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, and they encompass not a thing of His knowledge except for what He wills. His Kursi extends over the heavens and the earth, and preserving them does not weary Him. And He is the Most High, the Most Great.
Allahu la ilaha illa Huwal-Hayyul-Qayyum. La ta'khudhuhu sinatun wa la nawm. Lahu ma fis-samawati wa ma fil-ard. Man dhal-ladhi yashfa'u 'indahu illa bi-idhnihi. Ya'lamu ma bayna aydihim wa ma khalfahum. Wa la yuhituna bishai'im min 'ilmihi illa bima sha'a. Wasi'a kursiyyuhus-samawati wal-ard. Wa la ya'uduhu hifdhuhuma. Wa Huwal-'Aliyyul-'Adheem.
When to Read
As the night deepens and you prepare for rest, make reciting Ayatul Kursi a sacred part of your final actions before closing your eyes. It’s part of the comprehensive set of *adhkar* – daily remembrances – that the Prophet ﷺ taught us to carry out, particularly before we surrender to sleep, when we are most vulnerable. Do this right after you've finished your evening prayers and all other nightly routines, just before your head hits the pillow.
How to Read
Recite Ayatul Kursi not merely as a set of words, but with a present heart, reflecting on its profound meaning. It's a declaration of Allah's absolute power, His unmatched sovereignty, and His boundless knowledge. Understanding these truths as you speak them connects your soul to the protection you seek. You don't need to recite loudly; a whisper is sufficient, as long as your heart is engaged and sincere. The hadith implies a single, heartfelt recitation is enough.
Virtues & Benefits
The immense benefit of reciting Ayatul Kursi before sleep is beautifully detailed in the Prophetic tradition. Allah sends a guardian angel to watch over you, and Shaytan (Satan) is kept at bay until the morning. This protection isn't limited; it's a shield against all forms of evil – the insidious whispers of Shaytan, the harmful gaze of the evil eye, and any ill intention from jinn or humans that might target you in your vulnerable state of sleep. You drift off enveloped in Allah's direct care, bringing a profound sense of peace and security.
Source & Authentication
Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) put me in charge of the Zakat of Ramadan. Someone came and started scooping up food from it. I seized him and said, 'By Allah, I will take you to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)!' He pleaded, 'I am needy, I have many dependents, and I am in dire need.' I released him. In the morning, the Prophet (ﷺ) asked me, 'O Abu Hurairah! What did your captive do last night?' 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 he would return because the Prophet (ﷺ) had said so. So I waited for him. He came again and started scooping food. I seized him and said, 'I will definitely take you to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)!' He pleaded, 'Release me; I am very needy and have many dependents. I promise I won't come back.' I pitied him and released him. In the morning, the Prophet (ﷺ) asked me, 'O Abu Hurairah! What did your captive do?' I said, 'O Messenger of Allah! He complained of dire need 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 on the third night. He came and started scooping food. I seized him and said, 'I will definitely take you to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! This is the third time, and you promised not to return, yet you did!' He said, 'Release me, and I will teach you some words by which Allah will benefit you.' I asked, 'What are they?' He replied, 'When you go to bed, recite Ayatul Kursi (2:255) from beginning to end. If you do so, Allah will appoint a guard over you, and Shaytan will not come near you until morning.' So I released him. In the morning, the Prophet (ﷺ) asked me, 'What did your captive do last night?' I said, 'O Messenger of Allah! He claimed he would teach me some words by which Allah would benefit me, so I released him.' The Prophet (ﷺ) asked, 'What are they?' I replied, 'He told me: When you go to bed, recite Ayatul Kursi from its beginning to its end, saying that if I did so, Allah would appoint a guard over me, and Shaytan would not come near me until morning.' The Prophet (ﷺ) then said, 'He told you the truth, though he is a great liar. O Abu Hurairah! Do you know who you were talking to for three nights?' I said, 'No.' He said, 'That was Shaytan (Satan).'