Ayatul Kursi (آية الكرسي)
The Verse of the Throne — Quran 2:255. The greatest verse in the Quran, as described by Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). A shield of divine protection for every Muslim.
ٱللَّهُ لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ٱلْحَىُّ ٱلْقَيُّومُ ۚ لَا تَأْخُذُهُۥ سِنَةٌۭ وَلَا نَوْمٌۭ ۚ لَّهُۥ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۗ مَن ذَا ٱلَّذِى يَشْفَعُ عِندَهُۥٓ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِهِۦ ۚ يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ ۖ وَلَا يُحِيطُونَ بِشَىْءٍۢ مِّنْ عِلْمِهِۦٓ إِلَّا بِمَا شَآءَ ۚ وَسِعَ كُرْسِيُّهُ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ ۖ وَلَا يَـُٔودُهُۥ حِفْظُهُمَا ۚ وَهُوَ ٱلْعَلِىُّ ٱلْعَظِيمُ
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 maa 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.
Why Ayatul Kursi Is the Greatest Verse
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) asked Ubayy ibn Ka'b: "Which verse in the Book of Allah is the greatest?" He replied: "Allah and His Messenger know best." The Prophet repeated the question, and Ubayy answered: "Ayatul Kursi." The Prophet (ﷺ) struck his chest and said: "May knowledge be pleasant for you, O Abu al-Mundhir!" (Sahih Muslim 810)
This verse stands alone among all 6,236 verses of the Quran. It contains ten complete sentences, each describing an attribute of Allah — His oneness, His eternal nature, His sovereignty, His knowledge, and His power. No other single verse captures the essence of Islamic monotheism (Tawhid) so comprehensively.
Virtues & Benefits of Ayatul Kursi
Protection Before Sleep
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: "When you go to bed, recite Ayatul Kursi. Allah will appoint a guardian over you, and no devil will come near you until morning." (Sahih Al-Bukhari 5010)
Gateway to Paradise
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: "Whoever recites Ayatul Kursi after every obligatory prayer, nothing prevents him from entering Paradise except death." (An-Nasa'i, authenticated by Al-Albani)
Protection from Evil
Abu Hurairah narrated that the Prophet (ﷺ) instructed that reciting Ayatul Kursi provides protection from Shaytan and evil spirits throughout the night.
Morning & Evening Shield
Part of the Prophetic morning and evening adhkar (remembrances), Ayatul Kursi serves as a spiritual shield when recited consistently at these blessed times.
When to Recite Ayatul Kursi
- ✦After every obligatory prayer (Fajr, Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib, Isha)
- ✦Before going to sleep — for protection throughout the night
- ✦In the morning adhkar (after Fajr) and evening adhkar (after Asr)
- ✦When leaving the house — for protection during travel
- ✦When feeling afraid, anxious, or in need of Allah's protection
- ✦When performing Ruqyah (spiritual healing)
Key Phrases Explained
ٱلْحَىُّ ٱلْقَيُّومُ
Al-Hayy Al-Qayyum
The Ever-Living, the Sustainer of all existence — two of Allah's greatest names, affirming He has always lived and sustains everything.
لَا تَأْخُذُهُۥ سِنَةٌۭ وَلَا نَوْمٌۭ
Laa ta'khuzuhoo sinatun wa laa nawm
Neither drowsiness nor sleep overtakes Him — Allah is always awake, always aware, always in control.
وَسِعَ كُرْسِيُّهُ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ
Wasi'a Kursiyyuhus-samawaati wal-ard
His Kursi (Throne/Footstool) extends over the heavens and earth — a metaphor for His absolute dominion.
وَهُوَ ٱلْعَلِىُّ ٱلْعَظِيمُ
Wa Huwal 'Aliyyul 'Azeem
And He is the Most High, the Most Great — the verse ends with two divine names summarizing all that came before.