After every prayer · before sleep · morning and evening
When to Recite Ayatul Kursi
The Sunnah gives three times: once after every obligatory prayer, once before you sleep, and once in the morning and evening. Each comes with a promise in an authentic hadith.
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The times at a glance
| When | How many | The promise | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| After each obligatory prayer | Once, 5 times a day | Nothing stands between you and Paradise except death | an-Nasa'i, as-Sunan al-Kubra 9848 (sahih) |
| Before you sleep | Once | A guardian from Allah until morning; no devil comes near | Sahih al-Bukhari 2311 |
| In the morning | Once | Protection until the evening | al-Hakim, at-Tabarani (graded sahih by al-Albani) |
| In the evening | Once | Protection until the morning | al-Hakim, at-Tabarani (graded sahih by al-Albani) |
Ayatul Kursi after salah
The Prophet ﷺ said:
Whoever recites Ayat al-Kursi after every prescribed prayer, nothing prevents him from entering Paradise except death.(an-Nasa’i, as-Sunan al-Kubra 9848; graded sahih by Ibn Hibban and al-Albani.)
- Finish the prayer with the salam.
- Say Astaghfirullah three times and Allahumma antas-salam wa minkas-salam, tabarakta ya dhal-jalali wal-ikram.
- Recite Ayatul Kursi once, quietly, then continue with the other adhkar (SubhanAllah, Alhamdulillah, Allahu akbar).
This is after each of the five obligatory prayers, Fajr, Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib and Isha, wherever you pray them: at the masjid, at home or at work.
Ayatul Kursi before sleep
Recite it once in bed. In Sahih al-Bukhari (2311), the Prophet ﷺ confirmed that whoever does so has a guardian from Allah with him, and no devil comes near him until morning.
The bedtime routine
Ayatul Kursi once, then Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq and An-Nas, blowing lightly into your hands and wiping over your body, three times (Sahih al-Bukhari 5017).
For your children
Recite it near them at bedtime and teach it to them, one line at a time, with the practice tool.
Ayatul Kursi morning and evening
Ubayy ibn Ka’b caught a jinn taking from his dates and asked what protects people from them. The answer was Ayatul Kursi: whoever says it in the evening is protected until morning, and in the morning until evening, and the Prophet ﷺ confirmed it (al-Hakim and at-Tabarani; graded authentic by al-Albani).
After every obligatory prayer
The Prophet ﷺ said that whoever recites it after each obligatory prayer, nothing stands between them and Paradise except death. Recite it once, quietly, after the salam.
al-Nasa'i, al-Sunan al-KubraBefore you sleep
Recite it in bed before sleeping, and a guardian from Allah stays with you and Shaytan cannot come near you until morning.
Sahih al-Bukhari 2311Morning and evening
Many scholars include it in the morning and evening adhkar, so it becomes part of your daily protection.
Part of the daily adhkarQuestions about when to read Ayatul Kursi
What is the hadith about reading Ayatul Kursi after every prayer?
The Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever recites Ayat al-Kursi after every prescribed prayer, nothing prevents him from entering Paradise except death.” It is in an-Nasa’i’s as-Sunan al-Kubra (9848) and was graded sahih by Ibn Hibban and al-Albani.
When exactly do I read it after salah?
After the salam of each of the five obligatory prayers, once, quietly. Many people read it after the first dhikr (Astaghfirullah three times and Allahumma antas-salam); the hadith does not fix its place among the adhkar.
Do I read Ayatul Kursi inside the namaz?
It is not a required part of the prayer. You may recite it as the Quran recitation after al-Fatiha, like any verse, but the virtue in the hadith is for reciting it after the prayer has finished.
Is it only after the fard prayers?
The hadith says “every prescribed prayer”, which scholars understand as the five obligatory prayers. Reading it after sunnah prayers is good too, but the promise is for the obligatory ones.
How many times should I read Ayatul Kursi before bed?
Once is the Sunnah (Sahih al-Bukhari 2311): a guardian from Allah stays with you and no devil comes near you until morning. Many also read the last three surahs, blowing into their hands and wiping over the body, as the Prophet ﷺ did (Sahih al-Bukhari 5017).
Can I recite Ayatul Kursi for my sleeping baby?
Yes. Parents commonly recite it near their children at bedtime, asking Allah to protect them; there is no fixed form for this. Teaching it to them as they grow, so they recite it themselves, is the lasting gift.
Does Ayatul Kursi help with sleep paralysis?
Reciting it before sleep is the Sunnah protection for the night, and many people find comfort in it. Sleep paralysis is also a known sleep condition linked to tiredness and stress; if it keeps happening, it is worth speaking to a doctor as well.
What happens if you read Ayatul Kursi every day?
If you read it after each of the five prayers, before sleep, and morning and evening, you keep all the promises in the authentic hadith: protection by day and by night, and Paradise for the one who keeps it up after every prayer. It is also the greatest verse of the Quran, so it is among the best of daily remembrance.
Can I read it at any other time?
Yes. It is part of the Quran, so you may recite it at any time, as often as you like. The times above are the ones with a specific promise in the authentic hadith.
Is reading it morning and evening authentic?
Yes. In the hadith of Ubayy ibn Ka’b and the jinn, reported by al-Hakim and at-Tabarani and graded authentic by al-Albani, whoever says it in the evening is protected until morning, and in the morning until evening.
Make it part of every day
Edited by Zakir Mohammed
Hadith are quoted with their source and grade. The grades are those of the scholars named beside each; see benefits for every hadith in full.