Ayat ul Kursi: Arabic, Transliteration, Translation & Benefits

By the Editorial Team · reviewed against our sources · updated September 2026 · guidance, not a fatwa

Transliteration: Allahu la ilaha illa Huwa, al-Hayyul-Qayyum. La ta’khudhuhu sinatun wa la nawm. Lahu ma fis-samawati wa ma fil-ard. Man dhal-ladhi yashfa’u ‘indahu illa bi-idhnih. Ya’lamu ma bayna aydihim wa ma khalfahum, wa la yuhituna bi-shay’in min ‘ilmihi illa bima sha’a. Wasi’a kursiyyuhus-samawati wal-ard, wa la ya’uduhu hifzuhuma, wa Huwal-‘Aliyyul-‘Azim.

Translation (meaning): “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 nothing 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.” (This is one well-known meaning-based rendering; it is not the only valid translation.)

This is Surah al-Baqarah (chapter 2), verse 255. Always recite from, or verify against, a certified mushaf, and learn correct recitation (tajwid) from a qualified teacher.

What Ayat ul Kursi is and where it is in the Qur’an

Ayat ul Kursi is the 255th verse of Surah al-Baqarah (“The Cow”), the longest chapter of the Qur’an and the second in order of the mushaf. Although the surah is very long, this one verse stands out and is memorised on its own by millions of Muslims around the world. Its popular English name, the “Verse of the Throne” (or “Footstool”), reflects the word Kursi that appears within it.

When people search for “ayatul kursi” or “ayat ul kursi,” they are almost always referring to this single ayah rather than to a chapter. It is important to understand this location clearly: it sits within Surah al-Baqarah and is read in the context of the surrounding verses, even though it is often recited independently in daily worship and remembrance.

Meaning, phrase by phrase

The verse moves through several connected themes. Below is a plain-language explanation of what each part conveys. This is a general reflection on the meaning of the words themselves; for detailed interpretation, consult recognised works of tafsir and qualified scholars.

• Allah — there is no deity except Him: an unambiguous statement of tawhid, that only Allah is worthy of worship and nothing shares in His divinity.
• The Ever-Living (al-Hayy), the Sustainer (al-Qayyum): two of Allah’s names. He is eternally alive, and He maintains and upholds all of creation; everything depends on Him while He depends on nothing.
• Neither drowsiness nor sleep overtakes Him: a negation of any weakness or need. His sustaining of the universe is never interrupted.
• To Him belongs all that is in the heavens and the earth: complete ownership and sovereignty over everything that exists.
• Who can intercede except by His permission?: intercession happens only with His leave, underscoring that ultimate authority belongs to Him alone.
• He knows what is before them and behind them: His knowledge encompasses the past, the present and the future, while created beings grasp only what He wills to disclose.
• His Kursi extends over the heavens and the earth: an expression of His vast majesty and dominion. Scholars have discussed the precise meaning of Kursi in the tafsir literature; the verse itself conveys immense greatness.
• Their preservation does not tire Him; He is the Most High, the Most Great: guarding all of creation is effortless for Him, and the verse closes by exalting Him as al-‘Ali (the Most High) and al-‘Azim (the Most Great).

Read together, these phrases build a portrait of Allah’s oneness, His life and sustaining power, His total ownership and knowledge, and His transcendent greatness — which is why the verse is so beloved and so frequently recited.

Its status and virtues

Ayat ul Kursi holds a high place in Islamic devotion. In an authentic narration recorded in the collection of Sahih Muslim, it is described as one of the greatest verses of the Qur’an. Other authentic narrations, found in the major hadith collections, mention the merit of reciting it — for example after the obligatory prayers and at bedtime. Because the exact wording, chains and gradings of hadith matter, readers are encouraged to look these narrations up in the primary sources rather than rely on paraphrases circulated online.

What can be said clearly is that the verse’s virtue is tied to its magnificent meaning: it is a concentrated declaration of tawhid and of Allah’s attributes. Reciting it thoughtfully is both an act of remembrance (dhikr) and a means of reflecting on who Allah is.

When Muslims recite it

There are several well-established times when Muslims commonly recite Ayat ul Kursi:

• After each of the five daily prayers (salah): a widely practised habit supported by authentic narrations about its merit.
• Before sleeping: many Muslims recite it as part of their night-time routine.
• In the morning and evening remembrances (adhkar): it is often included among the daily supplications.
• For seeking protection: it is frequently recited when a person seeks Allah’s protection, while remembering that all benefit and protection come from Allah alone.

These are customary times drawn from the practice of Muslims and from narrations about the verse; they are not obligations, and intentions should always be directed sincerely to Allah.

How to memorise it

Because it is a single verse, Ayat ul Kursi is very achievable to memorise if you break it into parts. A practical approach:

• Part 1: “Allahu la ilaha illa Huwa, al-Hayyul-Qayyum” — the opening declaration.
• Part 2: “La ta’khudhuhu sinatun wa la nawm” — no drowsiness or sleep.
• Part 3: “Lahu ma fis-samawati wa ma fil-ard” — ownership of the heavens and earth.
• Part 4: “Man dhal-ladhi yashfa’u ‘indahu illa bi-idhnih” — intercession by His permission.
• Part 5: “Ya’lamu ma bayna aydihim wa ma khalfahum…” — His encompassing knowledge.
• Part 6: “Wasi’a kursiyyuhus-samawati wal-ard…” — the Kursi and effortless preservation.
• Part 7: “…wa Huwal-‘Aliyyul-‘Azim” — the closing exaltation.

Learn one part at a time, repeat it aloud, and only add the next part once the previous one is secure. Listen to a trusted reciter and, ideally, recite to a qualified teacher so your pronunciation (tajwid) is corrected from the start. Always follow the text of a certified mushaf when memorising.

Common questions and misconceptions

A frequent misunderstanding is that Ayat ul Kursi is a separate surah; in fact it is one verse within Surah al-Baqarah. Another is that a specific fixed “number of times” or a guaranteed worldly outcome is required or promised — such claims should be checked against authentic narrations rather than accepted from forwarded messages. It is also worth remembering that the Arabic text is the actual Qur’an; transliterations and translations are aids to understanding and recitation, not replacements for the original. When in doubt about meaning, virtue or practice, return to the Qur’an, the authentic Sunnah, and reliable scholars.

For more explanations of Islamic terms and practices, see our Islamic information hub. You may also find it helpful to learn the Six Kalimas and to read about the voluntary night prayer, Tahajjud.

This page is general educational information and is not a fatwa or a substitute for scholarly guidance. Recite the Qur’an from a certified mushaf, verify any hadith in its primary sources, and learn correct recitation (tajwid) from a qualified teacher. For rulings specific to your situation, consult a trustworthy local scholar.

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