Ayat al-Kursi
Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse 255 — Arabic text, translation, transliteration, word-by-word meaning and virtues
اللَّهُ لَا إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ ۚ لَا تَأْخُذُهُ سِنَةٌ وَلَا نَوْمٌ ۚ لَّهُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ ۗ مَن ذَا الَّذِي يَشْفَعُ عِندَهُ 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
▶ ListenTranslation of Ayat al-Kursi
"Allah - there is no deity except Him, the Ever-Living, the Self-Sustaining. 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."
Source: Quran.com API — Saheeh International.
Word by Word Meaning
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Transliteration
A phonetic transliteration to help with pronunciation:
Allāhu lā ilāha illā huwa l-ḥayyu l-qayyūmu, lā ta'khudhuhu sinatun wa lā nawmun, lahu mā fī s-samāwāti wa mā fī l-arḍi, man dhā alladhī yashfaʿu ʿindahu illā bi-idhnihi, yaʿlamu mā bayna aydīhim wa mā khalfahum, wa lā yuḥīṭūna bi-shay'in min ʿilmihi illā bimā shā'a, wasiʿa kursiyyuhu s-samāwāti wal-arḍa, wa lā ya'ūduhu ḥifẓuhumā, wa huwa l-ʿaliyyu l-ʿaẓīm.
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Listen to Ayat al-Kursi 7, 10 or 40 Times
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Note: there is no specific hadith ruling tied to particular repeat counts (7, 10, 40, etc.); this section is simply a practical repeat-listening tool. For matters of intention and practice, please consult a reliable source.
The Virtues of Ayat al-Kursi
Ayat al-Kursi is verse 255 of Surah Al-Baqarah and is widely known as the greatest verse in the Qur'an. In a hadith narrated by Ubayy ibn Ka'b, the Prophet (peace be upon him) confirmed that Ayat al-Kursi is the greatest verse in the Book of Allah (Sahih Muslim, 810).
According to a well-known hadith narrated by Abu Hurairah, whoever recites Ayat al-Kursi before sleeping will remain under Allah's protection, and no devil will come near them until morning (Sahih al-Bukhari, 3275).
There are also narrations about reciting it after each obligatory prayer, said to be a means of drawing closer to Paradise (narrated in Sunan al-Nasa'i and Sahih Ibn Hibban); scholars differ on the strength of these chains, so it's best to consult a knowledgeable source for details.
Note: The virtues listed here are based on commonly cited hadith. For matters of worship and practice, please consult a qualified scholar or reliable source.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which surah and verse number is Ayat al-Kursi?
It is verse 255 of Surah Al-Baqarah.
When should Ayat al-Kursi be recited?
It is commonly recited after the obligatory prayers, before sleeping, and as part of daily remembrance (dhikr).
How many words does Ayat al-Kursi have?
It is commonly counted as 50 words and 170 letters.
Is Ayat al-Kursi hard to memorize?
Most people can memorize it within a few days using word-by-word meaning and repeated listening. Tap the words in the 'Word by Word Meaning' section above to hear the pronunciation.