Ayat Kursi: the greatest verse in the Quran.

Ayat Kursi ("the Verse of the Throne") is verse 255 of Surah Al-Baqarah. In ten short clauses it sets out the foundation of tawhid: Allah is the only deity, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer, never overcome by drowsiness or sleep, whose knowledge encompasses all things, whose throne extends over the heavens and the earth, and whose preservation of them never wearies Him. The Prophet ﷺ called it the greatest verse in the Book of Allah, attached a remarkable reward to its daily recitation, and made it a key part of bedtime adhkar.

This guide gives you the full Arabic, transliteration, English meaning, a clause-by-clause breakdown, the authentic hadith on its virtues, and the specific times the Prophet ﷺ recommended reciting it.

What is Ayat Kursi?

Ayat Kursi (Arabic: آية الكرسي) is the 255th verse of Surah Al-Baqarah, the second and longest chapter of the Quran. The name means "the Verse of the Throne," referring to its central phrase: "His Kursi extends over the heavens and the earth." Scholars including Ibn Abbas (RA) explained the Kursi as Allah's footstool: a created reality vastly greater than the heavens and earth, beneath the even greater Throne ('Arsh).

The verse stands alone as a complete tawhid statement. In ten brief clauses it affirms Allah's oneness, His perfect attributes of life and self-sustenance, His unique knowledge, His sovereignty over all creation, and the limits of every other being before Him. The Prophet ﷺ singled it out from the entire Quran when asked which verse was the greatest.

The Arabic text (with translation and transliteration)

اللَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ ۚ لَا تَأْخُذُهُ سِنَةٌ وَلَا نَوْمٌ ۚ لَهُ 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

Quran 2:255, Surah Al-Baqarah

Transliteration:

Allahu la ilaha illa huwa, al-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'in min 'ilmihi illa bi-ma sha'. Wasi'a kursiyyuhus-samawati wal-ard, wa la ya'uduhu hifzuhuma, wa huwal-'Aliyyul-'Azim.

English meaning:

"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 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."

Meaning: clause by clause

The verse contains ten distinct clauses, each unveiling an attribute of Allah:

In a single verse, the Quran sets out Allah's exclusivity (1), His eternal life (2), His self-sufficiency and the dependence of all creation upon Him (3), His unceasing attention (4), His ownership (5), the limits of intercession (6), the depth of His knowledge (7–8), the vastness of His sovereignty (9), and His ultimate exaltedness (10). This compressed depth is why the Prophet ﷺ called it the greatest verse.

The virtues: what the Prophet ﷺ said

The greatest verse in the Quran

Ubayy ibn Ka'b (RA) reported that the Prophet ﷺ said:

"O Abu Mundhir, do you know which verse from the Book of Allah is the greatest?" I said: "Allah and His Messenger know best." He said: "O Abu Mundhir, do you know which verse from the Book of Allah is the greatest?" I said: "Allah, there is no deity except Him, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of all existence", meaning Ayat Kursi. He patted my chest and said: "May knowledge be made easy for you, Abu Mundhir."

Sahih Muslim 810, see also Sahih al-Bukhari 5010

After every fard prayer: Paradise

Abu Umamah (RA) reported the Prophet ﷺ said:

"Whoever recites Ayat Kursi at the end of every prescribed prayer, nothing prevents him from entering Paradise except death."

Sunan an-Nasa'i Al-Kubra 9928, authenticated by Ibn Hibban, Al-Mundhiri, and Shaykh Al-Albani

This means after each of the five daily fard prayers (Fajr, Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib, and Isha), recite Ayat Kursi once. Combined with the regular adhkar (the tasbih of 33-33-34, the three "quls" after Fajr and Maghrib), this becomes a complete after-salah practice.

Before sleep: protection from shaytan

Abu Hurayrah (RA) reported a remarkable story preserved in Sahih al-Bukhari about a person who came to steal from the zakat al-fitr Abu Hurayrah was guarding. When confronted three times, the thief eventually said: "If you go to your bed, recite Ayat Kursi. A guardian from Allah will be appointed for you, and shaytan will not come near you until morning." When Abu Hurayrah reported this to the Prophet ﷺ, he ﷺ said: "He has told you the truth, though he is a liar. That was Shaytan."

"When you go to your bed, recite Ayat Kursi. A guardian from Allah will continue to protect you, and shaytan will not come near you until morning."

Sahih al-Bukhari 2311

This is the basis for the universal practice of reciting Ayat Kursi every night before sleep.

When to recite

The Prophet ﷺ established specific occasions. A simple daily schedule:

The minimum daily prescribed sunnah is 6 recitations: one after each of the five fard prayers + once before sleep. Adding morning and evening adhkar makes 8. None of this takes more than a minute or two. The reward, a path that leads to Paradise with only death intervening, is among the greatest promises attached to any single act in the sunnah.

Common questions about practice

Should I recite it before or after the after-salah tasbih?

Sequence is not strictly fixed in the hadith. Most scholars recommend reciting Ayat Kursi immediately after the salam, then proceeding to the standard tasbih (SubhanAllah 33, Alhamdulillah 33, Allahu Akbar 34) and the three quls. Others reverse the order. Both are valid.

Out loud or silently?

Silently is the standard for after-salah adhkar. If others are nearby praying or beginning their sunnah, do not disturb them with audible recitation.

Can I recite it while lying in bed?

Yes, the hadith on bedtime recitation does not require a specific posture. Many recite it while already in bed, eyes closing.

Does the reward apply to women?

Yes, the address is to all believers. Women and men both receive the full reward of these recitations.

FAQ

What surah is Ayat Kursi in?

Surah Al-Baqarah, chapter 2 of the Quran. Specifically, verse 255 (Quran 2:255).

When should I recite Ayat Kursi?

After each of the five fard prayers (Sunan an-Nasa'i Al-Kubra 9928), before sleep (Sahih al-Bukhari 2311), and in the morning and evening adhkar. A minimum sunnah practice is 6 times daily.

How many times should I recite Ayat Kursi a day?

The Prophet ﷺ specified 6 occasions: after each fard prayer (5 times) and before sleep (1 time). Adding morning and evening adhkar brings it to 8. More is permitted; none of it should become a burden.

What does Ayat Kursi protect from?

From shaytan throughout the night when recited before sleep (Bukhari 2311). After every fard prayer it places the reciter on a path leading to Paradise with only death intervening (Nasa'i Al-Kubra 9928).

Is it bid'ah to recite Ayat Kursi after every prayer?

No, it is established sunnah, authenticated by Ibn Hibban, Al-Mundhiri, and Shaykh Al-Albani from Sunan an-Nasa'i Al-Kubra 9928. Practiced across all four Sunni schools.

Can I recite Ayat Kursi in English or another language?

The reward of Quran recitation attaches specifically to the Arabic text. Read translation for meaning, recite Arabic for reward. The verse is short, learn it.