What is Āyat al-Kursī and what are its benefits?
The greatest verse in the Qur'an, according to the hadith. Its meanings, its place as a protection from Shayṭān after every prayer, and what the scholars drew from its theology.
10 passages from 5 books in the library
Āyat al-Kursī is described in the cited passages as the greatest verse of the Qurʾan — a merit, the page notes, reported by Muslim. The classical scholars stress its protective power: it is recommended on retiring to bed to guard against a plotting jinn, and to be recited if an enemy or a beast attacks by night or day. Ibn Abī Ḥātim relates a narration about it in his tafsīr connected to the Children of Israel and Mūsā. It also appears among the daily remembrances paired with sūrat al-Ikhlāṣ and the two refuge sūrahs.
Drawn from the classical sources below — in the scholars' own words.
The classical approach.
These passages are drawn from 5 books by Ibn Kathir and Imam al-Ghazali — part of the classical Sunni tradition that carries over a thousand years of reflection on the Qurʾān, the authentic Sunnah, and the consensus of the early community. Nothing below is a paraphrase. The words are the scholars' own, translated from the original Arabic manuscripts.
14th century · Bosra, Syria
Monumental history Al-Bidāyah wa al-Nihāyah, the world's most widely read Qurʾanic commentary, and the classical Stories of the Prophets.
More on Ibn Kathir →
· Provenance →
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"Ibn Abi Hatim narrated in the interpretation of the ayat al-kursi that the children of Israel asked Moses"
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"advised the Prophet to recite Ayat al-Kursi when retiring to bed to protect against a plotting jinn."
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"Ayat al-Kursi, say, He is Allah the One three times, and al-Mu'udhatayn three times, a caller"
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"times Ayat Al-Kursi, and seeks Allah's forgiveness fifteen times, will have great rewards and"
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"whoever prays ten rakahs on Tuesday at midday, reciting al-Fatiha and Ayat al-Kursi in each"
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"Allah wills, and reciting Ayat Al-Kursi thirty times in the last two Raqqats, and reciting"
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"If an enemy or beast attacks during the night or day, one should recite Ayat al-Kursi, the"
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"It mentions that reciting the opening of the Book, Ayat al-Kursi, and the two verses from"
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"Reports confirm the virtue of reciting Surah Al-Farha, Ayat Al-Kursi, and the ending of"
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"The merit of Ayat al-Kursi is reported by Muslim, where it is described as the greatest"
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