Ayatul Kursi: Arabic text, transliteration and English translation
By the Namilo team. Updated October 23, 2026.
Ayatul Kursi, or Ayat al-Kursi, “the verse of the Kursī”, is verse 255 of Surah Al-Baqara. Here is its Arabic text, its transliteration (the verse written in Latin letters, joined up the way it is recited), and its English translation. The text follows the Hafs ‘an ‘Āsim reading.
The transliteration is a working translation by the Namilo team, still awaiting review by a scholar. The English translation of the Rowwad Translation Center, published by QuranEnc.com, is reproduced in full and word for word, with the translators’ notes: the numbers in square brackets point to them.
How to read the transliteration
u sounds like the “u” in “put”; ā, ī and ū are long. h is always pronounced, s never becomes z, r is rolled. sh as in “she”, kh like the Spanish jota, gh like a French r from the back of the throat, th like the th in “think”, dh like the one in “this”, q like a k from the back of the throat: qul (“say”) is not kul (“eat”). ‘ is the ‘ayn, a tight sound from the throat, and ’ a short stop. A dot under a letter (ḥ, ṣ, ḍ, ṭ, ẓ) marks a heavier sound than the same letter without it.
The line in bold gives the verse as it is recited, with the words joined as in recitation (“huwa l-ḥayyu”, not “huwa al-ḥayyu”); the finer rules of recitation (tajwīd) are not marked.
Allāhu lā ilāha illā huwa l-ḥayyul-qayyūmu lā ta’khudhuhū sinatun wa lā nawmun lahū mā fi s-samāwāti wa mā fi l-arḍi man dha lladhī yashfa‘u ‘indahū illā bi-idhnihī ya‘lamu mā bayna aydīhim wa mā khalfahum wa lā yuḥīṭūna bi-shay’in min ‘ilmihī illā bi-mā shā’a wasi‘a kursiyyuhu s-samāwāti wa l-arḍa wa lā ya’ūduhū ḥifẓuhumā wa huwa l-‘aliyyul-‘aẓīm
English translation
Allah: none has the right to be worshiped except Him, the Ever-Living[1], All-Sustaining[2]. Neither drowsiness overtakes Him nor sleep[3]. To Him belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is on earth. Who is there that can intercede with Him except with His permission? He knows what was before them and what will be after them[4], while they encompass nothing of His knowledge, except what He wills. His Kursī[5] [i.e., footstool] extends over the heavens and earth, and safeguarding of both does not weary Him, for He is the Most High[6], the Most Great[7].[8]
[1] Whose life is perfect, complete, and eternal, without beginning or end. [2] Dependent on none for His existence while being the sustainer of all created beings. [3] Dozing off and falling asleep are but normal to all creation that are inherently frail. [4] Allah's knowledge encompasses every aspect of His creations in the past, present and future. [5] Chair or footstool. It is not to be confused with al-‘Arsh (the Throne), which is infinitely higher and greater than al-Kursī. [6] Above all of His creations and superior to them in essence, rank, and position. [7] Whose greatness is unlimited, beyond description or imagination. [8] This verse is known as Āyat al-Kursī, lit. The verse of the Footstool. It is the greatest verse in the Qur’an.
Arabic: Tanzil (Hafs reading). Translation: Rowwad Translation Center, published by QuranEnc.com, version 1.0.20.
Recitation by Mishary Rashid Alafasy, streamed from the Islamic Network server: it receives your IP address and the verse requested, and nothing is sent before you press “Listen”.
Sources, and how this page is made
Arabic text: Tanzil Project (tanzil.net), Uthmani script (Hafs ‘an ‘Āsim reading), copied without modification. Translation: Rowwad Translation Center, published by QuranEnc.com, version 1.0.20, reproduced word for word with the translators’ notes (QuranEnc.com). Recitation: Mishary Rashid Alafasy, streamed by Islamic Network (cdn.islamic.network); the rights remain with the reciter, and it will be removed from this page if he asks.
The transliteration is the one in the English version of the Namilo app, written by the team: a working translation, not yet reviewed. Before publication, an automatic check verifies that it keeps, in order, the consonants of the app’s word-by-word pronunciation; it does not see the vowels. The text around it was written with the help of an AI.
See a mistake? Write to us at [email protected] with your source: we check it against the original text.
In the Namilo app, Ayatul Kursi is also available word by word, to understand each word: its Arabic, its pronunciation and its meaning, then review them one at a time. The word-by-word mode is part of Namilo+; the text and its translation stay free.
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