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⭐ The Greatest Verse of the Qur’an
Ayatul Kursi — The Throne Verse
Read, listen, and reflect upon Ayat al-Kursi (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:255) — in Arabic, English translation, transliteration, and audio recitation by the world’s most renowned Qaris. Scholar-reviewed. Free forever.
Surah Al-Baqarah
٢:٢٥٥
اللَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ ۚ لَا تَأْخُذُهُ سِنَةٌ وَلَا نَوْمٌ ۚ لَهُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ ۗ مَنْ ذَا الَّذِي يَشْفَعُ عِنْدَهُ 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
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Pronunciation Guide
Ayatul Kursi Transliteration in English
Read Ayat al-Kursi in English letters — ideal for those learning to pronounce the sacred Arabic text.
Allāhu lā ilāha illā huwa, al-Ḥayyul-Qayyūm.
Lā ta’khudhuhu sinatun wa lā nawm.
Lahū mā fis-samāwāti wa mā fil-arḍ.
Man dhal-ladhī yashfa’u ‘indahū illā bi-idhnih?
Ya’lamu mā bayna aydīhim wa mā khalfahum,
wa lā yuḥīṭūna bi-shay’im-min ‘ilmihī illā bimā shā’.
Wasi’a kursiyyuhus-samāwāti wal-arḍ,
wa lā ya’ūduhu ḥifẓuhumā, wa huwal-‘Aliyyul-‘Aẓīm.
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Authentic English Translation
Ayatul Kursi in English — 3 Scholar Translations
Compare the Throne Verse across three of the most widely accepted English translations of the Qur’an, each produced by respected scholars and reviewed by our ulama board.
Most Recommended
Sahih International
“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 [presently] 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.”
Classical
Marmaduke Pickthall
“Allah! There is no deity save Him, the Alive, the Eternal. Neither slumber nor sleep overtaketh Him. Unto Him belongeth whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is in the earth. Who is he that intercedeth with Him save by His leave? He knoweth that which is in front of them and that which is behind them, while they encompass nothing of His knowledge save what He will. His throne includeth the heavens and the earth, and He is never weary of preserving them. He is the Sublime, the Tremendous.”
Traditional
Abdullah Yusuf Ali
“Allah! There is no god but He — the Living, the Self-subsisting, the Eternal. No slumber can seize Him nor sleep. His are all things in the heavens and on earth. Who is there that can intercede in His presence except as He permitteth? He knoweth what (appeareth to His creatures as) Before or After or Behind them. Nor shall they compass aught of His knowledge except as He willeth. His Throne doth extend over the heavens and the earth, and He feeleth no fatigue in guarding and preserving them for He is the Most High, the Supreme.”
The Meaning
What is Ayatul Kursi?
Ayatul Kursi (Arabic: آية الكرسي), also written as Ayat al-Kursi, is the 255th verse of Surah Al-Baqarah (Chapter 2) — the longest chapter of the Holy Qur’an. Known in English as “The Throne Verse,” it is universally recognized as the greatest single verse in the Qur’an.
The name Ayat al-Kursi literally means “The Verse of the Footstool (Kursi),” referring to the Arabic word Kursi (كرسي) mentioned within the verse itself, which describes the vast dominion of Allah ﷻ that extends over the entire heavens and the earth.
Why is Ayatul Kursi so significant?
This single verse contains some of the most profound affirmations of Islamic theology (aqidah). In just fifty words of Arabic, it proclaims:
- Tawhid — the absolute oneness of Allah
- Al-Hayy, Al-Qayyum — He is the Ever-Living, the Self-Sustaining
- That Allah transcends all human weakness — He neither slumbers nor sleeps
- Absolute ownership of all creation, seen and unseen
- The reality of intercession — it happens only by Allah’s permission
- The infinite knowledge of Allah that encompasses all time
- The vastness of His Kursi (Footstool) over the heavens and the earth
- His supreme attributes — Al-‘Aliyy (The Most High) and Al-‘Azim (The Most Great)
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to me: ‘O Abul-Mundhir! Do you know which verse of the Book of Allah that you have is the greatest?’ I said: ‘Allah and His Messenger know best.’ He said: ‘O Abul-Mundhir, do you know which verse of the Book of Allah you have is the greatest?’ I said: ‘Allah — there is no deity except Him, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of existence.’ He struck me on the chest and said: ‘By Allah, may knowledge be pleasant for you, O Abul-Mundhir.'”
— Sahih Muslim, Book of Prayer of Travelers, Hadith 810 (Narrated by Ubayy ibn Ka’b)Read our full scholar-reviewed guide to the meaning of Ayatul Kursi →
Fadha’il — Virtues
Benefits of Reciting Ayatul Kursi
Every benefit listed below is sourced from authentic (sahih) hadith. All hadith have been verified by our scholar board and referenced to their original collections.
1
The Greatest Verse in the Qur’an
The Prophet ﷺ called Ayatul Kursi the greatest verse in the Book of Allah. Knowing and reciting it is a source of knowledge and blessing.
Sahih Muslim 8102
Protection Until the Next Prayer
Reciting Ayatul Kursi after every obligatory (fard) prayer: only death will stand between the reciter and entering Paradise.
An-Nasa’i 9928 (Sahih Al-Albani)3
Angelic Protection Before Sleep
Reciting Ayatul Kursi before sleep: a guardian from Allah is appointed to protect you, and no shaytan will come near you until morning.
Sahih al-Bukhari 23114
Shield Against Shaytan
The verse is a powerful protection against whispers of Shaytan and evil influences, when recited with belief and understanding.
Sahih al-Bukhari 32755
Entry to Paradise
Reciting Ayatul Kursi after each obligatory prayer is one of the clearest paths to Jannah mentioned in the authentic sunnah.
An-Nasa’i Al-Kubra 99286
Part of the Morning & Evening Adhkar
Authentic morning and evening remembrance (adhkar) include Ayatul Kursi as a means of daily spiritual protection.
Classical Adhkar — Ibn al-Qayyim7
Strengthening of Faith & Tawhid
Studying and reflecting on Ayatul Kursi reinforces the oneness of Allah (tawhid) and His supreme attributes.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir8
Spiritual Tranquility
Regular recitation brings peace of heart (sakinah), especially during times of anxiety, fear, or hardship.
Multiple classical tafsir9
Protection When Entering the Home
Scholars recommend reciting Ayatul Kursi when entering the home to keep the household under divine protection.
Tirmidhi, Riyadh as-Saliheen
Deep Understanding
Word-by-Word Meaning of Ayatul Kursi
Understand every Arabic word of the Throne Verse — its transliteration and precise English meaning.
| العربية | Transliteration | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| اللَّهُ | Allāhu | Allah |
| لَا إِلَٰهَ | lā ilāha | There is no god |
| إِلَّا هُوَ | illā huwa | Except Him |
| الْحَيُّ | al-Ḥayyu | The Ever-Living |
| الْقَيُّومُ | al-Qayyūm | The Sustainer of all existence |
| لَا تَأْخُذُهُ | lā ta’khudhuhu | Does not overtake Him |
| سِنَةٌ | sinatun | Drowsiness |
| وَلَا نَوْمٌ | wa lā nawm | Nor sleep |
| كُرْسِيُّهُ | Kursiyyuhu | His Kursi (Footstool) |
| السَّمَاوَاتِ | as-samāwāti | The heavens |
| وَالْأَرْضَ | wal-arḍ | And the earth |
| الْعَلِيُّ | al-‘Aliyyu | The Most High |
| الْعَظِيمُ | al-‘Aẓīm | The Most Great |
Practice from the Sunnah
When to Recite Ayatul Kursi
Based on authentic sunnah, these are the times when Ayatul Kursi is recited by the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and the righteous Muslims.
Morning & Evening
Part of the authentic morning and evening adhkar (dhikr)
After Every Fard Salah
After all 5 obligatory prayers — a direct path to Jannah
Before Sleep
An angelic guardian is appointed until morning (Bukhari 2311)
Entering the Home
A recommended sunnah for protection of the household
Audio Recitation
Ayatul Kursi MP3 — World’s Most Renowned Qaris
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Every word of content on ayatulkursi.org is reviewed and approved by qualified, credentialed Islamic scholars before publication. This is our commitment to you as a trusted source of deen.
A
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Chief Scholar · Fiqh
Graduate of Al-Azhar University, Egypt. Specialized in Qur’anic studies, tafsir, and Islamic jurisprudence. 20+ years teaching experience.
B
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Hadith Authentication
Ijazah in Qur’an recitation (Hafs an Asim) and hadith sciences. Author of several works on the sciences of hadith authentication.
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Translations · Multilingual
Graduate of Darul Uloom Deoband. Native speaker of Urdu, Hindi, Arabic, and English. Oversees all language translations on the site.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ayatul Kursi — Answers to Common Questions
Answered by our scholar board, with authentic references.
What is Ayatul Kursi?
Ayatul Kursi (Ayat al-Kursi) is the 255th verse of the second chapter of the Qur’an, Surah Al-Baqarah. Known as “The Throne Verse,” it is considered the greatest verse of the Holy Qur’an as stated in the authentic hadith narrated by Ubayy ibn Ka’b in Sahih Muslim 810.
Why is Ayatul Kursi called the greatest verse of the Qur’an?
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ asked Ubayy ibn Ka’b which verse of the Book of Allah was the greatest. When Ubayy answered “Allah and His Messenger know best,” the Prophet repeated the question. Ubayy then replied: “Ayatul Kursi.” The Prophet ﷺ struck him on the chest and said: “May knowledge be pleasant for you, O Abul-Mundhir!” (Sahih Muslim 810).
What are the benefits of reciting Ayatul Kursi?
Authentic hadith mention several virtues: (1) Whoever recites it after every obligatory prayer, nothing stands between him and entering Paradise except death (An-Nasa’i 9928). (2) Reciting it before sleep places a guardian from Allah over the person, and no devil comes near him until morning (Sahih al-Bukhari 2311). (3) It is the greatest verse in the Book of Allah (Sahih Muslim 810).
When should I recite Ayatul Kursi?
Based on the authentic sunnah: after every obligatory (fard) prayer, before going to sleep, during morning and evening adhkar, and whenever seeking Allah’s protection. Some scholars also recommend reciting it when entering the home.
What does Ayatul Kursi mean in English?
Ayatul Kursi describes Allah’s absolute sovereignty. It affirms His oneness (tawhid), that He is Al-Hayy (The Ever-Living) and Al-Qayyum (The Sustainer), that He is free from drowsiness and sleep, that everything belongs to Him, that none can intercede except by His permission, that His knowledge encompasses all things, and that His Kursi extends over the heavens and the earth.
Is wearing an Ayatul Kursi necklace or pendant permissible?
Scholars differ on this matter. The majority view is that wearing Ayatul Kursi as jewelry for decoration is permissible — as long as it is not believed to bring protection by itself (which would be shirk). Protection comes from Allah alone through actual recitation of the verse with belief. Read our full scholar-reviewed fatwa →
Can non-Muslims recite Ayatul Kursi?
Yes, non-Muslims can recite and read Ayatul Kursi. The Qur’an is a universal message, and many non-Muslims study it academically or spiritually. The verse itself is a powerful proclamation of Allah’s oneness that invites all people to reflection.
How many times should I read Ayatul Kursi before sleeping?
According to the hadith in Sahih al-Bukhari (2311), reciting Ayatul Kursi once before sleep places an angelic guardian upon the person until morning. While some scholars mention reciting it 1, 3, 7, 11, or 100 times, the authentically-established practice is once, and any additional recitation is a voluntary virtue (nafl).
What is the difference between Ayatul Kursi and Kursi?
“Kursi” is the Arabic word mentioned within the verse itself, often translated as “Footstool” or “Chair,” referring to something of Allah’s majesty that extends over the heavens and earth. “Ayatul Kursi” (literally “the verse of the Kursi”) is the name given to this specific Qur’anic verse because it mentions the Kursi.
Where can I download Ayatul Kursi in MP3 format?
You can download the Ayatul Kursi Full Beautiful Recitation MP3 for free directly from this page — click any play button and use the download icon. Click here to download directly →
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From Our Blog
Learn More About the Throne Verse
Deep-dive articles, scholar-reviewed explanations, and spiritual reflections.
Why Ayatul Kursi is Called the Greatest Verse
Explore the hadith of Ubayy ibn Ka’b and why the Prophet ﷺ emphasized the supremacy of this single verse over all others.
Abu Hurairah & the Shaytan — The Hadith Explained
The famous incident where the Shaytan himself admitted that Ayatul Kursi protects from evil — told with full isnad and context.
How to Memorize Ayatul Kursi in 7 Days
A proven step-by-step method used in traditional madaris — with audio loops, visual aids, and daily checkpoints.