آيَةُ الْكُرْسِيِّ
Ayatul Kursi: Meaning, Benefits, and When to Recite
Revelation
Revealed in Madinah
Verse
Ayah 2:255
Surah No.
Al-Baqarah (2)
Juz
Juz 3
Read the Arabic text of Ayatul Kursi with word-by-word meaning, learn why it is called the greatest verse, and what authentic hadith say about its benefits.
The Arabic Text of Ayatul Kursi
Ayatul Kursi is verse 255 of Surah Al-Baqarah. Here is the full Arabic text with transliteration, English translation, and Urdu translation.
255 اللَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ ۚ لَا تَأْخُذُهُ سِنَةٌ وَلَا نَوْمٌ ۚ لَّهُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ ۗ مَن ذَا الَّذِي يَشْفَعُ عِندَهُ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِهِ ۚ يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ ۖ وَلَا يُحِيطُونَ بِشَيْءٍ مِّنْ عِلْمِهِ إِلَّا بِمَا شَاءَ ۚ وَسِعَ كُرْسِيُّهُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ ۖ وَلَا يَئُودُهُ حِفْظُهُمَا ۚ وَهُوَ الْعَلِيُّ الْعَظِيمُ
2:255 Allahu laaa ilaaha illaa Huwal Haiyul Qaiyoom; laa taakhuzuhoo sinatunw wa laa nawm; lahoo maa fissamaawaati wa maa fil ard; man zal lazee yashfa’u indahooo illaa bi-iznih; ya’lamu maa baina aydeehim wa mww khalfahum wa laa yuheetoona bishai’im min ‘ilmihee illaa bimaa shaaa’; wasi’a Kursiyyuhus samaawaati wal arda wa laa ya’ooduho hifzuhumaa; wa Huwal Aliyyul ‘Azeem
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 Kursi extends over the heavens and the earth, and their preservation tires Him not. And He is the Most High, the Most Great.
اللہ تعالیٰ ہی معبود برحق ہے جس کے سوا کوئی معبود نہیں جو زنده اور سب کا تھامنے واﻻ ہے، جسے نہ اونگھ آئے نہ نیند، اسی کے لیے ہے جو کچھ آسمانوں اور زمین میں ہے۔ کون ہے جو اس کی اجازت کے بغیر اس کے سامنے شفاعت کرسکے، جو کچھ ان کے سامنے ہے اور جو کچھ ان کے پیچھے ہے اسے سب معلوم ہے اور وه اس کے علم میں سے کسی چیز کا احاطہ نہیں کرسکتے مگر جتنا وه چاہے، اس کی کرسی کی وسعت نے زمین وآسمان کو گھیر رکھا ہے اور اللہ تعالیٰ ان کی حفاظت سے نہ تھکتا ہے نہ اکتاتا ہے، وه تو بہت بلند اور بہت بڑا ہے
Word-by-Word Meaning
Breaking Ayatul Kursi down word by word helps you understand exactly what you are reciting. Each phrase of this verse carries a distinct meaning that builds toward the complete picture of God’s power and knowledge.
Why It Is Called the Greatest Verse
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ himself identified Ayatul Kursi as the greatest verse in the Quran. In a hadith recorded in Sahih Muslim, he asked Ubayy ibn Ka’b: “O Abu al-Mundhir, do you know which verse of the Book of Allah is the greatest?” Ubayy replied: “Allah and His Messenger know best.” The Prophet repeated the question, and Ubayy answered: “Ayatul Kursi.” The Prophet struck him on the chest and said: “May knowledge be pleasant for you, O Abu al-Mundhir!” This is the direct basis for the title.
The reason for its greatness is the density of its content. In a single verse, Ayatul Kursi affirms God’s oneness, His eternal life, His sustaining of all existence, His freedom from any weakness, His ownership of the heavens and the earth, His exclusive right to grant intercession, His complete knowledge, and His majesty. No other single verse in the Quran packs this much theology into one passage.
Benefits of Reciting Ayatul Kursi
Authentic hadith describe specific benefits tied to reciting Ayatul Kursi at particular times. These narrations are among the reasons the verse holds such a central place in daily Muslim practice.
After every obligatory prayer: A hadith in Sunan al-Nasa’i (authenticated by scholars including al-Albani) states that whoever recites Ayatul Kursi after every obligatory prayer, nothing stands between him and Paradise except death. This is one of the most frequently cited narrations about the verse and the basis for its place in the post-prayer adhkar.
Before sleep: A hadith in Sahih al-Bukhari (the narration of Abu Hurayrah) describes how a devil came to Abu Hurayrah while he was guarding the zakat alms, and taught him that reciting Ayatul Kursi before sleeping brings protection from Allah and no devil will come near until morning. The Prophet ﷺ confirmed: “He told you the truth, though he is a liar.”
Morning and evening: The verse is part of the morning and evening adhkar, where its recitation is understood to bring protection through the day and night.
When to Recite Ayatul Kursi
Ayatul Kursi is recited in several established contexts. After each of the five daily prayers, it is part of the post-prayer adhkar. Before sleeping, it is recited for protection through the night. In the morning and evening adhkar, it anchors the daily remembrance. It is also recited for ruqyah, spiritual healing and protection, and many people recite it when entering their home or beginning a journey.
FAQ
What does Ayatul Kursi mean in English?
Ayatul Kursi means “the Verse of the Throne” (kursi is often translated as throne, footstool, or seat of authority). The verse describes Allah’s complete power, knowledge, and majesty, affirming that He is the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of all existence, who neither sleeps nor tires, whose knowledge encompasses everything, and whose Kursi extends over the heavens and the earth.
Why is Ayatul Kursi called the greatest verse of the Quran?
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ himself called it the greatest verse, in the hadith of Ubayy ibn Ka’b recorded in Sahih Muslim. Its greatness comes from the density of its content: in one verse it affirms God’s oneness, eternal life, sustaining power, freedom from weakness, ownership of creation, exclusive right of intercession, complete knowledge, and majesty.
When should Ayatul Kursi be recited?
Ayatul Kursi is recited after each of the five daily prayers (based on the hadith in Sunan al-Nasa’i about Paradise), before sleeping (based on the hadith in Sahih al-Bukhari about protection from devils), in the morning and evening adhkar, for ruqyah (spiritual healing), and when entering the home or beginning a journey.
What is the hadith about reciting Ayatul Kursi after every prayer?
A hadith in Sunan al-Nasa’i, authenticated by scholars including al-Albani, states that whoever recites Ayatul Kursi after every obligatory prayer, nothing stands between him and Paradise except death. This narration is the basis for the verse’s central place in the post-prayer adhkar practiced by Muslims worldwide.
Does reciting Ayatul Kursi before sleep protect from devils?
Yes, according to the hadith in Sahih al-Bukhari. When Abu Hurayrah was guarding the zakat alms, a devil came to him and taught him that reciting Ayatul Kursi before sleeping brings Allah’s protection and no devil will approach until morning. The Prophet ﷺ confirmed the truth of this, saying: “He told you the truth, though he is a liar.”
What does “kursi” mean?
The word “kursi” in Arabic means a seat, chair, or footstool. In the context of this verse, scholars have understood it as referring to Allah’s throne or seat of authority extending over the heavens and the earth, a symbol of His complete dominion. Some scholars interpreted it as Allah’s knowledge. The verse itself does not define it further, and classical tafsir discusses both understandings.
Is Ayatul Kursi a surah or a verse?
Ayatul Kursi is a single verse, verse 255 of Surah Al-Baqarah (the second surah of the Quran). The word “ayah” means verse, so “Ayatul Kursi” literally means “the verse of the Kursi.” It is not a surah on its own.
Can Ayatul Kursi be recited for ruqyah?
Yes. Ayatul Kursi is widely recited for ruqyah, the Islamic practice of spiritual healing and protection through Quranic recitation. Its themes of Allah’s complete power and protection, combined with the hadith about protection from devils, make it a central verse in ruqyah practice.
How long is Ayatul Kursi?
Ayatul Kursi is one verse (2:255) but it is a long one, among the longest verses in the Quran. It takes about a minute to recite at a measured pace. Many people memorize it in sections, phrase by phrase, which is easier than trying to learn it all at once.
What is the transliteration of Ayatul Kursi?
The transliteration is: Allahu laaa ilaaha illaa Huwal Haiyul Qaiyoom; laa taakhuzuhoo sinatunw wa laa nawm; lahoo maa fissamaawaati wa maa fil ard; man zal lazee yashfa’u indahooo illaa bi-iznih; ya’lamu maa baina aydeehim wa mww khalfahum wa laa yuheetoona bishai’im min ‘ilmihee illaa bimaa shaaa’; wasi’a Kursiyyuhus samaawaati wal arda wa laa ya’ooduho hifzuhumaa; wa Huwal Aliyyul ‘Azeem. The full text with Arabic, transliteration, English, and Urdu is in the verse card above.
Final Thoughts
Ayatul Kursi packs more theology into a single verse than almost any other passage in the Quran: God’s oneness, His eternal life, His sustaining of all existence, His freedom from weakness, His ownership of creation, His exclusive right of intercession, His complete knowledge, and His majesty over the heavens and the earth. The Prophet ﷺ called it the greatest verse, and the hadith about its recitation after prayer and before sleep give it a living place in daily practice. Memorizing it phrase by phrase, understanding each phrase through the word-by-word breakdown above, and reciting it with the meanings in mind turns a familiar verse into a daily reaffirmation of who God is. Which phrase of Ayatul Kursi speaks most directly to what you need to remember about God today?
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Next: Surah An-Nas, seeking refuge from the whisperer. Or browse every chapter on the Surah Guides hub.
Sources and further reading
- Ayatul Kursi (2:255) on Quran.com, Arabic text with translations and tafsir resources
- Sunnah.com, searchable hadith collections for verifying narrations about the verses
- Al-Baqara 256 (Wikipedia), background and scholarly overview