Ayat Al-Kursi — The Greatest Verse in the Holy Quran (Hafs)

About Ayat Al-Kursi

Ayat Al-Kursi is verse number 255 of Surah Al-Baqarah, in the third juz’ of the Holy Quran. It is the greatest verse in the Book of Allah, as authentically reported from the Prophet ﷺ in the hadith narrated by Muslim from Ubayy ibn Ka‘b (may Allah be pleased with him).

It is called Ayat Al-Kursi because of the mention of the Kursi within it, in Allah’s words «Wasi‘a kursiyyuhu as-samawati wal-ard». This great verse contains many of Allah’s most beautiful names and lofty attributes, which makes it a comprehensive verse on the foundations of tawhid.

The text shown on this page is the narration of Hafs ‘an ‘Asim, the reading used in most of the Muslim world, in the Uthmani script that follows the Madinah mushaf.

The virtue of Ayat Al-Kursi

1. The greatest verse in the Book of Allah

Ubayy ibn Ka‘b (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “O Abu al-Mundhir, do you know which verse from the Book of Allah that you have is the greatest?” I said: “Allah and His Messenger know best.” He said: “O Abu al-Mundhir, do you know which verse from the Book of Allah that you have is the greatest?” I said: “Allahu la ilaha illa huwa al-hayyul-qayyum.” He struck me on the chest and said: “By Allah, may knowledge bring you joy, O Abu al-Mundhir.” (Reported by Muslim.)

2. A cause for entering Paradise — recited after every prayer

Abu Umamah al-Bahili (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Whoever recites Ayat Al-Kursi at the end of every obligatory prayer, nothing keeps him from entering Paradise except death.” (Reported by An-Nasa’i in al-Kubra, and graded sahih by Ibn Hibban, Ibn ‘Abd al-Barr and Al-Albani.) Whoever maintains it after every prayer has a door of the doors of Paradise opened for him.

3. Protection from Shaytan until morning

In Sahih al-Bukhari, in the story of Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) with Shaytan when he was guarding the zakat of Ramadan, Shaytan told him: “When you go to your bed, recite Ayat Al-Kursi, and a guardian from Allah will remain with you, and no shaytan will come near you until morning.” The Messenger of Allah ﷺ then said: “He told you the truth, even though he is a liar.” (Reported by Al-Bukhari.) It is a great protection for whoever reads it before sleep.

The meanings of Ayat Al-Kursi

﴿ اللَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ ﴾

The verse opens with the greatest name of Allah, and with “La ilaha illa huwa” — the affirmation of tawhid. “Al-Hayy”: the One whose life is complete, who is not touched by death or deficiency. “Al-Qayyum”: the One who subsists by Himself and upholds everything else, by whom all existing things stand.

﴿ لَا تَأْخُذُهُ سِنَةٌ وَلَا نَوْمٌ ﴾

“Sinah” is drowsiness, the beginning of sleep. Allah is far above being touched by drowsiness or sleep, because that is among the necessary marks of weakness, and He is the Ever-Living who does not die, the Eternal who encompasses everything.

﴿ لَهُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ ﴾

Everyone in the heavens and the earth is owned by Allah, managed by His command. No one possesses anything alongside Him except what He has given them.

﴿ مَنْ ذَا الَّذِي يَشْفَعُ عِنْدَهُ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِهِ ﴾

No one has the power to intercede on the Day of Judgment except by Allah’s permission. A reminder of the magnificence of Allah and that there is no refuge from Him except in Him.

﴿ يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ ﴾

Allah’s knowledge encompasses what is before His creation (the future) and what is behind them (the past). Nothing hidden — in this world or the hereafter — is concealed from Him.

﴿ وَلَا يُحِيطُونَ بِشَيْءٍ مِّنْ عِلْمِهِ إِلَّا بِمَا شَاءَ ﴾

The creation knows nothing of Allah’s knowledge except what He wills to disclose to them. His knowledge is unlimited, and what the creation knows is a drop from the ocean of His knowledge.

﴿ وَسِعَ كُرْسِيُّهُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ ﴾

The Kursi is one of Allah’s great creations. Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) said: “The Kursi is the place of the two feet.” The heavens and the earth in relation to the Kursi are like a ring thrown into a vast desert. A statement of the magnificence of Allah’s dominion.

﴿ وَلَا يَئُودُهُ حِفْظُهُمَا ۚ وَهُوَ الْعَلِيُّ الْعَظِيمُ ﴾

Preserving the heavens and the earth does not weigh on Him or weary Him. The verse closes with two great names: “Al-‘Aliyy” — the absolutely Most High in essence, in stature and in power — and “Al-‘Adheem” — the perfection of magnificence in His essence and attributes.

When is Ayat Al-Kursi recited?

After every obligatory prayer — a cause for entering Paradise.
Before sleep — protection from Shaytan until morning.
Within the morning and evening adhkar — for Allah’s preservation through your day.
In the prescribed ruqyah — for oneself or for the sick.
In times of fear, seeking Allah’s protection.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Ayat Al-Kursi in the Holy Quran?

Ayat Al-Kursi is verse number 255 of Surah Al-Baqarah, the second surah in the order of the mushaf. It falls in the third juz’ of the Holy Quran.

Why is it called Ayat Al-Kursi?

It is called Ayat Al-Kursi (“the Verse of the Footstool”) because of the mention of the Kursi within it, in Allah’s words «Wasi‘a kursiyyuhu as-samawati wal-ard» — “His Footstool extends over the heavens and the earth.” The Kursi is one of Allah’s great creations. Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) said: “The Kursi is the place of the two feet, and the ‘Arsh — none can comprehend its scale except Allah, the Mighty and Majestic.”

Why is Ayat Al-Kursi considered the greatest verse in the Quran?

It is authentically reported in the hadith narrated by Muslim from Ubayy ibn Ka‘b (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet ﷺ said to him: “O Abu al-Mundhir, do you know which verse from the Book of Allah that you have is the greatest?” He said: “Allah and His Messenger know best.” He said: “O Abu al-Mundhir, do you know which verse from the Book of Allah that you have is the greatest?” He said: “Allahu la ilaha illa huwa al-hayyul-qayyum.” He struck me on the chest and said: “By Allah, may knowledge bring you joy, O Abu al-Mundhir.” Its greatness is because it gathers the chief names and attributes of Allah and the affirmation of His oneness.

What is the virtue of reciting Ayat Al-Kursi after every prayer?

Abu Umamah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever recites Ayat Al-Kursi at the end of every obligatory prayer, nothing keeps him from entering Paradise except death.” (Reported by An-Nasa’i in al-Kubra, and graded sahih by Ibn Hibban and Al-Albani.) This is a great virtue for reciting it after the five daily prayers.

What is the virtue of reciting Ayat Al-Kursi before sleep?

It is established in Sahih al-Bukhari that Shaytan came to Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) to steal from the zakat of Fitr, and he told him that if he went to his bed and recited Ayat Al-Kursi, a guardian from Allah would remain with him and no shaytan would come near him until morning. The Prophet ﷺ said to him: “He told you the truth, even though he is a liar.” So Ayat Al-Kursi is a protection from Shaytan throughout the night, by Allah’s permission.

Which names and attributes of Allah are mentioned in Ayat Al-Kursi?

Ayat Al-Kursi contains seventeen places mentioning Allah’s attributes, names, or actions, including: (1) “Allah” — His greatest name, (2) “La ilaha illa huwa” — the affirmation of His exclusive right to worship, (3) “Al-Hayy” — the perfection of life, (4) “Al-Qayyum” — the perfection of His upholding the affairs of His creation, (5) “Slumber does not overtake Him, nor sleep,” (6) “To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and the earth,” (7) “Al-‘Aliyy al-‘Adheem” — the Most High, the Most Great. This is why this verse is so great in the eyes of the scholars.

What does “Slumber does not overtake Him, nor sleep” mean?

“Slumber” (sinah) is drowsiness — the beginning of sleep — and “sleep” (nawm) is being deeply asleep. The verse negates both from Allah, because sleep is a deficiency and a weakness, and Allah is far above any deficiency. He is the Ever-Living, the Self-Subsisting, who does not turn away from His creation for the blink of an eye.

What does “His Footstool extends over the heavens and the earth” mean?

Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) said: “The Kursi is the place of the two feet,” and it is one of Allah’s greatest creations. The seven heavens and the earth in relation to the Kursi are like a ring thrown into a vast desert, and the Kursi in relation to the ‘Arsh is the same. “His Footstool extends” — that is, the Kursi encompasses both the heavens and the earth — which points to the magnificence of Allah and the perfection of His dominion.

When are the best times to recite Ayat Al-Kursi?

It is recommended to recite it: (1) after every obligatory prayer, (2) before sleep as a protection from Shaytan, (3) within the morning and evening adhkar, (4) when reciting the prescribed ruqyah. There is no harm in reading it at any time, given the greatness of its reward.

Which recitation is the text on this page based on?

The text shown on this page is the narration of Hafs ‘an ‘Asim — the most widely used reading in the Muslim world — written in the Uthmani script that follows the Madinah mushaf.

What is the virtue of reading Ayat Al-Kursi together with the verses after it (255–257)?

The two verses that follow Ayat Al-Kursi (256 “There is no compulsion in religion” and 257 “Allah is the Protector of those who believe”) complete the meanings of tawhid and Allah’s guardianship. It has been reported that whoever recites the three verses together attains a great reward. You can read them all below.