A Translation of the Ayatul Kursi & Its Significance in Islam (2024)

Co-authored byAli Garbacz, B.A.

Last Updated: June 27, 2023Fact Checked

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1. The Ayatul Kursi is the most powerful verse in the Qur’an. The Ayatul Kursi (آيَةُ ٱلْكُرْسِيِّ), also known as the Throne Verse, is the 255th verse of Al-Baqara (الْبَقَرَة), the second chapter of the Qu’ran. This verse speaks about how Allah (الله) is the one and only God and that there is nothing that can compare to Him. The Ayatul Kursi tells of Allah’s all-powerfulness and His reign over Heaven and Earth.^[1]

   • Abd Allah ibn Mas'ud (عبد الله بن مسعود), a companion of the prophet Muhammad (مُحَمَّد), claimed that the Ayatul Kursi was the greatest verse in the Qur’an.

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1. Allah—there is no God 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.^[2]

   • Original script: اللَّهُ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ لاَ تَأْخُذُهُ سِنَةٌ وَلاَ نَوْمٌ لَهُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الأَرْضِ مَنْ ذَا الَّذِي يَشْفَعُ عِنْدَهُ إِلاَّ بِإِذْنِهِ يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ وَلاَ يُحِيطُونَ بِشَيْءٍ مِنْ عِلْمِهِ إِلاَّ بِمَا شَاءَ وَسِعَ كُرْسِيُّهُ السَّمَاواتِ وَالأَرْضَ وَلاَ يَئُودُهُ حِفْظُهُمَا وَهُوَ الْعَلِيُّ الْعَظِيمُ
   • Transliteration: Allahu laaa ilaaha illaa huwal haiyul qai-yoom laa taakhuzuhoo sinatunw wa laa nawm; lahoo maa fissamaawaati wa maa fil ard man zallazee yashfa’u indahooo illaa be iznih ya’lamu maa baina aideehim wa maa khalfahum wa laa yuheetoona beshai ‘immin ‘ilmihee illa be maa shaaaa wasi’a kursiyyuhus samaa waati wal arda wa la ya’ooduho hifzuhumaa wa huwal aliyyul ‘azeem

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1. 1

   Reciting the Ayatul Kursi before bed keeps the Devil away. Some Muslims believe that the power of Ayatul Kursi can protect you while you sleep. Just say the Ayatul Kursi before you go to sleep and Allah will send someone to guard you from the Devil.^[3]

   • There’s another belief that you must recite the first 4 verses of Al-Baqara (the second chapter of the Qur’an), the Ayatul Kursi, the 2 verses that follow the Ayatul Kursi, and the last 3 verses of the chapter to be protected through the night.^[4]
2. 2

   Saying the Ayatul Kursi protects your family and property. It’s believed that by reciting 8 verses from Al-Baqara, you, your family, and your property will be protected from the Devil. These 8 verses include the first 4 verses of Al-Baqara, the Ayatul Kursi, and the last 3 verses of the chapter. Recite these verses daily to be protected.^[5]

3. 3

   The Ayatul Kursi keeps jinn away. There’s a story of a traveling merchant who rented a house that was haunted by jinn (جُنّ), creatures of shadow. Upon discovering that he was being followed by the jinn, he recited the Ayatul Kursi. When he recited the line “His Kursi extends over the heavens and the earth, and their preservation tires Him not,” the jinn were no longer able to follow him. He recited this line over and over until the jinn faded away.^[6]

   • Because of this story, some followers of Islam believe that reciting the Ayatul Kursi will keep these invisible creatures away.
4. 4

   Those who say the Ayatul Kursi after the daily prayers will go to Paradise. Saying the Ayatul Kursi after salah (صَلَاة), the 5 daily prayers, is considered by many Muslims to be one of the greatest good deeds. Abu Umamah al Bahili (أبو أمامة البَاهليّ), a companion of Muhammad, said, “Whoever recites the ‘verse of the Throne’ after every prescribed prayer, there will be nothing standing between him and entry into Paradise but his death.”^[7]

   • The prayers of salah occur at dawn, noon, later afternoon, after sunset, and at dusk.

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