“Allah has not created in the heavens nor in the earth what is more magnificent than Ayat Al-Kursi.” Sufyan said: “Because Ayat Al-Kursi is the Speech of Allah, and Allah’s Speech is greater than Allah’s creation of the heavens and the earth.”

From Jami At Tirmidhi Sahih (Darussalam) Hadith 2884

So what is Ayatul Kursi?

It is a single ayat from the Quran, from Surah Baqarah verse 255.

Let’s take time to learn the full allahu la ilaha illa huwal hayyul qayyum dua and cover the meaning.

allahu la ilaha illa huwal hayyul qayyum in Arabic text

To read with Arabic text ayatul kursi is written,

ٱللَّهُ لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ٱلْحَىُّ ٱلْقَيُّومُ ۚ لَا تَأْخُذُهُۥ سِنَةٌ وَلَا نَوْمٌ ۚ لَّهُۥ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۗ مَن ذَا ٱلَّذِى يَشْفَعُ عِندَهُۥٓ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِهِۦ ۚ يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ ۖ وَلَا يُحِيطُونَ بِشَىْءٍ مِّنْ عِلْمِهِۦٓ إِلَّا بِمَا شَآءَ ۚ وَسِعَ كُرْسِيُّهُ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ ۖ وَلَا يَـُٔودُهُۥ حِفْظُهُمَا ۚ وَهُوَ ٱلْعَلِىُّ ٱلْعَظِيمُ

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

Listen to audio version to learn proper pronunciation:

Allahu laa ilaha illa Huwa translation

The meaning of this ayat is, “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.“

Benefits of reading

It is said that those who recite this ayat will be protected from Shaitan or the devil. Reading this ayat and understanding the meaning is a form or praising Allah SWT.

In the hadith narrated by Abu Hurairah (RA) he had actually caught the devil. For his release, the devil promised to teach Abu Hurairah something that would protect him from himself and his progeny. He told him to recite Ayatul Kursi. Abu Hurairah was skeptical to heed the advice of the devil, so he went to Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) and asked him if this were true. Prophet Muhammad said in this instance the devil had told the truth.

It is said by many scholars that surah Baqarah verse 255 is one of the loftiest ayat of the entire Quran. This is surely is a gift from Allah SWT and it would be foolish not to recite it daily.

A Muslim would be wise to learn it’s meaning, read it and repeat it. The video recitation is only 1:00 minute long, we can say it even faster than the video and the benefits are so large. By saying these words we would seek protection from the devil and in the process make dua and exalt Allah SWT.

I find that relying on memory and will power to recite ayatul kursi daily is difficult. We are humans and have a tendency to forget. That’s why it’s best to trigger reciting the ayah with an activity, like before going to bed, upon waking up, or at the end of salat. This way it becomes more of an automatic behavior.

Just be mindful of the words and the meaning of what you are saying and I hope in reading this it has helped you with that.

Narrated Abu Huraira:

Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) ordered me to guard the Zakat revenue of Ramadan. Then somebody came to me and started stealing from the foodstuff. I caught him and said, “I will take you to Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ)!” Then Abu Huraira described the whole narration and said: That person said (to me), “(Please don’t take me to Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) and I will tell you a few words by which Allah will benefit you.) When you go to your bed, recite Ayat-al-Kursi, (2.255) for then there will be a guard from Allah who will protect you all night long, and Satan will not be able to come near you till dawn.” (When the Prophet (ﷺ) heard the story) he said (to me), “He (who came to you at night) told you the truth although he is a liar; and it was Satan.”

Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 5010
In-book reference: Book 66, Hadith 32