Ayat al-Kursi — the Verse of the Throne (Al-Baqarah 2:255) — is the greatest verse in the Quran. In a single verse it describes who Allah is: His life, His knowledge, His power and His care for everything. This guide explains its meaning phrase by phrase and the virtues mentioned in authentic hadith.
Meaning, phrase by phrase
Arabic | Meaning | What it teaches |
|---|---|---|
اللَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ | Allah — there is no god but Him | Only He deserves worship |
الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ | The Ever-Living, the Sustainer of all | He lives forever, and everything depends on Him |
لَا تَأْخُذُهُ سِنَةٌ وَلَا نَوْمٌ | Neither drowsiness nor sleep overtakes Him | He never tires or stops caring for His creation |
لَّهُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ | To Him belongs all that is in the heavens and the earth | Everything is His |
مَن ذَا الَّذِي يَشْفَعُ عِندَهُ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِهِ | Who could intercede with Him except by His permission? | No one acts before Him without His leave |
يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ | He knows what is before them and what is behind them | His knowledge covers past and future |
وَلَا يُحِيطُونَ بِشَيْءٍ مِّنْ عِلْمِهِ إِلَّا بِمَا شَاءَ | They grasp nothing of His knowledge except what He wills | Our knowledge is a small gift from Him |
وَسِعَ كُرْسِيُّهُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ | His Kursi extends over the heavens and the earth | His greatness is beyond what we imagine |
وَلَا يَئُودُهُ حِفْظُهُمَا | Preserving them does not tire Him | He holds everything in place without effort |
وَهُوَ الْعَلِيُّ الْعَظِيمُ | He is the Most High, the Most Great | The verse ends with two of His names |
Its virtues
- The greatest verse in the Book of Allah. The Prophet ﷺ asked Ubayy ibn Ka‘b which verse of the Book of Allah was greatest. When Ubayy answered with Ayat al-Kursi, the Prophet ﷺ struck him gently on the chest and said: "May knowledge be pleasing to you, Abu al-Mundhir" (reported by Muslim).
- Protection at night. In a well-known hadith, Abu Hurayrah was told that whoever recites Ayat al-Kursi when going to bed will have a guardian from Allah with him, and no devil will come near him until morning. The Prophet ﷺ confirmed: "He told you the truth, though he is a liar" (reported by al-Bukhari).
- After the obligatory prayers. A hadith reported by al-Nasa'i, and graded authentic by al-Albani, encourages reciting it after every obligatory prayer.
Why is it so great?
Scholars explain that Ayat al-Kursi gathers, in a few lines, the most important truths about Allah: His Oneness, His perfect life, His complete knowledge, His ownership of everything, and His power that never tires. Reciting it with understanding strengthens faith and brings peace to the heart.
Reciting it correctly
Ayat al-Kursi has many tajweed rules: two kinds of madd, several idghams, ikhfa and the deep ح. Our phrase-by-phrase guide to reciting Ayat al-Kursi with tajweed covers them all.
For other verses with special virtues, see the last two verses of Al-Baqarah, Surah Al-Ikhlas and Quran verses for morning and evening adhkar. To learn with a teacher, see our Quran classes for adults.
FAQ
What is the greatest verse in the Quran?
Ayat al-Kursi (Al-Baqarah 2:255), according to a hadith reported by Muslim.
What is the benefit of reading Ayat al-Kursi before sleep?
The Prophet ﷺ confirmed that whoever recites it when going to bed has a guardian from Allah, and no devil comes near him until morning (reported by al-Bukhari).
What does "Kursi" mean?
It is often translated as "Footstool" or "Throne". The verse says it extends over the heavens and the earth, showing Allah's greatness.
Should I recite Ayat al-Kursi after every prayer?
A hadith reported by al-Nasa'i, graded authentic by al-Albani, encourages reciting it after each obligatory prayer.
Sources
- Surah Al-Baqarah 2:255 — Quran.com
- Sahih Muslim 810 — the greatest verse — Sunnah.com
- Sahih al-Bukhari 2311 — protection when going to bed — Sunnah.com
- Ayat al-Kursi — Wikipedia