting it once after each of the five daily prayers and once before sleeping, with sincerity and reflection on its meaning.
Yes — Sahih al-Bukhari (2311) narrates that reciting it before sleep brings a protector from Allah that keeps shaytan away until morning. This protection is a means (sabab), not a magical guarantee independent of Allah’s will.
A hadith graded Sahih by al-Albani (Sahih al-Targhib 972) states that reciting it after every obligatory prayer leaves only death between the reciter and Paradise — understood by scholars as a description of dying firm upon iman, not an unconditional guarantee that bypasses one’s overall deeds.
For ritual recitation within the prayer, the original Arabic is used. Outside of prayer, reflecting on an English translation is beneficial for understanding, though the specific textual virtues are tied to the Arabic wording as revealed.
It is verse 255 of Surah Al-Baqarah, the second and longest chapter of the Qur’an, located roughly in the first third of the mushaf.
Author
Muhammad Iqbal
Writes and researches Qur’an, dua, and fiqh content for DuaForAll.com, cross-checking every citation against primary hadith collections.
Written and checked by the Dua For All team according to our Editorial Standards. Quran text checked against Quran.com; hadith gradings from Sunnah.com.
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Sources & Further Reading
Every hadith and translation reference on this page can be independently verified through these primary and authoritative sources: