Read in context: Surah Al-Baqarah, full text · Pickthall translation (public domain)
Qur'an 2:255
“Allah! There is no deity save Him, the Alive, the Eternal. Neither slumber nor sleep overtaketh Him. Unto Him belongeth whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is in the earth. Who is he that intercedeth with Him save by His leave? He knoweth that which is in front of them and that which is behind them, while they encompass nothing of His knowledge save what He will. His throne includeth the heavens and the earth, and He is never weary of preserving them. He is the Sublime, the Tremendous” — read online, free, in the Pickthall translation.
Ayat al-Kursi — the Throne Verse, the most recited verse in Islam, memorised by nearly every Muslim and recited after prayers and before sleep.
About this text: English translations of the Qur'an — how they differ →
Frequently asked questions
What is Ayat al-Kursi?
Qur'an 2:255 describes Allah as the Living, the Self-subsisting — neither slumber nor sleep seizes Him — and declares that His Kursi (Throne) extends over the heavens and the earth. It is recited for protection and is among the first verses a Muslim child memorises.
What translation of the Qur'an is this?
This is the translation of Marmaduke Pickthall (1930), a respected public domain English rendering of the Qur'an.
Where can I read this verse in full context?
The complete text is free to read at fourfaiths.com/quran/2/ — no account, no download, with every chapter of the Qur'an.
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