⭐ The Greatest Verse of the Qur’an
Ayatul Kursi — The Throne Verse
Read Ayat al-Kursi (Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 2:255) in Arabic, English translation, and transliteration. Listen to the complete MP3 audio recitation, watch beautiful video recitations, and discover its meaning and authentic benefits — sourced from classical hadith.
Surah Al-Baqarah
٢:٢٥٥
اللَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ ۚ لَا تَأْخُذُهُ سِنَةٌ وَلَا نَوْمٌ ۚ لَهُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ ۗ مَنْ ذَا الَّذِي يَشْفَعُ عِنْدَهُ 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
Classical TafsirIbn Kathir, Al-Tabari & Al-Qurtubi
Authentic HadithSahih al-Bukhari & Sahih Muslim
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Pronunciation Guide
Ayatul Kursi Transliteration in English
Read Ayat al-Kursi in Roman English letters — ideal for those who cannot yet read the Arabic script. Follow along with the audio to perfect your pronunciation.
Allāhu lā ilāha illā huwa, al-Ḥayyul-Qayyūm.
Lā ta’khudhuhu sinatun wa lā nawm.
Lahū mā fis-samāwāti wa mā fil-arḍ.
Man dhal-ladhī yashfa’u ‘indahū illā bi-idhnih?
Ya’lamu mā bayna aydīhim wa mā khalfahum,
wa lā yuḥīṭūna bi-shay’im-min ‘ilmihī illā bimā shā’.
Wasi’a kursiyyuhus-samāwāti wal-arḍ,
wa lā ya’ūduhu ḥifẓuhumā, wa huwal-‘Aliyyul-‘Aẓīm.
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Authentic English Translation
Ayatul Kursi in English — 3 Classical Translations
Compare the Throne Verse across three of the most widely used English translations of the Qur’an.
Most Recommended
Sahih International
“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.”
Classical
Marmaduke Pickthall
“Allah! There is no deity save Him, the Alive, the Eternal. Neither slumber nor sleep overtaketh Him. Unto Him belongeth whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is in the earth. Who is he that intercedeth with Him save by His leave? He knoweth that which is in front of them and that which is behind them, while they encompass nothing of His knowledge save what He will. His throne includeth the heavens and the earth, and He is never weary of preserving them. He is the Sublime, the Tremendous.”
Traditional
Abdullah Yusuf Ali
“Allah! There is no god but He — the Living, the Self-subsisting, the Eternal. No slumber can seize Him nor sleep. His are all things in the heavens and on earth. Who is there that can intercede in His presence except as He permitteth? He knoweth what appeareth to His creatures as before or after or behind them. Nor shall they compass aught of His knowledge except as He willeth. His Throne doth extend over the heavens and the earth, and He feeleth no fatigue in guarding and preserving them, for He is the Most High, the Supreme.”
All three translations hosted on Quran.com (verse 2:255).
The Meaning
What is Ayatul Kursi?
Ayatul Kursi (Arabic: آية الكرسي), also written as Ayat al-Kursi, is the 255th verse of Surah Al-Baqarah — the 2nd and longest chapter of the Holy Qur’an. Known in English as “The Throne Verse,” it is universally recognised as the greatest single verse in the Qur’an.
The name Ayat al-Kursi literally means “The Verse of the Footstool (Kursi),” referring to the Arabic word Kursi (كرسي) that appears within the verse itself — describing the vast dominion of Allah ﷻ that extends over the entire heavens and the earth.
Why is Ayatul Kursi so significant?
In just fifty words of Arabic, this single verse contains some of the most profound affirmations of Islamic theology (aqidah):
- Tawhid — the absolute oneness of Allah
- Al-Hayy, Al-Qayyum — He is the Ever-Living, the Self-Sustaining
- Allah transcends all creaturely weakness — He neither slumbers nor sleeps
- Absolute ownership of everything in the heavens and the earth
- The reality of intercession — it happens only by Allah’s permission
- The infinite knowledge of Allah that encompasses all time
- The vastness of His Kursi (Footstool) over the heavens and the earth
- His supreme attributes — Al-‘Aliyy (The Most High) and Al-‘Azim (The Most Great)
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: ‘O Abul-Mundhir! Do you know which verse of the Book of Allah that you have is the greatest?’ I said: ‘Allah — there is no deity except Him, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of existence.’ He struck me on the chest and said: ‘By Allah, may knowledge be pleasant for you, O Abul-Mundhir.'”
— Narrated by Ubayy ibn Ka’b · Sahih Muslim 810 →Classical commentary on this verse is preserved in Tafsir Ibn Kathir by Imam Ismail ibn Kathir (d. 1373 CE), one of the most widely relied-upon tafsirs in the Muslim world.
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Quick Facts — Ayatul Kursi
| Arabic Name | آية الكرسي |
| Chapter | Surah Al-Baqarah |
| Verse | 2:255 |
| Revealed In | Madinah (Madani) |
| Word Count | 50 words |
| Theme | Tawhid & Sovereignty |
Fadha’il — Virtues
Benefits of Reciting Ayatul Kursi
Every benefit below is rooted in an authentic (sahih) hadith.
1
The Greatest Verse in the Qur’an
The Prophet ﷺ affirmed to Ubayy ibn Ka’b (RA) that Ayatul Kursi is the greatest verse in the Book of Allah.
Sahih Muslim 8102
Protection from Shaytan Until Morning
The Prophet ﷺ said: “When you go to bed, recite Ayat al-Kursi. A guardian from Allah will stay with you, and no devil will come near you until morning.” (Narrated by Abu Hurairah RA)
Sahih al-Bukhari 23113
A Path to Paradise After Every Salah
“Whoever recites Ayatul Kursi immediately after every prescribed prayer, nothing will prevent him from entering Paradise except death.” — narrated by Abu Umamah (RA); reported by an-Nasa’i in Amal al-Yawm wa al-Laylah and graded sahih by Shaykh al-Albani in Silsilah as-Sahihah 972.
Sahih · Graded by al-Albani4
Shaytan’s Own Testimony
In the hadith of Abu Hurairah (RA), the shaytan himself admitted that reciting Ayat al-Kursi before sleep places a guardian from Allah over the reciter — this narration was confirmed by the Prophet ﷺ.
Sahih al-Bukhari 23115
Affirmation of Tawhid
Imam Ibn Kathir (d. 1373) explains that Ayatul Kursi is the greatest verse because it contains the clearest affirmations of Allah’s Oneness, Lordship, and Divine Names & Attributes — all within a single verse.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir6
Recited for Ruqyah (Spiritual Healing)
Ayatul Kursi is foundational to the prophetic ruqyah — recited for protection against evil eye, jinn, and black magic. This was the established practice of the Companions themselves.
IslamQA Fatwa 14093
Deep Understanding
Word-by-Word Meaning of Ayatul Kursi
Understand every Arabic word of the Throne Verse — its transliteration and precise English meaning.
| العربية | Transliteration | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| اللَّهُ | Allāhu | Allah |
| لَا إِلَٰهَ | lā ilāha | There is no god |
| إِلَّا هُوَ | illā huwa | Except Him |
| الْحَيُّ | al-Ḥayyu | The Ever-Living |
| الْقَيُّومُ | al-Qayyūm | The Sustainer of all existence |
| لَا تَأْخُذُهُ | lā ta’khudhuhu | Does not overtake Him |
| سِنَةٌ | sinatun | Drowsiness |
| وَلَا نَوْمٌ | wa lā nawm | Nor sleep |
| كُرْسِيُّهُ | Kursiyyuhu | His Kursi (Footstool) |
| السَّمَاوَاتِ | as-samāwāti | The heavens |
| وَالْأَرْضَ | wal-arḍ | And the earth |
| الْعَلِيُّ | al-‘Aliyyu | The Most High |
| الْعَظِيمُ | al-‘Aẓīm | The Most Great |
From the Sunnah
When to Recite Ayatul Kursi
Based on authentic hadith from Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim.
Morning & Evening
Part of the authentic morning and evening adhkar (daily remembrance).
After Every Fard Salah
After each of the 5 obligatory prayers — a pathway to Paradise.
Before Sleep
An angelic guardian is appointed until morning (Sahih al-Bukhari 2311).
Entering the Home
A recommended practice for protection of the household.
Audio Recitation
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Frequently Asked Questions
Ayatul Kursi — Common Questions Answered
Every answer below is sourced from authentic hadith or classical tafsir.
What is Ayatul Kursi?
Ayatul Kursi (Ayat al-Kursi) is the 255th verse of Surah Al-Baqarah, the 2nd chapter of the Qur’an. Known as “The Throne Verse,” it is described as the greatest verse of the Book of Allah in Sahih Muslim 810.
Why is Ayatul Kursi called the greatest verse of the Qur’an?
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ asked Ubayy ibn Ka’b which verse of the Book of Allah was the greatest. When Ubayy answered “Ayatul Kursi,” the Prophet ﷺ struck him affectionately on the chest and said: “By Allah, may knowledge be pleasant for you, O Abul-Mundhir!”
What are the benefits of reciting Ayatul Kursi?
The two most authentically established benefits are: (1) Reciting it before sleep places a guardian from Allah over the reciter, and no devil comes near him until morning — Sahih al-Bukhari 2311; (2) It is the greatest verse in the Book of Allah.
When should I recite Ayatul Kursi?
Based on the authentic sunnah: after every obligatory (fard) prayer, before going to sleep, during morning and evening adhkar, and when entering the home.
What does Ayatul Kursi mean in English?
Ayatul Kursi describes Allah’s absolute sovereignty. It affirms His oneness (tawhid), that He is Al-Hayy (The Ever-Living) and Al-Qayyum (The Sustainer), that He is free from drowsiness and sleep, that everything in the heavens and earth belongs to Him, and that His Kursi extends over the heavens and the earth.
Is Ayatul Kursi used for ruqyah (spiritual healing)?
Yes. Ayatul Kursi is a foundational verse in the authentic prophetic ruqyah — recited for protection against the evil eye, jinn possession, and black magic (sihr). Read more at IslamQA Fatwa 14093.
Can non-Muslims recite Ayatul Kursi?
Yes. The Qur’an is a universal message. Non-Muslims can read, recite, and study Ayatul Kursi — the verse itself is a powerful invitation to reflect upon the oneness of Allah.
How many times should I read Ayatul Kursi before sleeping?
Once. According to the hadith of Abu Hurairah (RA) in Sahih al-Bukhari 2311, reciting Ayatul Kursi one time before sleep is what is authentically established. Additional fixed counts (3, 7, 100 times) are not authentically narrated from the Prophet ﷺ.
Where can I download Ayatul Kursi MP3 for free?
You can download the Ayatul Kursi Full Beautiful Recitation MP3 for free directly from this page — click any play button, or use the direct download link in the Download Center.
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From Our Blog
Learn More About the Throne Verse
Deep-dive articles on the meaning, authentic benefits, and practice of Ayatul Kursi.
Why Ayatul Kursi is Called the Greatest Verse
Explore the hadith of Ubayy ibn Ka’b in Sahih Muslim 810 and why the Prophet ﷺ emphasised the supremacy of this single verse.
Abu Hurairah & the Shaytan — The Hadith Explained
The famous incident from Sahih al-Bukhari 2311 where the Shaytan himself admitted that Ayatul Kursi protects from evil.
How to Memorize Ayatul Kursi in 7 Days
A proven step-by-step method used in traditional madaris — with audio loops, visual aids, and daily checkpoints.