Ayat al-Kursi: the greatest verse
Some verses of the Quran are recited by Muslims every day. Ayat al-Kursi, "the verse of the Kursi", is one of them. It is verse 255 of Surah Al-Baqarah, the second surah of the Quran. In a single verse it tells you who Allah is: His life, His knowledge, His power, and His care for everything. In this lesson you will learn it in six small parts, with the meaning of each.
Why this verse is special
The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, once asked his companion Ubayy ibn Ka'b, may Allah be pleased with him, which verse of the Book of Allah was the greatest. Ubayy answered with the opening words of Ayat al-Kursi. The Prophet struck him lightly on the chest and said:
May knowledge be pleasant for you, O Abu al-Mundhir!
Sahih Muslim 810
Abu al-Mundhir was Ubayy's nickname. The Prophet was confirming that his answer was right: this is the greatest verse in the Quran.
It is also a protection at night. The companion Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, was once guarding food collected for charity in Ramadan, and a thief came three nights in a row. On the third night the thief offered to teach him words that would benefit him: whoever recites Ayat al-Kursi when going to bed will have a guardian from Allah with him, and no devil will come near him until morning. When Abu Hurayrah told the Prophet, he said:
He really spoke the truth, although he is an absolute liar.
Sahih al-Bukhari 2311
The Prophet then told him that the visitor was a devil. Even so, the words were true, and the Prophet confirmed them.
Learn it in six parts
Listen to each part from a trusted reciter, repeat it a few times, then read what it means.
Arabic: ٱللَّهُ لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ٱلْحَىُّ ٱلْقَيُّومُ ۚ
How to say it: Allaahu laa ilaaha illaa huwal-hayyul-qayyoom
Meaning: Allah. There is no deity except Him, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of [all] existence.
Al-Hayy, the Ever-Living: His life is complete and perfect, as befits His majesty. Al-Qayyum, the Sustainer: He takes care of everything that exists, at every moment.
Arabic: لَا تَأْخُذُهُۥ سِنَةٌۭ وَلَا نَوْمٌۭ ۚ لَّهُۥ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۗ
How to say it: Laa ta'khudhuhoo sinatun wa laa nawm. Lahoo maa fis-samaawaati wa maa fil-ard
Meaning: Neither drowsiness overtakes Him nor sleep. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth.
Allah never grows tired, never dozes, and never sleeps. Everything in the heavens and the earth belongs to Him.
Arabic: مَن ذَا ٱلَّذِى يَشْفَعُ عِندَهُۥٓ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِهِۦ ۚ
How to say it: Man dhal-ladhee yashfa'u 'indahoo illaa bi-idhnih
Meaning: Who is it that can intercede with Him except by His permission?
No one can speak on anyone's behalf before Allah unless He allows it.
Arabic: يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ ۖ وَلَا يُحِيطُونَ بِشَىْءٍۢ مِّنْ عِلْمِهِۦٓ إِلَّا بِمَا شَآءَ ۚ
How to say it: Ya'lamu maa bayna aydeehim wa maa khalfahum, wa laa yuheetoona bishay'im-min 'ilmihee illaa bimaa shaa'
Meaning: 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 knowledge covers the past and the future. No created being knows anything of His knowledge except what He chooses to teach them.
Arabic: وَسِعَ كُرْسِيُّهُ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ ۖ وَلَا يَـُٔودُهُۥ حِفْظُهُمَا ۚ
How to say it: Wasi'a kursiyyuhus-samaawaati wal-ard, wa laa ya'ooduhoo hifzuhumaa
Meaning: His Kursi extends over the heavens and the earth, and their preservation tires Him not.
The Kursi is a vast creation of Allah; scholars explain that only Allah knows its true nature. It extends over the heavens and the earth, and protecting them both is no burden for Him.
Arabic: وَهُوَ ٱلْعَلِىُّ ٱلْعَظِيمُ
How to say it: Wa huwal-'aliyyul-'azeem
Meaning: And He is the Most High, the Most Great.
He is above all of His creation, and every quality of greatness belongs to Him.
What did the Prophet confirm to Ubayy ibn Ka'b about Ayat al-Kursi?
A plan for this week
Learning Ayat al-Kursi in five days
Tick each step as you do it.
Ayat al-Kursi is the greatest verse in the Quran. Learn it in small parts and recite it each night before you sleep.
In the next lesson you will learn the last two verses of the same surah, which the Prophet also recommended for every night.
Sources
Keep going
Up next: The last two verses of Surah Al-Baqarah
Want to keep track of what you finish? Create a free account. It only takes a minute.