What is Ayatul Kursi? Ayatul Kursi (Ayat al-Kursi, “the Verse of the Throne”) is verse 255 of Surah Al-Baqarah, the second chapter of the Qur’an. The Prophet ﷺ confirmed that it is the greatest verse in the Book of Allah. It describes Allah’s life, knowledge, power and care for all creation in a single passage, and many Muslims recite it every day.
Ayatul Kursi: The Translation
“Allāh – there is no deity except Him, the Ever-Living, the Self-Sustaining. 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 Kursī extends over the heavens and the earth, and their preservation tires Him not. And He is the Most High, the Most Great.”
— Qur’an 2:255, Saheeh International (quran.com)
To read or listen to the Arabic, open the verse on quran.com, where you can hear a qualified reciter.
The Greatest Verse in the Qur’an
The Prophet ﷺ asked Ubayy bin Ka’b which verse of the Book of Allah was the greatest. Ubayy answered with the opening of Ayatul Kursi, “Allah, there is no god but He, the Living, the Eternal”, and the Prophet ﷺ struck his chest and said, “May knowledge be pleasant for you” (Sahih Muslim 810).
What Ayatul Kursi Teaches
- Tawheed: “there is no deity except Him”. See our guide to Tawheed.
- Al-Hayy, Al-Qayyum: the Ever-Living and Self-Sustaining; explore Al-Hayy and Al-Qayyoom in our 99 Names series.
- Perfect awareness: no drowsiness or sleep overtakes Him.
- Complete ownership and knowledge: everything in the heavens and earth is His, and He knows past and future.
- Effortless care: preserving the heavens and the earth “tires Him not”.
Reciting Ayatul Kursi Before Sleep
In a well-known narration, Abu Hurairah was guarding the zakat collected in Ramadan when he caught someone stealing from the food. The intruder told him: “When you go to your bed, recite Ayat-al-Kursi, (2.255) for then there will be a guard from Allah who will protect you all night long, and no Satan will come near you until the morning” (Sahih al-Bukhari 5010). When Abu Hurairah reported this, the Prophet ﷺ said: “He (who came to you at night) told you the truth although he is a liar; and it was a satan.”
Many families make Ayatul Kursi part of their bedtime routine, alongside the last three surahs of the Qur’an; see our guide to short surahs and duas.
How to Learn Ayatul Kursi
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A Note on Claims You May See Online
- Listen daily. Play a recitation several times a day for a week.
- Learn in phrases. Ayatul Kursi divides naturally into about ten short phrases; learn one or two a day.
- Recite after prayers and before sleep. Regular use fixes it in memory.
- Study the meaning. Knowing what each phrase means makes it easier to remember.
- Check with a teacher. Ask someone who reads well to listen and correct your pronunciation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Ayatul Kursi in the Qur’an?
It is verse 255 of Surah Al-Baqarah (chapter 2).
What does “Kursi” mean?
Kursi is usually translated as “Footstool” or “Throne”. Saheeh International leaves the word as Kursī. Scholars have explained its meaning in their tafsir; it points to the vastness of Allah’s dominion.
The Heart of Ayatul Kursi on Your Wall
Ayatul Kursi opens with the declaration that there is no deity except Allah. Our Shahada calligraphy carries the same testimony.
Explore Ashadu An La ilaha illallah, an digital download supplied as a high-resolution JPEG file for printing at home or at a local print shop; no physical item is shipped. Custom designs can be requested.
