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
Allah! There is no god ˹worthy of worship˺ 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 before them and what is behind them, but they do not encompass any of His knowledge except that which He wills. His Kursi extends over the heavens and the earth, and their preservation does not burden Him. And He is the Most High, the Most Great.
Allahu la ilaha illa Huwa, Al-Hayyul-Qayyum. La ta’khudhuhu sinatun wa la nawm. Lahu ma fis-samawati wa ma fil-ard. Man dhalladhi yashfa’u ‘indahu illa bi-idhnihi. Ya’lamu ma bayna aydeehim wa ma khalfahum, wa la yuheetoona bi shai’im-min ‘ilmihi illa bima shaa’. Wasi’a kursiyyuhus-samawati wal-ard. Wa la ya’ooduhu hifdhuhuma. Wa Huwal-’Aliyyul-’Adheem.
When to Read
This powerful verse is most effective when recited just before you go to bed for the night. Make it the last thing you recite as you settle down to sleep.
How to Read
Recite Ayat al-Kursi (the full verse) with a sincere heart and full conviction in Allah's protective power. Focus on the meaning and attributes of Allah mentioned in the verse, understanding that you are seeking refuge in the Most High, the Most Great. Once recited, put your trust in Allah and know that His protection is encompassing. There's no specific ritual other than recitation and belief.
Virtues & Benefits
Reciting Ayat al-Kursi before sleep brings an extraordinary shield of protection. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught us that when you recite this verse before bed, Allah will send a guardian angel to stay with you, ensuring that no Shaytan (devil) will be able to come near you until the morning. This protection directly addresses the root causes of frightening experiences like nightmares and sleep paralysis, which are often attributed to the interference of jinn and Shaytan. It offers deep peace of mind, replacing fear with certainty in Allah’s safeguarding, and allows for a more restful and protected sleep.
Source & Authentication
Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ appointed me to guard the Zakat of Ramadan. Then someone came to me and started stealing from the food (of Zakat). I caught him and said, 'By Allah, I will take you to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ!' He said, 'I am a needy man and have many dependents, and I am in great need.' So I released him. In the morning, the Prophet ﷺ asked, 'O Abu Hurairah! What did your prisoner do yesterday?' I said, 'O Messenger of Allah! He complained of being needy and having many dependents, so I pitied him and let him go.' The Prophet ﷺ said, 'Indeed, he told you a lie and he will return.' I knew that he would return because the Prophet ﷺ had told me that he would return. So I waited for him. He came again and started stealing from the food. I caught him and said, 'I will definitely take you to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ!' He said, 'Release me, for I am needy and have many dependents. I will not come back.' I pitied him and let him go. In the morning, the Prophet ﷺ asked me, 'O Abu Hurairah! What did your prisoner do yesterday?' I said, 'O Messenger of Allah! He complained of being needy and having many dependents, so I pitied him and let him go.' The Prophet ﷺ said, 'Indeed, he told you a lie and he will return.' So I waited for him for the third time. He came again and started stealing from the food. I caught him and said, 'I will definitely take you to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and this is the third time you promise not to return, yet you return!' He said, 'Let me teach you some words by which Allah will benefit you.' I said, 'What are they?' He said, 'When you go to bed, recite Ayat al-Kursi (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:255) fully. Then Allah will appoint a guardian for you who will stay with you, and no Shaytan will come near you until morning.' So I let him go. In the morning, the Prophet ﷺ asked, 'What did your prisoner do yesterday?' I said, 'O Messenger of Allah! He claimed that he would teach me some words by which Allah would benefit me, so I let him go.' The Prophet ﷺ asked, 'What are those words?' I said, 'He told me: When you go to bed, recite Ayat al-Kursi from its beginning to its end. He further said: Then Allah will appoint a guardian for you who will stay with you, and no Shaytan will come near you until morning.' The Prophet ﷺ said, 'He has told you the truth, though he is a liar. That was Shaytan (himself).'