Ayatul Kursi: Arabic, Transliteration, Meaning and Benefits

Ayatul Kursi, "the Verse of the Throne", is verse 255 of Surah Al-Baqarah. The Prophet ﷺ called it the greatest verse in the Book of Allah (Sahih Muslim 810). In a few lines it describes Allah's life, knowledge, power and care for all of creation. Many Muslims learn it as children and recite it every day.

Ayatul Kursi in Arabic

ٱللَّهُ لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ٱلْحَىُّ ٱلْقَيُّومُ ۚ لَا تَأْخُذُهُۥ سِنَةٌۭ وَلَا نَوْمٌۭ ۚ لَّهُۥ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۗ مَن ذَا ٱلَّذِى يَشْفَعُ عِندَهُۥٓ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِهِۦ ۚ يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ ۖ وَلَا يُحِيطُونَ بِشَىْءٍۢ مِّنْ عِلْمِهِۦٓ إِلَّا بِمَا شَآءَ ۚ وَسِعَ كُرْسِيُّهُ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ ۖ وَلَا يَـُٔودُهُۥ حِفْظُهُمَا ۚ وَهُوَ ٱلْعَلِىُّ ٱلْعَظِيمُ

(Quran 2:255)

Transliteration

Allahu la ilaha illa huwal-Hayyul-Qayyum. La ta'khudhuhu sinatun 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 bi-shay'im-min 'ilmihi illa bima sha'. Wasi'a kursiyyuhus-samawati wal-ard, wa la ya'uduhu hifzuhuma, wa huwal-'Aliyyul-'Azim.

Meaning in English

Allah: there is no god except Him, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of all existence. Neither drowsiness nor sleep overtakes Him. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. Who could 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.

Understanding each part

• Al-Hayy, Al-Qayyum: Allah is the Ever-Living, whose life has no beginning or end, and the One who sustains everything. Nothing exists without Him.
• Neither drowsiness nor sleep: unlike us, Allah never tires or rests. He is watching over you every second.
• Intercession only with His permission: no one can speak for anyone on the Day of Judgement unless Allah allows it.
• He knows what is before and behind them: His knowledge covers the past, present and future completely.
• His Kursi extends over the heavens and the earth: a reminder of the vastness of Allah's dominion.
• Al-'Aliyy, Al-'Azim: the Most High and the Most Great. Two of the beautiful names of Allah.

Authentic benefits of reciting Ayatul Kursi

• The greatest verse of the Quran: the Prophet ﷺ asked Ubayy ibn Ka'b which verse was the greatest, and praised him when he answered Ayatul Kursi (Sahih Muslim 810).
• Protection at night: in a narration in Sahih al-Bukhari (5010), Abu Hurairah was told that whoever recites it before sleeping will have a guardian from Allah all night, and Shaytan will not come near them until morning. The Prophet ﷺ confirmed that this was true.
• After every obligatory prayer: the Prophet ﷺ said that nothing prevents the one who recites it after each obligatory prayer from entering Paradise except death (an-Nasa'i in as-Sunan al-Kubra, graded authentic by al-Albani).

When to recite it

1. After each of the five daily prayers
2. Before sleeping
3. As part of your morning and evening remembrance

Tips for memorising Ayatul Kursi

• Learn it in short phrases, one phrase a day.
• Listen to a recitation several times while following the Arabic.
• Recite it to a family member or teacher to check your pronunciation.
• For children, learn it together at bedtime. Many children know it by heart within a few weeks.

Read next: the 99 Names of Allah and their meanings.