Ayatul Kursi — the Throne Verse — is verse 255 of Surah Al-Baqarah, and one of the most beloved single verses in the entire Qur'an. In just a few lines it describes God more fully than almost anywhere else in scripture. Here is what it says and what it means. Tap to read Ayatul Kursi in full with translation and tafsir.
Where it sits in the Qur'an
Ayatul Kursi is the 255th verse of Al-Baqarah (2:255), the longest chapter of the Qur'an. It takes its name — Ayat al-Kursi, "the Verse of the Throne" — from its mention of God's Kursi, His Throne, which reaches over the heavens and the earth.
What it means, line by line
The verse moves through the attributes of God, one after another:
- His oneness — it opens by declaring that there is no god but Him alone.
- His life and self-sufficiency — He is Al-Hayy (the Ever-Living) and Al-Qayyum (the Sustainer of all): He lives without beginning or end, and every created thing stands only because He holds it up.
- His perfection — neither drowsiness nor sleep ever touches Him; He never tires, never pauses, never looks away.
- His ownership — everything in the heavens and on the earth belongs to Him.
- His authority over intercession — no one can speak on another's behalf except by His leave.
- His knowledge — He knows all that lies before His creation and all that comes after, while they grasp nothing of His knowledge beyond what He chooses to teach.
- His Throne — the Kursi extends over the heavens and the earth, and sustaining them all is no burden to Him.
- His majesty — it closes as it began, naming Him Al-'Aliyy (the Most High) and Al-'Azim (the Most Great).
Why it is so loved
In a single verse, Ayatul Kursi gathers God's oneness, His life, His knowledge, His power, and His majesty. That completeness is why it is among the first passages many people memorize, and why it is so often returned to — after prayer, at the start of the day, before sleep. It is a verse to know, not only to read.
How to sit with it
A verse like this rewards slowness. Read it once for the words, then again for the meaning, then keep coming back until each line feels familiar — the way you would learn a poem by heart, one line at a time.
That steady rhythm is exactly what One Ayat A Day is built for: one verse each day with its translation and tafsir, plus a full mushaf reader for when you want to sit with Al-Baqarah in full. Begin with Ayatul Kursi.