Ayatul Kursi (the Verse of the Kursi, Surah al-Baqarah 2:255) is the greatest verse in the Quran. When the Prophet ﷺ asked Ubayy ibn Ka'b which verse in the Book of Allah was the greatest, Ubayy recited Ayatul Kursi, and the Prophet ﷺ gently struck his chest and said: "May knowledge bring you joy, O Abu al-Mundhir!" (Sahih Muslim 810).
Ayatul Kursi in Arabic (Surah al-Baqarah 2:255)
اللَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ ۚ لَا تَأْخُذُهُ سِنَةٌ وَلَا نَوْمٌ ۚ لَهُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ ۗ مَنْ ذَا الَّذِي يَشْفَعُ عِنْدَهُ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِهِ ۚ يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ ۖ وَلَا يُحِيطُونَ بِشَيْءٍ مِنْ عِلْمِهِ إِلَّا بِمَا شَاءَ ۚ وَسِعَ كُرْسِيُّهُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ ۖ وَلَا يَئُودُهُ حِفْظُهُمَا ۚ وَهُوَ الْعَلِيُّ الْعَظِيمُ
Transliteration of Ayatul Kursi
Transliteration: Allahu la ilaha illa huwa al-hayyu al-qayyum. La ta'khudhuhu sinatun wa la nawm. Lahu ma fi as-samawati wa ma fi al-ard. Man dha alladhi yashfa'u 'indahu illa bi-idhnih. Ya'lamu ma bayna aydihim wa ma khalfahum. Wa la yuhituna bi-shay'in min 'ilmihi illa bima sha'. Wasi'a kursiyyuhu as-samawati wa al-ard. Wa la ya'uduhu hifzuhuma. Wa huwa al-'aliyyu al-'azim.
Meaning of Ayatul Kursi
Meaning: "Allah: there is no god but Him, the Ever-Living (al-Hayy), the Sustainer of all that exists (al-Qayyum). Neither drowsiness nor sleep overtakes Him. 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 before them and what is behind them, and they encompass nothing of His knowledge except what He wills. His Kursi extends over the heavens and the earth, and guarding them both does not tire Him. And He is the Most High, the Most Great" (al-Baqarah 2:255).
The virtue of reciting Ayatul Kursi before sleep
When we fall asleep, our awareness fades and we can no longer guard ourselves. Reciting the words "Neither drowsiness nor sleep overtakes Him" and "guarding them both does not tire Him" as we lie down places our soul in the care of the One who never sleeps.
In the famous hadith in Sahih al-Bukhari, Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) was guarding the charity of Ramadan when someone came three nights in a row to take from the food. On the third night, the intruder told him: *"When you go to your bed, recite Ayatul Kursi from beginning to end: there will remain over you a guardian from Allah, and no devil (shaytan) will come near you until morning."* When Abu Hurayrah told the Prophet ﷺ in the morning, the Prophet ﷺ said: "He told you the truth, though he is a liar. Do you know whom you have been speaking with for three nights, O Abu Hurayrah? That was a shaytan" (Sahih al-Bukhari 2311).
When to recite Ayatul Kursi
- Every night when going to bed: Recited in a state of wudu for protection through the night against bad dreams, whispers and sleep paralysis (Sahih al-Bukhari 2311). See Duas before sleeping.
- After each obligatory prayer: Reciting Ayatul Kursi after the five daily prayers is among the most virtuous prophetic remembrances.
- *In the morning and evening remembrances (adhkar):* Together with Surahs al-Ikhlas, al-Falaq and an-Nas for protection and peace of heart.
- When waking afraid in the night: If you wake from a disturbing dream, seek refuge in Allah and recite Ayatul Kursi to calm the heart. See Dua for protection from bad dreams.
What reciting Ayatul Kursi in a dream means
In the Islamic dream interpretation tradition, reciting or hearing Ayatul Kursi in a dream is one of the finest signs a believer can see. Scholars such as Ibn Sirin and an-Nabulsi explain that reciting it in sleep — especially when afraid or facing jinn and Shaytan in a dream — points to strong faith, safety under Allah's protection, relief from hardship and protection from envy. You can read more symbol meanings in our Islamic dream meanings.
In short
Ayatul Kursi is the greatest verse in the Quran and a believer's nightly shield. Reciting it before sleep with presence of heart entrusts your night to Allah, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer whom neither slumber nor sleep overtakes.
And Allah knows best.
Sources
- Surah al-Baqarah 2:255
- Sahih al-Bukhari 2311, 5010
- Sahih Muslim 810