Ayatul Kursi — The Verse of the Throne
Ayatul Kursi is verse 255 of Surah Al-Baqarah, the Quran's second chapter. A hadith in Sahih Muslim records the Prophet ﷺ confirming it as the greatest verse in the Quran. Below: the Arabic text, its Urdu and English translation, an explanation of its meaning, and the authentic hadith describing its virtues — each clearly separated from the others.
Arabic (Quran Text)
ٱللَّهُ لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ٱلۡحَيُّ ٱلۡقَيُّومُۚ لَا تَأۡخُذُهُۥ سِنَةٞ وَلَا نَوۡمٞۚ لَّهُۥ مَا فِي ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِۗ مَن ذَا ٱلَّذِي يَشۡفَعُ عِندَهُۥٓ إِلَّا بِإِذۡنِهِۦۚ يَعۡلَمُ مَا بَيۡنَ أَيۡدِيهِمۡ وَمَا خَلۡفَهُمۡۖ وَلَا يُحِيطُونَ بِشَيۡءٖ مِّنۡ عِلۡمِهِۦٓ إِلَّا بِمَا شَآءَۚ وَسِعَ كُرۡسِيُّهُ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضَۖ وَلَا يَـُٔودُهُۥ حِفۡظُهُمَاۚ وَهُوَ ٱلۡعَلِيُّ ٱلۡعَظِيمُ
Urdu Translation (Kanz ul Iman)
اللہ ہے جس کے سوا کوئی معبود نہیں وہ آپ زندہ اور اوروں کا قائم رکھنے والا اسے نہ اونگھ آئے نہ نیند اسی کا ہے جو کچھ آسمانوں میں ہے اور جو کچھ زمین میں وہ کون ہے جو اس کے یہاں سفارش کرے بغیر اس کے حکم کے جانتا ہے جو کچھ ان کے آگے ہے اور جو کچھ ان کے پیچھے اور وہ نہیں پاتے اس کے علم میں سے مگر جتنا وہ چاہے اس کی کرسی میں سمائے ہوئے آسمان اور زمین اور اسے بھاری نہیں ان کی نگہبانی اور وہی ہے بلند بڑائی والا
English Translation (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.
📖 Source: Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 255.
Read full Surah Al-Baqarah with audio recitation →Meaning & Commentary
The section below is explanation and commentary (tafsir), not the Quranic text itself.
The verse opens by affirming Allah's oneness ("there is no deity except Him") and two of His names: Al-Hayy (the Ever-Living) and Al-Qayyum (the Sustainer of all existence) — meaning His life has no beginning or end, and everything else depends on Him for its continued existence.
"Neither drowsiness overtakes Him nor sleep" distinguishes Allah from created beings, who need rest. The verse then affirms that everything in the heavens and earth belongs to Him, that no one can intercede with Him without His permission, and that His knowledge encompasses everything except what He wills to reveal.
"His Kursi extends over the heavens and the earth" is commonly explained in tafsir literature as a statement of the vastness of Allah's dominion. The verse closes by affirming that preserving the heavens and earth does not tire Him, and describes Him as Al-Aliyy (the Most High) and Al-Azeem (the Most Great).
A Note on Scholarly Discussion
Scholars across schools of Islamic thought affirm this verse as revealed and agree on its central message — Allah's oneness, His eternal nature, and His authority over creation. Classical scholars have differed on some interpretive details of how attributes like the Kursi are understood. That discussion sits within the broader field of Islamic theology (aqeedah) and is beyond the scope of this page — we present the verse and its widely-agreed plain meaning rather than taking a position in that discussion.
Hadith & Common Practices
Each narration below includes its source and authenticity grading.
The greatest verse in the Quran
Ubay ibn Ka'b reported that the Prophet ﷺ asked him which verse of the Quran he considered greatest. When Ubay answered with Ayat al-Kursi, the Prophet ﷺ struck his chest and said, "May this knowledge bring you happiness, O Abu al-Mundhir."
Source: Sahih Muslim (Hadith 810) — authentic.
Recitation after every obligatory prayer
"Whoever recites Ayat al-Kursi at the end of every obligatory prayer, nothing but death will prevent him from entering Paradise."
Source: recorded by An-Nasa'i, graded Sahih (authentic) by Ibn Hibban. Not found in Sahih al-Bukhari or Sahih Muslim directly, but considered well-attested.
Protection before sleep
Abu Hurairah narrated that while guarding the charity of Ramadan, he caught a nightly intruder who begged for release, promising in return to teach him something beneficial: reciting Ayat al-Kursi before sleep for Allah's protection through the night. When Abu Hurairah told the Prophet ﷺ, he replied that the intruder — a devil — had told the truth that time, despite being a liar.
Source: Sahih al-Bukhari (Hadith 2311) — authentic.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Ayatul Kursi?
Ayatul Kursi ("the Verse of the Throne") is verse 255 of Surah Al-Baqarah, the Quran's second chapter. It describes Allah's oneness, His eternal nature, and His knowledge and authority over the heavens and the earth.
Why is Ayatul Kursi called the greatest verse in the Quran?
Because of a hadith in Sahih Muslim: the Prophet ﷺ asked Ubay ibn Ka'b which verse of the Quran he considered greatest. When Ubay answered with Ayat al-Kursi, the Prophet ﷺ confirmed it and praised his knowledge.
Is the hadith about reciting Ayatul Kursi after every prayer authentic?
It's recorded by An-Nasa'i and graded Sahih (authentic) by Ibn Hibban, with Al-Albani grading a related narration sahih as well. It is not found in Sahih al-Bukhari or Sahih Muslim directly, but is considered well-attested.
What is the "Kursi" mentioned in the verse?
Kursi is often translated "footstool" or "seat." The verse states it extends over the heavens and the earth. Scholars across schools of thought affirm the verse as revealed, while differing on some interpretive details of how such attributes are understood — we present the verse and its plain meaning rather than taking a position in that theological discussion.
Where can I read Ayatul Kursi with Urdu translation?
The Arabic text, Kanz ul Iman Urdu translation, and Sahih International English translation are all above on this page. The full surah (Al-Baqarah) with audio recitation is available separately.