What Happens When You Read Ayatul Kursi After Every Prayer
The protection and reward attached to reciting Ayatul Kursi after the five daily prayers.
Ayatul Kursi (the Verse of the Throne) is verse 255 of Surah Al-Baqarah. It is one of the most frequently memorised verses, and many Muslims recite it after every prayer. This article explains what is authentically reported about it, where each report comes from, and how the reports are graded.
Quick answer
Ayatul Kursi is described by the Prophet ﷺ as the greatest verse in the Quran (Sahih Muslim). Reciting it at bedtime is reported in Sahih al-Bukhari. Reciting it after each obligatory prayer is reported in a narration recorded by al-Nasa'i that scholars have graded differently, so it is best described as well-attested but not in the two Sahih collections.
What the verse says
The verse begins "Allah, there is no deity except Him, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of existence." It describes Allah's knowledge, His authority and the vastness of His Kursi (Throne), and ends by saying that preserving the heavens and the earth does not tire Him. You can read the Arabic with Urdu and English translation, and the tafsir, on our Ayatul Kursi page.
What is authentically reported
The greatest verse in the Quran
Ubay ibn Ka'b reported that the Prophet ﷺ asked him which verse in the Book of Allah is greatest. When Ubay answered with Ayat al-Kursi, the Prophet ﷺ struck his chest and said, "May knowledge be easy for you, Abu al-Mundhir." This is in Sahih Muslim.
Before sleeping
Abu Hurairah reported that he was guarding the zakat dates when someone came taking from them. The person said he would teach him something if he let him go: recite Ayat al-Kursi when going to bed, and a guardian from Allah will remain with you and Shaytan will not come near you until morning. The Prophet ﷺ then said, "He told you the truth, though he is a liar." This is in Sahih al-Bukhari.
After the obligatory prayer
A narration reports: "Whoever recites Ayat al-Kursi after every obligatory prayer, nothing prevents him from entering Paradise except death." It is recorded by al-Nasa'i and by others, and graded sahih by Ibn Hibban, with al-Albani also grading a related narration sahih. Some earlier scholars criticised its chain. It is not in Sahih al-Bukhari or Sahih Muslim, so we describe it as well-attested but a lower tier than those. Many scholars across the schools nonetheless recommend the practice.
Houses and Al-Baqarah
The Prophet ﷺ said not to make your houses graveyards, and that Shaytan flees from a house in which Surah Al-Baqarah is recited (Sahih Muslim). Ayatul Kursi is part of Al-Baqarah, and the report is often cited in support of reciting it at home. Note that the hadith names the whole surah.
Common claims, checked
- "Reading it protects you from all harm." The reports speak of a guardian from Allah at night (Bukhari). Protection is from Allah, not a guarantee separate from His will, and it does not replace precaution.
- "Reading it a specific number of times has a special effect." We have not been able to trace specific counts to a reliable source.
- "It must be read before any journey or exam." Reciting it at those times is a personal practice that many people find comforting, but it is not a prescribed Sunnah for those occasions.
How to build the habit
- Learn the Arabic by listening and repeating phrase by phrase.
- Learn the meaning, so the recitation is conscious. Read the translation and tafsir.
- Attach it to a fixed moment: right after the salam of each fard prayer, and again before sleep.
- Combine it with the rest of your post-prayer remembrance. See our dhikr guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is reading Ayatul Kursi after every prayer a Sunnah?
It is reported in a narration recorded by al-Nasa'i and graded sahih by Ibn Hibban, though it is not in Sahih al-Bukhari or Sahih Muslim. Many scholars recommend it.
What is the reward of reading Ayatul Kursi?
The Prophet ﷺ called it the greatest verse (Sahih Muslim). The reports describe a guardian from Allah at bedtime (Sahih al-Bukhari) and, after the prayer, entry to Paradise with only death as the barrier (al-Nasa'i, graded differently).
Can I read Ayatul Kursi without understanding it?
You can, and you will be rewarded for reciting the Quran. Learning the meaning makes it far more beneficial, which is why we place the translation and tafsir next to the text.
Do I stand or sit to read it after prayer?
There is no required posture. Most people recite it sitting after the salam, as part of their post-prayer dhikr.
Is Ayatul Kursi in one surah only?
Yes. It is verse 255 of Surah Al-Baqarah, the second chapter of the Quran.