Ayatul Kursi
آيَةُ الْكُرْسِيِّ
Surah Al-Baqarah (2:255) — The Verse of the Throne
The most recited verse in the Quran • Protection from Shaytan • Gateway to Paradise
Complete Arabic Text
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
Allahu la ilaha illa Huwa, Al-Hayyul-Qayyum. La ta'khuzuhu sinatun wa la nawm. Lahu ma fis-samawati wa ma fil-ard. Man zal-lazi yashfa'u 'indahu illa bi-iznih. 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 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 (Throne) extends over the heavens and the earth, and their preservation tires Him not. And He is the Most High, the Most Great.
Word-by-Word Breakdown
اللَّهُ
Allahu
Allah
لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ
La ilaha illa Huwa
There is no deity except Him
الْحَيُّ
Al-Hayyu
The Ever-Living
الْقَيُّومُ
Al-Qayyum
The Sustainer of all existence
لَا تَأْخُذُهُ سِنَةٌ وَلَا نَوْمٌ
La ta'khuzuhu sinatun wa la nawm
Neither drowsiness overtakes Him nor sleep
لَّهُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ
Lahu ma fis-samawati wa ma fil-ard
To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and earth
مَن ذَا الَّذِي يَشْفَعُ عِندَهُ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِهِ
Man zal-lazi yashfa'u 'indahu illa bi-iznih
Who can intercede with Him except by His permission?
يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ
Ya'lamu ma bayna aydihim wa ma khalfahum
He knows what is before them and what is behind them
وَلَا يُحِيطُونَ بِشَيْءٍ مِّنْ عِلْمِهِ إِلَّا بِمَا شَاءَ
Wa la yuhituna bishay'im-min 'ilmihi illa bima sha'
They encompass nothing of His knowledge except what He wills
وَسِعَ كُرْسِيُّهُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ
Wasi'a kursiyyuhus-samawati wal-ard
His Kursi extends over the heavens and earth
وَلَا يَئُودُهُ حِفْظُهُمَا
Wa la ya'uduhu hifzuhuma
Their preservation tires Him not
وَهُوَ الْعَلِيُّ الْعَظِيمُ
Wa Huwal-'Aliyyul-'Azim
And He is the Most High, the Most Great
10 Benefits of Ayatul Kursi from Hadith
1Protection from Shaytan Until Morning
The Prophet ﷺ said: 'When you go to bed, recite Ayatul Kursi. Then there will remain a guardian over you from Allah and no devil can come near you until morning.'
2Gates of Jannah Opened After Every Prayer
The Prophet ﷺ said: 'Whoever recites Ayatul Kursi after every obligatory prayer, nothing prevents him from entering Paradise except death.'
3The Greatest Verse in the Quran
The Prophet ﷺ asked Ubayy ibn Ka'b: 'Which verse in the Book of Allah is the greatest?' He replied: 'Allah and His Messenger know best.' Then he repeated the question and Ubayy said: 'Ayatul Kursi.' The Prophet ﷺ said: 'Congratulations on your knowledge, O Abu Mundhir!'
4Protection from Evil Eye and Jinn
Ayatul Kursi is one of the most powerful verses for spiritual protection (Ruqyah). It contains the greatest names and attributes of Allah that shield the reciter from harm.
5Part of Morning and Evening Adhkar
Reciting Ayatul Kursi in the morning and evening is part of the Sunnah adhkar that provides divine protection throughout the day and night.
6Protection for Home and Family
When Ayatul Kursi is recited in a house, Shaytan leaves. The verse creates a spiritual barrier of protection for the entire household.
7Intercession from 10 Names of Allah
Ayatul Kursi contains 10 complete sentences, each emphasizing a unique attribute of Allah. These divine names collectively form the most powerful declaration of Tawheed.
8Safety During Travel
Muslim scholars recommend reciting Ayatul Kursi before traveling as a means of seeking Allah's protection during the journey.
9Recitation for the Deceased
Some scholars mention that reciting Ayatul Kursi for the deceased brings them mercy and light in their graves.
10Strengthening Iman (Faith)
Regular recitation of Ayatul Kursi strengthens one's understanding of Tawheed (monotheism) and deepens connection with Allah's attributes of power, knowledge, and sovereignty.
When to Recite Ayatul Kursi
After Every Obligatory Prayer
Recite once after each of the five daily prayers. The Prophet ﷺ said nothing prevents such a person from entering Paradise except death.
Before Sleeping
Recite before going to bed for protection from Shaytan throughout the night until morning.
Morning Adhkar
Include in your morning remembrance after Fajr prayer for protection throughout the day.
Evening Adhkar
Include in your evening remembrance after Asr/Maghrib for protection through the night.
When Entering Your Home
Recite when entering your home to drive away evil and bless your household.
During Ruqyah
Used as one of the primary verses in spiritual healing (Ruqyah) for protection from evil eye and jinn.
When Feeling Afraid
Recite during moments of fear or anxiety to seek Allah's protection and comfort.
Before Travel
Recite before embarking on any journey for Allah's protection during travel.
Tafseer — Phrase-by-Phrase Explanation
اللَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ
This opening declares absolute Tawheed — that Allah alone is the one true God worthy of worship. No idol, person, or creation shares His divinity. This is the foundation of Islamic monotheism and the first pillar of faith.
الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ
Al-Hayy means the Ever-Living — Allah's life has no beginning or end, unlike all creation. Al-Qayyum means the Self-Sustaining who sustains all existence. Everything depends on Him, but He depends on nothing. These are considered among the Greatest Names of Allah (Ism al-A'zam).
لَا تَأْخُذُهُ سِنَةٌ وَلَا نَوْمٌ
Allah is never overcome by drowsiness (sinah — a light sleep) nor deep sleep (nawm). This distinguishes the Creator from all creation. While humans and even angels have limitations, Allah's vigilance over His creation is absolute and unceasing.
لَّهُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ
Everything in the heavens and earth belongs to Allah as His creation and property. This includes every atom, every galaxy, every angel, every human, and every creature. His ownership is complete and absolute.
مَن ذَا الَّذِي يَشْفَعُ عِندَهُ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِهِ
No one — not even the greatest prophets or closest angels — can intercede before Allah except with His permission. This refutes the pagan belief that idols could intercede independently. On the Day of Judgment, intercession (shafa'ah) will only occur when Allah grants it.
يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ
Allah's knowledge encompasses everything — past, present, and future. 'What is before them' refers to the future or the Hereafter, while 'what is behind them' refers to the past or this worldly life. Nothing is hidden from Allah.
وَلَا يُحِيطُونَ بِشَيْءٍ مِّنْ عِلْمِهِ إِلَّا بِمَا شَاءَ
Created beings cannot grasp any of Allah's knowledge except what He chooses to reveal. All human knowledge — science, philosophy, revelation — is only what Allah has permitted us to know. His knowledge is infinite while ours is finite.
وَسِعَ كُرْسِيُّهُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ
The Kursi (often translated as Throne or Footstool) extends over the entire heavens and earth. Ibn Abbas (RA) said: 'The Kursi is the footstool, and no one can estimate the greatness of the Arsh (Throne).' This illustrates the incomprehensible vastness of Allah's dominion.
وَلَا يَئُودُهُ حِفْظُهُمَا
Preserving and sustaining the heavens and earth does not burden Allah in the slightest. While maintaining even a small household exhausts humans, Allah effortlessly maintains the entire universe with all its complexity.
وَهُوَ الْعَلِيُّ الْعَظِيمُ
Al-'Aliyy (the Most High) means Allah is exalted above all creation in His essence, His attributes, and His power. Al-'Azim (the Most Great) means His greatness is beyond human comprehension. This concluding phrase summarizes the entire verse — Allah is supremely above and incomparably great.