What is Ayatul Kursi, and how do I recite it?
Ayatul Kursi, the Verse of the Throne, is verse 255 of Surah Al-Baqarah. It describes the oneness, life, knowledge and power of Allah. Muslims recite it after each obligatory prayer and before sleeping, and it is easiest to learn in seven short parts.
By Benjamin · Last updated
Step by step
- Learn one part at a time. Listen to the first part, repeat it until it flows, then add the next.
- Recite it after every obligatory prayer. Five times a day, right after the dhikr. The repetition makes it stay.
- Recite it before you sleep. The Prophet (peace be upon him) taught that Allah protects the one who recites it at night until morning.
The verse, in seven parts
Part 1
اللَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ
Allahu laa ilaaha illaa huwal hayyul qayyuum
Allah, there is no deity except Him, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of existence
Part 2
لَا تَأْخُذُهُ سِنَةٌ وَلَا نَوْمٌ
Laa ta'khuzuhuu sinatuw wa laa nawm
Neither drowsiness overtakes Him nor sleep
Part 3
لَّهُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ
Lahuu maa fis samawaati wa maa fil ard
To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth
Part 4
مَن ذَا الَّذِي يَشْفَعُ عِندَهُ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِهِ
Man zal lazee yashfa'u 'indahuu illaa bi iznih
Who is it that can intercede with Him except by His permission?
Part 5
يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ ۖ وَلَا يُحِيطُونَ بِشَيْءٍ مِّنْ عِلْمِهِ إِلَّا بِمَا شَاءَ
Ya'lamu maa bayna aydeehim wa maa khalfahum, wa laa yuheetuna bi shay'im min 'ilmihee illaa bi maa shaa'
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
Part 6
وَسِعَ كُرْسِيُّهُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ
Wasi'a kursiyyuhus samawaati wal ard
His Kursi extends over the heavens and the earth
Part 7
وَلَا يَئُودُهُ حِفْظُهُمَا ۚ وَهُوَ الْعَلِيُّ الْعَظِيمُ
Wa laa ya'uuduhuu hifzuhumaa wa huwal 'aliyyul 'azeem
And their preservation tires Him not, and He is the Most High, the Most Great
Why it is so loved
The Prophet (peace be upon him) asked a companion which verse in the Book of Allah is the greatest, and the companion answered with this verse. The Prophet confirmed it.
It opens with two of the names of Allah, Al-Hayy (the Ever-Living) and Al-Qayyum (the Sustainer), and closes with Al-Aliyy (the Most High) and Al-Azeem (the Most Great).
Learn Ayatul Kursi by heart, line by line, with the free memoriser.
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Common questions
Where is Ayatul Kursi in the Quran?
It is verse 255 of Surah Al-Baqarah, the second surah.
Can I recite it in prayer?
Yes. It can be recited after Al-Fatiha like any other part of the Quran.
How long does it take to memorize?
Learning one part a day, most people know it in about a week. Reciting it after each prayer keeps it fresh.
Practise it with audio
Revertly walks you through this with a recitation for every word, at your own pace. Can't afford the app? Ask for a free code.