If there is one verse in the Quran that every Muslim knows, it is Ayatul Kursi. Children learn it before they understand its meaning. It hangs on the walls of homes. It is recited after every prayer, before sleeping, and in moments of fear.
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But do you know why? Do you know what the Prophet ﷺspecifically said about this verse? Do you know what each phrase means and why scholars throughout history have called it the greatest verse of the Quran?
In this complete guide, you will find the full Arabic text of Ayatul Kursi, word-by-word meaning, complete English translation, authentic benefits from Hadith, when to recite it, and a deeper understanding of why this single verse carries more power than almost anything else a Muslim can say.
The Full Text of Ayatul Kursi
اللَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْحَيُْالْقَيُّومُ لَا تَأْخُذُهُ سِنَةٌ وَلَا نَوْمٌ لَّهُ مَا فِي السَّمَوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الأْرْضِ مَن ذَا الَّذِي يَشْفَعُ عِنْدَهُ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِهِ يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ وَلَا يُحِيطُونَ بِشَيْءٍ مِّنْ عِلْمِهِ إِلَّا بِمَا شَاءَ وَسِعَ كُرْسِيُّهُ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأْرْضَ وَلَا يَئُودُهُ حِفْظُهُمَا وَهُوَ الْعَلِيُّ الْعَظِيمُ
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-ladhee yashfa’u ‘indahu illa bi-idhnih, ya’lamu ma bayna aydihim wa ma khalfahum, wa la yuheetoona bi shay’im-min ‘ilmihi illa bima sha’, wasi’a kursiyyuhus-samawati wal-ard, wa la ya’ooduhu hifdhuhuma, wa huwal-‘Aliyyul-‘Adheem
Meaning: 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 for 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
Word-by-Word Explanation of Ayatul Kursi
- Allahu — Allah: the proper name of God in Islam. Not a generic word for deity, but the specific, exclusive name of the One True God.
- La ilaha illa huwa — There is no deity except Him: the foundational declaration of Tawheed — absolute monotheism.
- Al-Hayyul-Qayyum — The Ever-Living, the Sustainer of all existence: two of the greatest names of Allah. Al-Hayy means He never dies. Al-Qayyum means everything depends on Him for its existence.
- La ta’khudhuhu sinatun wa la nawm — Neither drowsiness nor sleep overtakes Him: Allah is always watching, always aware, never distracted or resting.
- Lahu ma fis-samawati wa ma fil-ard — To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and the earth: absolute ownership. Nothing exists outside His dominion.
- Man dhal-ladhee yashfa’u ‘indahu illa bi-idhnih — Who can intercede except by His permission: no one speaks on your behalf to Allah without His permission. This dismantles the concept of intermediaries in worship.
- Wasi’a kursiyyuhus-samawati wal-ard — His Kursi extends over the heavens and the earth: the Kursi (footstool) of Allah covers the entire universe. The scholars say if the entire universe were placed next to the Kursi, it would be like a ring in a desert.
- Wa la ya’ooduhu hifdhuhuma — Their preservation does not tire Him: He maintains the entire universe — every atom, every star, every creature — without the slightest effort.
Authentic Benefits of Ayatul Kursi from Hadith
1. Reciting After Every Obligatory Prayer — The Jannah Promise
This is the most well-known benefit of Ayatul Kursi. The Prophet ﷺsaid:
Hadith: Whoever recites Ayatul Kursi after every obligatory prayer, nothing will prevent him from entering Jannah except death. (An-Nasa’i, authenticated by Al-Albani in Sahih al-Jami 5/339)
To understand the weight of this: every Muslim’s greatest aspiration is Jannah. And the Prophet ﷺsays that reciting one verse after each of the five daily prayers — which takes less than one minute — is enough to guarantee it. Nothing stands between you and Jannah except the natural end of your life.
2. Protection Before Sleeping — An Angel Guards You All Night
Hadith: Whoever recites Ayatul Kursi before sleeping, Allah will appoint a guardian angel who will guard him throughout the night and Shaytan will not come near him until morning. (Sahih al-Bukhari 2311 — from the story of Abu Hurairah and the Shaytan)
3. The Greatest Verse in the Quran
Hadith: The Prophet ﷺasked Ubayy ibn Ka’b which verse in the Quran is the greatest. Ubayy replied: Ayatul Kursi. The Prophet ﷺsaid: Congratulations, O Abu Mundhir, for this knowledge. (Sahih Muslim 810)
4. Protection from Shaytan When Entering the Home
Hadith: The Prophet ﷺsaid: Whoever recites the opening of Surah Al-Baqarah and Ayatul Kursi in their home, Shaytan will not enter it for three days. (Bayhaqi, authenticated in Da’if al-Jami)
When to Recite Ayatul Kursi
- After every obligatory (fard) prayer — once (for the Jannah promise)
- Before sleeping — once (for the angelic guard through the night)
- Upon entering the home — once (to keep Shaytan out)
- In the morning adhkar — once (for complete day protection)
- In the evening adhkar — once (for complete night protection)
- When feeling afraid, anxious, or in a difficult situation
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Ayatul Kursi in English?
Ayatul Kursi means the Verse of the Throne. It is verse 255 of Surah Al-Baqarah, the second chapter of the Quran. It is called the Verse of the Throne because it describes Allah’s Kursi (Throne or Footstool) extending over the entire heavens and earth. The full translation in English is provided in this guide above.
Is Ayatul Kursi the greatest verse in the Quran?
Yes. This is directly confirmed by the Prophet ﷺ himself in Sahih Muslim 810, when he told Ubayy ibn Ka’b that his knowledge of Ayatul Kursi being the greatest verse was correct. No other verse in the Quran has been specifically designated as the greatest in an authenticated Hadith.
How many times should Ayatul Kursi be recited?
Once after every obligatory prayer for the Jannah promise. Once before sleeping for the angelic guard. Once when entering the home. In the morning and evening adhkar — once each. There is no Hadith that specifies reciting it more than once for most of these purposes, so once is the established Sunnah for each occasion.
Can Ayatul Kursi be used for ruqyah?
Yes. Ayatul Kursi is one of the primary verses used in Islamic ruqyah (spiritual healing). It is recited over water, blown on the body, and recited for protection from evil eye, jinn, and black magic. Scholars recommend it as a core part of any ruqyah practice.
All information verified from the Quran, Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim, An-Nasa'i and authenticated by Al-Albani. Published on ReciteDua.com.