Ayat al-Kursi: Meaning and Virtues (Quran 2:255)

Ayat al-Kursi — "the Verse of the Footstool" — is verse 255 of Surah Al-Baqarah. It's one of the most loved and most recited verses of the Quran.

The verse in English

"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." (Sahih International)

What it teaches

• Tawheed: there is no god but Allah.
• His perfect life and care: al-Hayy al-Qayyum — the Ever-Living, the Sustainer.
• No weakness: neither drowsiness nor sleep.
• Complete ownership and knowledge.
• Intercession only by His permission.
• His greatness: the Kursi encompasses the heavens and the earth.

Its virtue in Sahih al-Bukhari

In a famous narration, Abu Huraira was told that reciting Ayat al-Kursi when going to bed brings a guardian from Allah who protects you until morning — and the Prophet ﷺ confirmed that this was true (Sahih al-Bukhari 5010). In Sahih Muslim, the Prophet ﷺ also described it as the greatest verse in the Book of Allah.

A bedtime routine

Many families recite Ayat al-Kursi with Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq and An-Nas every night before sleep.

Memorizing it

Break it into five or six phrases, learn one a day, and recite the whole verse in your prayers. Pay attention to the long madds and the ghunnah — a teacher can check these in minutes. See Tajweed rules for beginners.

Also read: the last two verses of Surah Al-Baqarah. Book a free trial lesson.