Ayatul Kursi: 2:255

Arabic Text: ٱللَّهُ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ٱلْحَىُّ ٱلْقَيُّومُ ۚ لَا تَأْخُذُهُۥ سِنَةٌۭ وَلَا نَوْمٌۭ ۚ لَّهُۥ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۗ مَن ذَا ٱلَّذِى يَشْفَعُ عِندَهُۥٓ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِهِۦ ۚ يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ ۖ وَلَا يُحِيطُونَ بِشَىْءٍۢ مِّنْ عِلْمِهِۦٓ إِلَّا بِمَا شَآءَ ۚ وَسِعَ كُرْسِيُّهُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ ۖ وَلَا يَـُٔودُهُۥ حِفْظُهُمَا ۚ وَهُوَ ٱلْعَلِىُّ ٱلْعَظِيمُ

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 (Throne/Chair) extends over the heavens and the earth, and their preservation tires Him not. And He is the Most High, the Most Great.

Literal Translation with Etymological Focus:

1. ٱللَّهُ (Allāhu)

   • Literal: The God.
   • Etymology: Composed of the definite article ال (al- "the") + إِلَٰه (ʾilāh "a god, deity"). The word إِلَٰه (ʾilāh) itself is believed to derive from a Semitic root like ʾ-L-H or ʾ-W-L, signifying "to be foremost," "to be strong," or "to be worshipped." It is cognate with Hebrew El or Eloah. Allāh thus means The One True God.

2. لَآ إِلَـٰهَ (lā ʾilāha)

   • لَآ (lā):
     • Literal: No, not.
     • Etymology: A fundamental Semitic negative particle.
   • إِلَـٰهَ (ʾilāha):
     • Literal: a god, a deity (in the accusative case due to lā of absolute negation).
     • Etymology: As above, from ʾ-L-H or ʾ-W-L, "god."

3. إِلَّا هُوَ (ʾillā huwa)

   • إِلَّا (ʾillā):
     • Literal: Except, but, only.
     • Etymology: A compound particle, likely from إن (ʾin "if/not") + لا (lā "not"), functioning as an exceptive.
   • هُوَ (huwa):
     • Literal: He.
     • Etymology: Standard Semitic third-person masculine singular pronoun.

   Phrase Meaning: "No deity except Him."

4. ٱلْحَىُّ (al-Ḥayyu)

   • Literal: The Ever-Living.
   • Etymology: The definite article ال (al-) + حَىّ (ḥayy "living"). The root is ح-ي-ي (Ḥ-Y-Y), meaning "to live," "to be alive." The form faʿʿ indicates an intensive or permanent quality, hence "The Ever-Living."

5. ٱلْقَيُّومُ (al-Qayyūmu)

   • Literal: The Self-Subsisting, The Sustainer.
   • Etymology: The definite article ال (al-) + قَيُّوم (qayyūm). The root is ق-و-م (Q-W-M), meaning "to stand," "to rise," "to establish," "to maintain," "to manage." The fayyūl pattern (like qayyūm) denotes an intensive or permanent characteristic of one who "stands" to manage and sustain all things, independently.

6. لَا تَأْخُذُهُۥ سِنَةٌۭ (lā taʾkhudhuhu sinatun)

   • لَا (lā):
     • Literal: Not.
   • تَأْخُذُهُۥ (taʾkhudhuhu):
     • Literal: It takes Him.
     • Etymology: تَأْخُذُ (taʾkhudhu) is the 3rd person feminine singular imperfect verb from the root أ-خ-ذ (ʾ-KH-DH), meaning "to take," "to seize," "to overcome." The feminine form agrees with سِنَةٌۭ (sinah). هُ (-hu) is the 3rd person masculine singular object pronoun ("Him").
   • سِنَةٌۭ (sinatun):
     • Literal: A slumber, drowsiness.
     • Etymology: From the root و-س-ن (W-S-N), meaning "to be drowsy," "to slumber." Sinah refers to a light sleep or the onset of sleep.

   Phrase Meaning: "Slumber does not overtake Him."

7. وَلَا نَوْمٌۭ (wa lā nawmun)

   • وَ (wa):
     • Literal: And.
     • Etymology: Standard Semitic conjunction.
   • لَا (lā):
     • Literal: Not.
   • نَوْمٌۭ (nawmun):
     • Literal: A sleep.
     • Etymology: From the root ن-و-م (N-W-M), meaning "to sleep." Refers to deeper sleep than sinah.

   Phrase Meaning: "And not sleep."

8. لَّهُۥ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ (lahu mā fi s-samāwāti wa mā fi l-ʾarḍi)

   • لَّهُۥ (lahu):
     • Literal: To Him / For Him / His is.
     • Etymology: لِ (li-) is a preposition meaning "to," "for," "belonging to." هُ (-hu) is "Him."
   • مَا (mā):
     • Literal: What, whatever.
     • Etymology: A relative pronoun.
   • فِى (fī):
     • Literal: In.
     • Etymology: A preposition.
   • ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ (as-samāwāti):
     • Literal: The heavens.
     • Etymology: ال (al-) + سَمَاوَات (samāwāt, plural of سَمَاء samāʾ). The root is س-م-و (S-M-W), meaning "to be high," "to be lofty," "to rise." Cognate with Hebrew shamayim.
   • وَ (wa): And.
   • مَا (mā): What, whatever.
   • فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ (fi l-ʾarḍi):
     • فِى (fī): In.
     • ٱلْأَرْضِ (al-ʾarḍi): The earth. ال (al-) + أَرْض (ʾarḍ). The root is أ-ر-ض (ʾ-R-Ḍ). Cognate with Hebrew eretz.

   Phrase Meaning: "To Him (belongs) whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth."

9. مَن ذَا ٱلَّذِى يَشْفَعُ عِندَهُۥٓ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِهِۦ (man dhā lladhī yashfaʿu ʿindahu ʾillā bi-ʾidhnihi)

   • مَن (man):
     • Literal: Who.
     • Etymology: Interrogative pronoun.
   • ذَا (dhā):
     • Literal: Is that / that.
     • Etymology: Demonstrative pronoun, often used for emphasis in questions.
   • ٱلَّذِى (alladhī):
     • Literal: The one who.
     • Etymology: Relative pronoun, masculine singular.
   • يَشْفَعُ (yashfaʿu):
     • Literal: He intercedes.
     • Etymology: 3rd person masculine singular imperfect verb from the root ش-ف-ع (SH-F-ʿ). The root meaning relates to "pairing" or "making even" (e.g., an odd number becomes even by adding one). From this comes the meaning "to mediate," "to intercede" (to add one's support to another).
   • عِندَهُۥٓ (ʿindahu):
     • Literal: With Him, in His presence.
     • Etymology: عِندَ (ʿinda) is a preposition/adverb meaning "near," "with," "at," "in the possession of." هُ (-hu) is "Him."
   • إِلَّا (ʾillā): Except.
   • بِإِذْنِهِۦ (bi-ʾidhnihi):
     • بِ (bi-): With, by. Preposition.
     • إِذْنِ (ʾidhn): Permission, leave. From the root أ-ذ-ن (ʾ-DH-N), meaning "to listen," "to permit," "to allow." The concept of permission is linked to being "heard" or "attended to" (cf. أُذُن ʾudhun "ear").
     • هِۦ (-hi): His. Possessive pronoun suffix.

   Phrase Meaning: "Who is that the one who intercedes in His presence except with His permission?"

10. يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ (yaʿlamu mā bayna ʾaydīhim wa mā khalfahum)

    • يَعْلَمُ (yaʿlamu):
      • Literal: He knows.
      • Etymology: 3rd person masculine singular imperfect verb from the root ع-ل-م (ʿ-L-M), meaning "to know," "to be aware," "to have knowledge."
    • مَا (mā): What.
    • بَيْنَ (bayna):
      • Literal: Between.
      • Etymology: Preposition/adverb.
    • أَيْدِيهِمْ (ʾaydīhim):
      • Literal: Their hands.
      • Etymology: أَيْدِي (ʾaydī) is the plural of يَد (yad "hand"), from root ي-د-ي (Y-D-Y). هِمْ (-him) is "their." The phrase mā bayna ʾaydīhim idiomatically means "what is before them" or "what is present to them."
    • وَ (wa): And.
    • مَا (mā): What.
    • خَلْفَهُمْ (khalfahum):
      • Literal: Behind them.
      • Etymology: خَلْفَ (khalfa) is a preposition/adverb meaning "behind," "after." From root خ-ل-ف (KH-L-F) meaning "to succeed, come after, be behind." هُمْ (-hum) is "them."

    Phrase Meaning: "He knows what is before them (their present and perceivable future/actions) and what is behind them (their past and unseen)."

11. وَلَا يُحِيطُونَ بِشَىْءٍۢ مِّنْ عِلْمِهِۦٓ إِلَّا بِمَا شَآءَ (wa lā yuḥīṭūna bi-shayʾin min ʿilmihi ʾillā bi-mā shāʾa)

    • وَ (wa): And.
    • لَا (lā): Not.
    • يُحِيطُونَ (yuḥīṭūna):
      • Literal: They encompass / they comprehend.
      • Etymology: 3rd person masculine plural imperfect verb from the Form IV verb أَحَاطَ (ʾaḥāṭa), root ح-و-ط (Ḥ-W-Ṭ). The root means "to surround," "to encircle." Form IV gives it the causative meaning "to cause to surround," or more idiomatically "to encompass," "to comprehend fully."
    • بِشَىْءٍۢ (bi-shayʾin):
      • بِ (bi-): With, of (here indicating the object of encompassing).
      • شَىْءٍۢ (shayʾin): A thing, anything. From root ش-ي-ء (SH-Y-ʾ), related to "will" or "to be" (cf. شَاءَ shāʾa "he willed").
    • مِّنْ عِلْمِهِۦٓ (min ʿilmihi):
      • مِّنْ (min): From, of.
      • عِلْمِ (ʿilmi): Knowledge. Noun from root ع-ل-م (ʿ-L-M), "to know."
      • هِۦ (-hi): His.
    • إِلَّا (ʾillā): Except.
    • بِمَا (bi-mā):
      • بِ (bi-): With, by.
      • مَا (mā): What.
    • شَآءَ (shāʾa):
      • Literal: He willed.
      • Etymology: 3rd person masculine singular perfect verb from root ش-ي-ء (SH-Y-ʾ), meaning "to will," "to wish."

    Phrase Meaning: "And they do not encompass anything of His knowledge except with what He wills."

12. وَسِعَ كُرْسِيُّهُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ (wasiʿa kursiyyuhu s-samāwāti wa l-ʾarḍa)

    • وَسِعَ (wasiʿa):
      • Literal: It extended over / It encompassed / It was vast enough for.
      • Etymology: 3rd person masculine singular perfect verb from root و-س-ع (W-S-ʿ), meaning "to be wide," "to be spacious," "to extend over," "to encompass," "to hold."
    • كُرْسِيُّهُ (kursiyyuhu):
      • Literal: His Kursi (Chair / Footstool / Throne / Dominion / Knowledge).
      • Etymology: كُرْسِيّ (kursī). The root is often cited as ك-ر-س (K-R-S), meaning "to collect," "to lay a foundation," "to establish." It signifies a seat, chair, or base. Interpretations vary: a literal footstool, a throne, or metaphorically His dominion, power, or knowledge. هُ (-hu) is "His."
    • ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ (as-samāwāti): The heavens. (Accusative as object of wasiʿa)
    • وَ (wa): And.
    • ٱلْأَرْضَ (al-ʾarḍa): The earth. (Accusative as object of wasiʿa)

    Phrase Meaning: "His Kursi extends over the heavens and the earth."

13. وَلَا يَـُٔودُهُۥ حِفْظُهُمَا (wa lā yaʾūduhu ḥifẓuhumā)

    • وَ (wa): And.
    • لَا (lā): Not.
    • يَـُٔودُهُۥ (yaʾūduhu):
      • Literal: It burdens Him / It tires Him / It weighs Him down.
      • Etymology: 3rd person masculine singular imperfect verb from آدَ (ʾāda), root أ-و-د (ʾ-W-D). The root implies "to bend," "to curve," "to weigh down," "to fatigue." هُ (-hu) is "Him."
    • حِفْظُهُمَا (ḥifẓuhumā):
      • Literal: Their preservation / Guarding them both.
      • Etymology: حِفْظ (ḥifẓ) is a verbal noun (masdar) from the root ح-ف-ظ (Ḥ-F-Ẓ), meaning "to keep," "to guard," "to preserve," "to memorize." هُمَا (-humā) is the dual pronoun "them both" (referring to the heavens and the earth). This is the subject of yaʾūduhu.

    Phrase Meaning: "And guarding them both does not burden Him."

14. وَهُوَ ٱلْعَلِىُّ ٱلْعَظِيمُ (wa huwa l-ʿAliyyu l-ʿAẓīmu)

    • وَ (wa): And.
    • هُوَ (huwa): He.
    • ٱلْعَلِىُّ (al-ʿAliyyu):
      • Literal: The Most High, The Exalted.
      • Etymology: ال (al-) + عَلِيّ (ʿaliyy). From the root ع-ل-و (ʿ-L-W), meaning "to be high," "to be exalted," "to be sublime." The faʿīl pattern often indicates a permanent quality or an intensive degree.
    • ٱلْعَظِيمُ (al-ʿAẓīmu):
      • Literal: The Most Great, The Supreme.
      • Etymology: ال (al-) + عَظِيم (ʿaẓīm). From the root ع-ظ-م (ʿ-Ẓ-M), meaning "to be great," "to be mighty," "to be magnificent." Related to عَظْم (ʿaẓm "bone"), signifying the core, strength, and substance. The faʿīl pattern denotes intensity or permanence.

    Phrase Meaning: "And He is the Most High, the Most Great."

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Word-by-Word Translation and Etymology

ٱللَّهُ (Allāhu)

• Literal meaning: Allah, God
• Etymology: Derived from the root ʾ-l-h (أله), likely from Proto-Semitic ʾil- meaning "deity/god"
• The definite article al- (ال) + ilāh (إله) = Allāh (الله)
• Note: Some scholars consider it a proper name, not derived from other words

لَآ (lā)

• Literal meaning: No, not
• Etymology: Common Semitic negative particle, from Proto-Semitic lā

إِلَـٰهَ (ilāha)

• Literal meaning: deity, god
• Etymology: From root ʾ-l-h (أله), related to Aramaic ʾĕlāh, Hebrew ʾĕlōah
• Derived from Proto-Semitic ʾil-āh

إِلَّا (illā)

• Literal meaning: except, but
• Etymology: Compound of in (إن) "if" + lā (لا) "not" = illā (إلا)

هُوَ (huwa)

• Literal meaning: He
• Etymology: From Proto-Semitic huwa, masculine 3rd person singular pronoun

ٱلْحَىُّ (al-ḥayyu)

• Literal meaning: The Living, The Ever-Living
• Etymology: From root ḥ-y-y (حيي) meaning "to live"
• Active participle with definite article, similar to Hebrew ḥay (חי)

ٱلْقَيُّومُ (al-qayyūmu)

• Literal meaning: The Self-Subsisting, The Sustainer
• Etymology: From root q-w-m (قوم) "to stand/rise/sustain"
• Intensive form (fayyūl), emphasizing permanence and complete sustenance

لَا (lā)

• Literal meaning: Not
• Etymology: Same as above

تَأْخُذُهُۥ (taʾkhudhuhū)

• Literal meaning: Seizes/takes him
• Etymology: From root ʾ-kh-dh (أخذ) "to take/seize"
• Verb in present tense (3rd person feminine) + suffix pronoun (-hu)

سِنَةٌۭ (sinatun)

• Literal meaning: Slumber, drowsiness
• Etymology: From root w-s-n (وسن) "to be drowsy"
• Related to Hebrew šēnāh (שינה) "sleep"

وَلَا (wa-lā)

• Literal meaning: And not
• Etymology: wa (و) "and" + lā (لا) "not"

نَوْمٌۭ (nawmun)

• Literal meaning: Sleep
• Etymology: From root n-w-m (نوم) "to sleep"
• Related to Hebrew nūm (נום) "to slumber"

لَّهُۥ (lahū)

• Literal meaning: To Him, For Him
• Etymology: Preposition li (لـ) "to/for" + pronoun hu (ه) "him"

مَا (mā)

• Literal meaning: What, whatever
• Etymology: Proto-Semitic interrogative/relative pronoun

فِى (fī)

• Literal meaning: In
• Etymology: From Proto-Semitic pi "in, at"

ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ (al-samāwāti)

• Literal meaning: The heavens
• Etymology: From root s-m-w (سمو) "to be high/elevated"
• Plural of samāʾ (سماء), cognate with Hebrew šāmayim (שמים)

وَمَا (wa-mā)

• Literal meaning: And what
• Etymology: wa (و) "and" + mā (ما) "what"

فِى (fī)

• Literal meaning: In
• Etymology: As above

ٱلْأَرْضِ (al-arḍi)

• Literal meaning: The earth
• Etymology: From Proto-Semitic ʾarṣ́- "earth/land"
• Cognate with Hebrew ereṣ (ארץ), Aramaic araʿ (ארע)

مَن (man)

• Literal meaning: Who
• Etymology: Proto-Semitic interrogative pronoun

ذَا (dhā)

• Literal meaning: This (one)
• Etymology: Demonstrative pronoun from Proto-Semitic ðā

ٱلَّذِى (alladhī)

• Literal meaning: Who, the one who
• Etymology: Relative pronoun, from al (ال) + ladhī (لذي)

يَشْفَعُ (yashfaʿu)

• Literal meaning: Intercedes
• Etymology: From root sh-f-ʿ (شفع) "to pair/couple/intercede"
• Present tense verb, related to concept of "joining" with another in advocacy

عِندَهُۥٓ (ʿindahū)

• Literal meaning: With Him, in His presence
• Etymology: ʿinda (عند) "with/at/near" + hu (ه) "him"
• ʿinda possibly from root ʿ-n-d relating to presence/proximity

إِلَّا (illā)

• Literal meaning: Except
• Etymology: As above

بِإِذْنِهِۦ (bi-idhnihi)

• Literal meaning: By His permission
• Etymology: bi (ب) "with/by" + idhn (إذن) "permission" + hi (ه) "his"
• Idhn from root ʾ-dh-n (أذن) "to allow/permit/hear"

يَعْلَمُ (yaʿlamu)

• Literal meaning: He knows
• Etymology: From root ʿ-l-m (علم) "to know"
• Present tense verb, cognate with Hebrew yādaʿ (ידע)

مَا (mā)

• Literal meaning: What
• Etymology: As above

بَيْنَ (bayna)

• Literal meaning: Between
• Etymology: From root b-y-n (بين) "to be separate/distinct"
• Cognate with Hebrew bên (בין)

أَيْدِيهِمْ (aydīhim)

• Literal meaning: Their hands, before them
• Etymology: Plural of yad (يد) "hand" + possessive suffix
• From Proto-Semitic yad- "hand," figuratively indicating "what is before them"

وَمَا (wa-mā)

• Literal meaning: And what
• Etymology: As above

خَلْفَهُمْ (khalfahum)

• Literal meaning: Behind them
• Etymology: khalf (خلف) "behind/after" + hum (هم) "them"
• From root kh-l-f (خلف) "to come after/succeed"

وَلَا (wa-lā)

• Literal meaning: And not
• Etymology: As above

يُحِيطُونَ (yuḥīṭūna)

• Literal meaning: They encompass/comprehend
• Etymology: From root ḥ-w-ṭ (حوط) "to surround/encompass"
• Present tense verb with plural subject

بِشَىْءٍۢ (bi-shayʾin)

• Literal meaning: With anything
• Etymology: bi (ب) "with" + shayʾ (شيء) "thing/something"
• Shayʾ from root sh-y-ʾ (شيء) "to will/desire"

مِّنْ (min)

• Literal meaning: From, of
• Etymology: Proto-Semitic preposition min "from"

عِلْمِهِۦٓ (ʿilmihi)

• Literal meaning: His knowledge
• Etymology: ʿilm (علم) "knowledge" + hi (ه) "his"
• ʿilm from root ʿ-l-m (علم) "to know"

إِلَّا (illā)

• Literal meaning: Except
• Etymology: As above

بِمَا (bi-mā)

• Literal meaning: By/with what
• Etymology: bi (ب) "with" + mā (ما) "what"

شَآءَ (shāʾa)

• Literal meaning: He willed/wished
• Etymology: From root sh-y-ʾ (شيء) "to will/wish"
• Past tense verb

وَسِعَ (wasiʿa)

• Literal meaning: Extends, encompasses
• Etymology: From root w-s-ʿ (وسع) "to be wide/vast/encompassing"
• Past tense verb denoting completion/certainty

كُرْسِيُّهُ (kursiyyuhu)

• Literal meaning: His Throne/Chair
• Etymology: kursī (كرسي) "chair/throne" + hu (ه) "his"
• Possibly from Aramaic korsyâ or Akkadian kussû, "seat of authority"

ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ (al-samāwāti)

• Literal meaning: The heavens
• Etymology: As above

وَٱلْأَرْضَ (wa-l-arḍa)

• Literal meaning: And the earth
• Etymology: As above

وَلَا (wa-lā)

• Literal meaning: And not
• Etymology: As above

يَـُٔودُهُۥ (yaʾūduhū)

• Literal meaning: Tires Him, burdens Him
• Etymology: From root ʾ-w-d (أود) "to burden/weigh down"
• Present tense verb with attached pronoun

حِفْظُهُمَا (ḥifẓuhumā)

• Literal meaning: Their preservation/guarding
• Etymology: ḥifẓ (حفظ) "preservation" + humā (هما) "them both"
• Ḥifẓ from root ḥ-f-ẓ (حفظ) "to guard/preserve/protect"

وَهُوَ (wa-huwa)

• Literal meaning: And He
• Etymology: wa (و) "and" + huwa (هو) "he"

ٱلْعَلِىُّ (al-ʿaliyyu)

• Literal meaning: The Most High
• Etymology: From root ʿ-l-w (علو) "to be high/elevated"
• Intensive adjective form with definite article

ٱلْعَظِيمُ (al-ʿaẓīmu)

• Literal meaning: The Most Great/Magnificent
• Etymology: From root ʿ-ẓ-m (عظم) "to be great/enormous"
• Intensive adjective form with definite article

Complete Literal Translation

"Allah - there is no deity except Him, the Ever-Living, the Self-Sustaining. Neither slumber seizes Him nor sleep. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth. Who is this that intercedes with Him except by His permission? He knows what is before them and what is behind them, and they encompass nothing of His knowledge except what He has willed. His Throne extends over the heavens and the earth, and their preservation does not burden Him. And He is the Most High, the Most Great."

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Literal Translation with Etymology of Key Words:

ٱللَّهُ

• Allah (الله): The unique name for God, derived from al-ilāh (“The God”), from ʾilāh (deity; Proto-Semitic: *ʾil/el meaning god).

لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ

• lā (لا): No, not (negation particle).
• ilāha (إِلَـٰهَ): God, deity (from root ʾ-l-h: to worship, deity).
• illā (إِلَّا): except, but (negation/exception particle).
• huwa (هُوَ): He (personal pronoun).

Literal:
God—no god/deity except He.

ٱلْحَىُّ ٱلْقَيُّومُ

• al-ḥayy (ٱلْحَىُّ): The Ever-Living.
  • ḥ-y-y root: to live, be alive.
  • ḥayy: one who is living, undying.
• al-qayyūm (ٱلْقَيُّومُ): The Sustainer, The Self-Subsisting.
  • q-w-m root: to stand, arise, be established.
  • qayyūm: one who upholds, maintains, supports (fm. qā’ima, pillar/upright).

لَا تَأْخُذُهُۥ سِنَةٌۭ وَلَا نَوْمٌۭ

• lā (لَا): Not.
• ta’khudhuhu (تَأْخُذُهُ): Seizes/overtakes him.
  • ʾ-kh-dh root: to take, seize, grasp.
• sinatun (سِنَةٌۭ): Drowsiness, slumber.
  • Root: s-n-w; sense of light sleep, nodding off.
• walā (وَلَا): And not.
• nawmun (نَوْمٌۭ): Sleep.
  • Root: n-w-m: to sleep, slumber.

Literal:
Not does seize Him drowsiness nor sleep.

لَّهُۥ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ

• lahu (لَّهُۥ): To Him belongs.
• mā (مَا): What, whatever.
• fī (فِى): In.
• as-samāwāt (ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ): The heavens/skies/upper realms (plural).
  • s-m-w root: to be high, lofty.
• wa-mā (وَمَا): And what.
• fī al-arḍ (فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ): In the earth/land.
  • ʾ-r-ḍ root: earth, land, ground.

Literal:
To Him belongs what is in the heavens and what is in the earth.

مَن ذَا ٱلَّذِى يَشْفَعُ عِندَهُۥٓ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِهِۦ

• man (مَن): Who.
• dhā (ذَا): is this (demonstrative).
• alladhī (ٱلَّذِى): who/that (relative pronoun).
• yashfaʿu (يَشْفَعُ): Intercedes.
  • sh-f-ʿ root: to intercede, to mediate.
• ʿindahu (عِندَهُۥ): With Him.
  • ʿind: at, with, in the presence of.
• illā (إِلَّا): Except.
• bi-idhnihi (بِإِذْنِهِۦ): By His permission.
  • idhin: permission; ʾa-dh-n: to permit.

Literal:
Who is it that can intercede with Him except by His permission?

يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ

• ya‘lamu (يَعْلَمُ): He knows.
  • ʿ-l-m: to know.
• mā (مَا): What.
• bayna (بَيْنَ): Between.
• aydīhim (أَيْدِيهِمْ): Their hands (before them; idiom for the present/future).
  • yad (hand); ʾaydī: hands (plural/construct).
• wa-mā (وَمَا): And what.
• khalfahum (خَلْفَهُمْ): Behind them.
  • khalf: behind, after.

Literal:
He knows what is before their hands and what is behind them.

وَلَا يُحِيطُونَ بِشَىْءٍۢ مِّنْ عِلْمِهِۦٓ إِلَّا بِمَا شَآءَ

• wa-lā (وَلَا): And not.
• yuḥīṭūna (يُحِيطُونَ): They encompass/comprehend.
  • ḥ-w-ṭ: to surround, encompass, comprehend fully.
• bi-shay’in (بِشَىْءٍۢ): Any thing.
  • shay’: thing.
• min ʿilmihi (مِّنْ عِلْمِهِۦٓ): From His knowledge.
  • ʿilm: knowledge, cognizance.
• illā (إِلَّا): except.
• bi-mā shā’a (بِمَا شَآءَ): By what He wills.
  • shā’a: he willed.

Literal:
And they do not encompass anything of His knowledge, except by what He wills.

وَسِعَ كُرْسِيُّهُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ

• wasiʿa (وَسِعَ): He/it encompasses/extends over.
  • w-s-ʿ: to be wide, vast, capacious.
• kursiyyuhu (كُرْسِيُّهُ): His Throne/Chair.
  • kursī: chair, throne (from Persian/Aramaic loanword, possibly karsu/kursya).
• as-samāwāt (ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ): the heavens.
• wa-l-arḍa (وَٱلْأَرْضَ): and the earth.

Literal:
His Throne extends over the heavens and the earth.

وَلَا يَـُٔودُهُۥ حِفْظُهُمَا

• wa-lā (وَلَا): And not.
• ya’ūduhu (يَـُٔودُهُۥ): Tires/burdens Him.
  • ʾ-w-d: to be heavy, burdensome, cause hardship.
• ḥifẓuhumā (حِفْظُهُمَا): Their preservation/guarding (of the two).
  • ḥ-f-ẓ: to guard, protect, preserve; ḥifẓ: protection; humā: dual (the two = heavens and earth).

Literal:
And their preservation does not burden Him.

وَهُوَ ٱلْعَلِىُّ ٱلْعَظِيمُ

• wa-huwa (وَهُوَ): And He.
• al-ʿaliyy (ٱلْعَلِىُّ): The Most High, The Exalted.
  • ʿ-l-w: to be high, exalted.
• al-ʿaẓīm (ٱلْعَظِيمُ): The Most Great, The Magnificent.
  • ʿ-ẓ-m: to be great, mighty, immense.

Literal:
And He is the Most High, the Most Great.

Summary Table: Etymology of Key Terms

Arabic	Transliteration	Basic Meaning	Root/Etymology
الله	Allah	God	ألٰه (ʾ-l-h): deity/god
إله	ilāh	god, deity	أله (ʾ-l-h): to worship
الحي	al-ḥayy	living	حي (ḥ-y-y): to live
القيوم	al-qayyūm	sustaining	قوم (q-w-m): to stand, support
سنة	sinatun	slumber	سنو (s-n-w): to doze
نوم	nawm	sleep	نوم (n-w-m): sleep
السماوات	al-samāwāt	heavens	سما (s-m-w): high, lofty
الأرض	al-arḍ	earth	أرض (ʾ-r-ḍ): land
شفع	shafaʿa	to intercede	شفع (sh-f-ʿ): be even, mediate
علم	ʿilm	knowledge	علم (ʿ-l-m): to know
كرسي	kursī	throne, chair	قرضي (from Aramaic loanword)
علي	ʿaliyy	high, exalted	علو (ʿ-l-w): high
عظيم	ʿaẓīm	great	عظم (ʿ-ẓ-m): great, mighty

Summary:
Ayatul Kursi’s Arabic vocabulary is deeply Semitic, with roots expressing divinity, life, knowledge, power, and greatness. The literal translation emphasizes that Allah is the sole, living, sustaining God, untainted by sleep or fatigue, having total sovereignty and infinite knowledge, whose authority (symbolized by the Kursi/Throne) comprehends all creation, and who is unspeakably exalted and great.