Ayat al-Kursi — What to say before sleeping

﴿اللَّهُ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ الحَيُّ القَيُّومُ لاَ تَأخُذُهُ سِنَةٌ وَلاَ نَومٌ لَّهُ مَا فِي السَّمَوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الأَرضِ مَن ذَا الَّذِي يَشفَعُ عِنـــــــــــدَهُ إِلاَّ بِإِذنِهِ يَعلَمُ مَا بَينَ أَيدِيهِم وَمَا خَلفَهُم وَلاَ يُحِيطُونَ بِشَيءٍ مِّن عِلمِهِ إِلاَّ بِمَا شَاء وَسِعَ كُرسِيُّهُ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرضَ وَلاَ يَؤُودُهُ حِفظُهُمَا وَهُوَ العَلِيُّ العَظِيمُ﴾.

Approximate Arabic reading aid

Allāhu lā ilāha illā huwa alḥayyu alqayyūmu lā ta'akhudhuhu sinatun walā nawmun lahu mā fī as-samawāti wamā fī al'arḍi man dhā alladhī yashfa'u 'indahu illā bi'idhnihi ya'lamu mā bayna aydīhim wamā khalfahum walā yuḥīṭūna bishay'in min 'ilmihi illā bimā shā' wasi'a kursiyyuhu as-samawāti wal-'arḍa walā ya'ūduhu ḥifẓuhumā wahuwa al'aliyyu al'aẓīmu.

English meaning

Allah - there is no deity except Him, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of [all] existence. 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 Kursi extends over the heavens and the earth, and their preservation tires Him not. And He is the Most High, the Most Great.

Explanation (Tafseer)

Ayat al-Kursi declares Allah’s exclusive right to worship, perfect life, and self-sustaining care of creation. It denies sleep or fatigue, affirms His ownership, permission over intercession, complete knowledge, vast Kursi, and effortless preservation of the heavens and earth, closing with His transcendence and greatness.

When to use

What to say before sleeping

Reference & source

Hisn al-Muslim 100

Open source