Ayatul Kursi – The Throne Verse
Read Ayat al-Kursi (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:255) in Arabic, English translation, and transliteration. Listen to the complete MP3 audio, watch video recitations, and discover its meaning and authentic benefits – every source cited from classical hadith and tafsir.
Ayatul Kursi Transliteration in English
Read Ayat al-Kursi in Roman English letters – 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.
Ayatul Kursi in English – 3 Classical Translations
Compare the Throne Verse across three widely used English translations.
Sahih International
“Allah – there is no deity except Him, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of 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.”
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.”
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 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.”
What is Ayatul Kursi?
Ayatul Kursi (Arabic: آية الكرسي) is the 255th verse of Surah Al-Baqarah – the 2nd and longest chapter of the Qur’an. Known in English as “The Throne Verse,” it is universally recognised as the greatest single verse in the Qur’an.
Why is Ayatul Kursi so significant?
In just fifty words of Arabic, this verse contains 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
- Intercession happens only by Allah’s permission
- His infinite knowledge encompasses all time
- The vastness of His Kursi over the heavens and the earth
- Al-‘Aliyy (The Most High) and Al-‘Azim (The Most Great)
Quick Facts
| Arabic Name | آية الكرسي |
| Chapter | Al-Baqarah |
| Verse | 2:255 |
| Revealed | Madinah |
| Words | 50 |
| Theme | Tawhid |
Benefits of Reciting Ayatul Kursi
Every benefit below is rooted in an authentic (sahih) hadith.
The Greatest Verse
The Prophet ﷺ affirmed to Ubayy ibn Ka’b that Ayatul Kursi is the greatest verse in the Book of Allah.
Sahih Muslim 810Protection Until Morning
“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.”
Sahih al-Bukhari 2311Path to Paradise
“Whoever recites Ayatul Kursi after every prescribed prayer, nothing prevents him from entering Paradise except death.”
Sahih . Al-AlbaniShaytan’s Testimony
Shaytan himself admitted in the hadith of Abu Hurairah that Ayatul Kursi provides protection until morning.
Sahih al-Bukhari 2311Affirmation of Tawhid
Imam Ibn Kathir explains it is the greatest verse because it contains the clearest affirmations of Allah’s Oneness and Attributes.
Tafsir Ibn KathirBasis for Ruqyah
Foundational to prophetic ruqyah – recited for protection against evil eye, jinn, and sihr.
IslamQA 14093Word-by-Word Meaning
Understand every Arabic word – transliteration and precise English meaning.
| العربية | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| لَا تَأْخُذُهُ | lā ta’khudhuhu | Does not overtake Him |
| سِنَةٌ | sinatun | Drowsiness |
| وَلَا نَوْمٌ | wa lā nawm | Nor sleep |
| كُرْسِيُّهُ | Kursiyyuhu | His Kursi |
| السَّمَاوَاتِ | as-samāwāti | The heavens |
| وَالْأَرْضَ | wal-arḍ | And the earth |
| الْعَلِيُّ | al-‘Aliyyu | The Most High |
| الْعَظِيمُ | al-‘Aẓīm | The Most Great |
When to Recite Ayatul Kursi
Morning & Evening
Part of the authentic daily adhkar.
After Every Fard Salah
After each of the 5 obligatory prayers.
Before Sleep
An angelic guardian until morning.
Entering the Home
Recommended for household protection.
Ayatul Kursi in 12+ Languages
Common Questions Answered
Every answer sourced from authentic hadith or classical tafsir.
What is Ayatul Kursi?
Ayatul 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 it called the greatest verse of the Qur’an?
The Prophet 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?
(1) Reciting before sleep places a guardian from Allah until morning – Sahih al-Bukhari 2311. (2) It is the greatest verse in the Qur’an. (3) Reciting after every fard salah keeps Paradise within reach.
When should I recite Ayatul Kursi?
Based on the Sunnah: after every obligatory prayer, before going to sleep, during morning and evening adhkar, and when entering the home.
How many times should I read it before sleeping?
Once. In Sahih al-Bukhari 2311, one recitation before sleep is what is authentically established. Additional counts (3, 7, 100) are not in the authentic Sunnah.
Why I Built Ayatulkursi.org
My name is Zakir Mohammed. I embraced Islam in India as an adult. The verse that pulled me across the line was the one this entire site is built around: Ayatul Kursi.
When I first went looking online for a serious resource on the Throne Verse, I was disappointed. Most sites fell into one of two traps. Some were too shallow – a copy-pasted transliteration, one English translation, a wall of ads, and nothing else. Others were too academic – long PDFs written for researchers, not for the millions of new Muslims, reverts, and non-Arabic-speaking believers.
Ayatulkursi.org is the site I wished had existed the day I said shahada. Everything on this homepage – the audio, the three translations, the word-by-word table, the hadith-sourced benefits, the 12-language coverage – reflects one commitment: make the greatest verse of the Qur’an genuinely accessible without dumbing it down.
Every claim on this site is traceable to a primary source: the Qur’an, an authentic hadith collection, or a classical mufassir. We flag weak narrations. We credit translators by name. We keep the language plain.
What this site is not: we are not a fatwa authority, not affiliated with any government or mosque, and we do not accept zakat. For personal religious rulings, please consult a qualified scholar in your local community.
The 5 Questions New Visitors Ask Most
Direct answers drawn from emails we receive at [email protected] every week.
I am new to Islam. Where do I actually start with Ayatul Kursi?
Start with the English meaning. Read one of the three translations on the translation page – Saheeh International is the most accessible for modern English. Once you understand what the verse says about Allah, only then move to the Arabic pronunciation. Understanding first, phonetics second, script third.
Which reciter should I listen to first?
For learning: Sheikh Mishary Rashid Alafasy – measured pace, extremely clear tajwid. For emotional depth: Sheikh Maher Al-Muaiqly of Masjid al-Haram – softer voice, ideal before sleep. For traditional power: Sheikh Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais. Try all three; they suit different moments.
Is it a sin to read Ayatul Kursi in English instead of Arabic?
No, it is not a sin. Reading the English translation is study and remembrance. However, the specific hadith rewards – angelic protection at night, Paradise after fard salah – are tied to reciting in Arabic. Learn the Arabic gradually. Read the English until you can.
How long does it take to memorise the verse?
For an average adult practising 20 minutes daily: 7-14 days for the sounds, another 30 days for the meaning to stick. Break the verse into its 10 phrases. Memorise one phrase per day for a week. Then combine.
Do I have to be in wudu to recite Ayatul Kursi?
Wudu is recommended but not required for reciting as dhikr. You can recite while lying in bed, walking, cooking – any state. Wudu is required for touching a physical mushaf and for formal salah, not for dhikr recitation.
5 Mistakes New Learners Make
Errors we see repeatedly – from reader emails and Sunday classes.
Common for reverts. You memorise phonetics and recite for months without knowing what you are declaring. Fix: read one English translation before you memorise a single Arabic sound.
Reciting 40 times for wealth or 100 times for marriage – none of this is in the authentic Sunnah. The verse is a declaration about Allah’s attributes. Recite for the Sunnah rewards; make your dua in your own words.
Speed defeats tadabbur. Take 25-30 seconds. Pause on Al-Hayy Al-Qayyum. That pause is worth more than five rushed recitations.
A large body of classical scholarship discouraged Qur’anic amulets. The Sunnah is living recitation. If you want protection, recite; do not carry paper.
The Prophet ﷺ said: “Allah has not sent down a disease except that He has sent down a cure for it” – which includes medicine. Recitation complements medical care; it does not replace it.
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Why Ayatul Kursi is the Greatest Verse
Explore the hadith of Ubayy ibn Ka’b in Sahih Muslim 810 and why the Prophet ﷺ emphasised its supremacy.
Abu Hurairah & the Shaytan
The famous incident from Sahih al-Bukhari 2311 where the Shaytan himself confirmed the verse’s protection.
How to Memorize Ayatul Kursi in 7 Days
A proven step-by-step method used in traditional madaris – with audio loops and daily checkpoints.