ٱللَّهُ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ٱلْحَىُّ ٱلْقَيُّومُ ۚ لَا تَأْخُذُهُۥ سِنَةٌ وَلَا نَوْمٌ ۚ لَّهُۥ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۗ مَن ذَا ٱلَّذِى يَشْفَعُ عِندَهُۥٓ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِهِۦ ۚ يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ ۖ وَلَا يُحِيطُونَ بِشَىْءٍ مِّنْ عِلْمِهِۦٓ إِلَّا بِمَا شَآءَ ۚ وَسِعَ كُرْسِيُّهُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ ۖ وَلَا يَـُٔودُهُۥ حِفْظُهُمَا ۚ وَهُوَ ٱلْعَلِىُّ ٱلْعَظِيمُ 255
Translations
Allāh - there is no deity except Him, the Ever-Living, the Self-Sustaining. 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 [presently] before them and what will be after them, and they encompass not a thing of His knowledge except for what He wills. His Kursī extends over the heavens and the earth, and their preservation tires Him not. And He is the Most High, the Most Great.
Transliteration
Allahu la ilaha illa huwa al-Hayyu al-Qayyum. La ta'khudhuhu sinatun wa la nawm. Lahu ma fi as-samawati wa ma fi al-ard. Man dha al-ladhi yashfa'u 'indahu illa bi-idhnihi. Ya'lamu ma bayna aydihim wa ma khalfahum. Wa la yuhitun bi-shay'in min 'ilmihi illa bima sha'a. Wasi'a kursiyyuhu as-samawati wa al-ard. Wa la yu'uduhu hifzuhuma. Wa huwa al-'Aliyyu al-'Azim.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This is the Ayat al-Kursi (Throne Verse), the most prominent ayah describing Allah's transcendent attributes and sovereignty. It establishes that Allah alone is the only deity worthy of worship, that He is eternal (Al-Hayy) and self-sustaining (Al-Qayyum), never experiencing fatigue, sleep, or slumber. The verse affirms Allah's complete ownership of all creation, His infinite knowledge encompassing past and future, His exclusive authority over intercession, and His vast dominion over the heavens and earth without strain—emphasizing His supremacy and grandeur. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi highlight this verse as a comprehensive exposition of divine attributes demonstrating why worship is due to Allah alone.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Al-Baqarah (a Medinan chapter) and is positioned after verses discussing usury and lending, thematically grounding believers' financial conduct in awareness of Allah's ultimate knowledge and authority. While there is no specific asbab al-nuzul (revelation occasion) recorded for this particular verse, its placement emphasizes that all human affairs operate under Allah's watchful knowledge and sovereignty, providing spiritual context for ethical guidance.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) encouraged the recitation of Ayat al-Kursi, particularly before sleep. Abu Hurairah reported in Sahih Bukhari that the Prophet said it protects one from mischief. Additionally, in Sahih Muslim, there are reports that reciting this verse confers protection and blessings.
Themes
Key Lesson
This verse teaches believers that recognizing Allah's complete knowledge, power, and oversight should inspire both humility and trust—knowing that nothing escapes His awareness, and that all authority ultimately belongs to Him, should guide ethical conduct and strengthen reliance on Him alone. For modern readers, it serves as a reminder to submit personal concerns to the One who sustains all creation without burden or fatigue, fostering spiritual peace and moral responsibility.