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Qur'anic Verses

Verses of Sakinah with Meanings and Evidence

All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and companions.

Sakinah is one of Allah's greatest blessings upon His believing servants. It is tranquility and firmness that Allah places in the heart during fear, disturbance, and hardship. Allah mentions sakinah in several places in His Book, and all of them show that calmness of the heart is a gift from Allah, and that the believer stands firm by his Lord, not by himself.

Allah says: "Those who believe and whose hearts find tranquility in the remembrance of Allah. Surely, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find tranquility." [Ar-Ra'd: 28]

قال الله تعالى: {الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَتَطْمَئِنُّ قُلُوبُهُمْ بِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ، أَلَا بِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ القُلُوبُ} [الرعد: 28].

Meaning

What Does Sakinah Mean?

Sakinah means tranquility, dignity, and firmness that Allah sends down into the heart of His servant. The heart becomes calm after disturbance, firm after fear, and increases in faith and certainty.

It is not merely a passing emotional feeling. Rather, it is a gift from Allah that He grants to whomever He wills among His servants. Among its causes are faith, the remembrance of Allah, reciting the Qur'an, and having good reliance upon Him.

Important Note

Are the Verses of Sakinah a Specific Sunnah Wird?

The verses of sakinah are the verses in which the word sakinah appears in the Qur'an. Ibn al-Qayyim, may Allah have mercy on him, mentioned in Madarij as-Salikin that his teacher, Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allah have mercy on him, would recite the verses of sakinah when matters became severe. Ibn al-Qayyim also mentioned that he tried reciting them when the heart was disturbed and found a great effect in calming and settling it.

This is mentioned under benefiting from the Qur'an, reflecting upon it, and seeking tranquility through it. It should not be treated as a fixed required wird with a specific number, nor as an independent act of worship established from the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم in this exact form.

The Six Verses of Sakinah
1

Surah Al-Baqarah: 248

Their prophet said to them: "The sign of his kingship is that the Ark will come to you, in it sakinah from your Lord and remnants of what the family of Musa and the family of Harun left behind, carried by the angels. Indeed, in that is a sign for you, if you are believers." [Al-Baqarah: 248]
{وَقَالَ لَهُمْ نَبِيُّهُمْ إِنَّ آيَةَ مُلْكِهِ أَنْ يَأْتِيَكُمُ التَّابُوتُ فِيهِ سَكِينَةٌ مِنْ رَبِّكُمْ وَبَقِيَّةٌ مِمَّا تَرَكَ آلُ مُوسَى وَآلُ هَارُونَ تَحْمِلُهُ المَلَائِكَةُ، إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لَآيَةً لَكُمْ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ مُؤْمِنِينَ} [البقرة: 248].

This verse mentions the sakinah that Allah made a sign for the Children of Israel. It shows that sakinah is from Allah; He grants it to His servants and makes it a means of firmness.

2

Surah At-Tawbah: 26

Then Allah sent down His sakinah upon His Messenger and upon the believers, and He sent down soldiers you did not see, and He punished those who disbelieved. That is the recompense of the disbelievers. [At-Tawbah: 26]
{ثُمَّ أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ سَكِينَتَهُ عَلَى رَسُولِهِ وَعَلَى المُؤْمِنِينَ، وَأَنْزَلَ جُنُودًا لَمْ تَرَوْهَا، وَعَذَّبَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا، وَذَلِكَ جَزَاءُ الكَافِرِينَ} [التوبة: 26].

This verse relates to the Battle of Hunayn. It shows that Allah sent down sakinah upon His Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم and the believers after hardship and trial.

3

Surah At-Tawbah: 40

If you do not support him, Allah already supported him when those who disbelieved drove him out, the second of two, when they were in the cave, as he said to his companion: "Do not grieve; indeed Allah is with us." Then Allah sent down His sakinah upon him, supported him with soldiers you did not see, and made the word of those who disbelieved the lowest, while the word of Allah is the highest. Allah is Mighty, Wise. [At-Tawbah: 40]
{إِلَّا تَنْصُرُوهُ فَقَدْ نَصَرَهُ اللَّهُ إِذْ أَخْرَجَهُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا ثَانِيَ اثْنَيْنِ إِذْ هُمَا فِي الغَارِ إِذْ يَقُولُ لِصَاحِبِهِ لَا تَحْزَنْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَنَا، فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ سَكِينَتَهُ عَلَيْهِ، وَأَيَّدَهُ بِجُنُودٍ لَمْ تَرَوْهَا، وَجَعَلَ كَلِمَةَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا السُّفْلَى، وَكَلِمَةُ اللَّهِ هِيَ العُلْيَا، وَاللَّهُ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ} [التوبة: 40].

It contains one of the greatest meanings of firmness: "Do not grieve; indeed Allah is with us." Whoever has Allah with him is not harmed by fear or plotting except by what Allah decrees with wisdom.

4

Surah Al-Fath: 4

He is the One who sent down sakinah into the hearts of the believers so that they may increase in faith along with their faith. To Allah belong the soldiers of the heavens and the earth, and Allah is Knowing, Wise. [Al-Fath: 4]
{هُوَ الَّذِي أَنْزَلَ السَّكِينَةَ فِي قُلُوبِ المُؤْمِنِينَ لِيَزْدَادُوا إِيمَانًا مَعَ إِيمَانِهِمْ، وَلِلَّهِ جُنُودُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ، وَكَانَ اللَّهُ عَلِيمًا حَكِيمًا} [الفتح: 4].

This verse shows that sakinah increases the believer in faith, and that the soldiers of the heavens and the earth belong to Allah alone.

5

Surah Al-Fath: 18

Allah was certainly pleased with the believers when they pledged allegiance to you under the tree. He knew what was in their hearts, so He sent down sakinah upon them and rewarded them with a near victory. [Al-Fath: 18]
{لَقَدْ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنِ المُؤْمِنِينَ إِذْ يُبَايِعُونَكَ تَحْتَ الشَّجَرَةِ، فَعَلِمَ مَا فِي قُلُوبِهِمْ، فَأَنْزَلَ السَّكِينَةَ عَلَيْهِمْ، وَأَثَابَهُمْ فَتْحًا قَرِيبًا} [الفتح: 18].

It shows that Allah knew the truthfulness in the hearts of the companions, may Allah be pleased with them, so He sent down sakinah upon them and rewarded them with a near victory.

6

Surah Al-Fath: 26

When those who disbelieved placed in their hearts pride, the pride of ignorance, Allah sent down His sakinah upon His Messenger and upon the believers, and made them adhere to the word of taqwa; they were more deserving of it and worthy of it. Allah is Knowing of all things. [Al-Fath: 26]
{إِذْ جَعَلَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا فِي قُلُوبِهِمُ الحَمِيَّةَ حَمِيَّةَ الجَاهِلِيَّةِ، فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ سَكِينَتَهُ عَلَى رَسُولِهِ وَعَلَى المُؤْمِنِينَ، وَأَلْزَمَهُمْ كَلِمَةَ التَّقْوَى، وَكَانُوا أَحَقَّ بِهَا وَأَهْلَهَا، وَكَانَ اللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمًا} [الفتح: 26].

It shows a powerful contrast between the pride of ignorance and the sakinah of faith. The believer stands firm upon truth and taqwa, not impulsiveness and arrogance.

When To Read

When May a Muslim Read the Verses of Sakinah?

A Muslim may read them hoping for tranquility and firmness:

  • During fear and anxiety.
  • When the heart feels disturbed.
  • During intense worry.
  • During trials and doubts.
  • During illness or distress.
  • As part of general Islamic ruqyah.

However, he should not assign them a required number without evidence, nor believe that they replace the established adhkar, du'a, or lawful treatment.

How To Read

How Should a Muslim Read Them?

  • Read them with reflection, not in haste.
  • Remember that sakinah is from Allah alone.
  • Ask Allah afterward for firmness and tranquility.
  • Combine them with morning and evening adhkar and du'a.
  • Avoid sins and the causes of a disturbed heart.
  • Take lawful means when needed.
Suitable Du'a

A Suitable Du'a After Reading the Verses of Sakinah

A Muslim may make any good du'a, such as:

O Allah, send down sakinah into my heart, make me firm upon Your obedience, remove anxiety and fear from me, and make the Qur'an the spring of my heart and the light of my chest.
اللَّهُمَّ أَنْزِلِ السَّكِينَةَ فِي قَلْبِي، وَثَبِّتْنِي عَلَى طَاعَتِكَ، وَاصْرِفْ عَنِّي القَلَقَ وَالخَوْفَ، وَاجْعَلْ القُرْآنَ رَبِيعَ قَلْبِي وَنُورَ صَدْرِي.

This du'a has a sound meaning, but it should not be attributed to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم with this wording.

Important Notes

Important Notes

  • The verses of sakinah are from the Qur'an, and reciting the Qur'an is worship, healing, and tranquility.
  • It is not correct to believe in a specific fixed number for reciting them except with evidence.
  • One should not leave the established adhkar and become occupied only with people's experiences.
  • Anxiety and illness should not be treated only with recitation if advice or treatment is needed.
  • Sakinah is a gift from Allah, so seek it from Him through tawhid, obedience, and remembrance.
FAQ

Are the verses of sakinah authentic?

Yes. The verses are established in the Qur'an, and they are the places where Allah mentions the word sakinah.

FAQ

Did the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم assign them as a specific wird?

As far as we know, it is not established that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم made them a specific wird with a fixed number. But reciting them as Qur'an and seeking tranquility through the Qur'an is permissible.

FAQ

Can the verses of sakinah be read for anxiety and fear?

Yes. A Muslim may read them hoping that Allah grants him sakinah and tranquility, along with du'a, adhkar, and taking the proper means.

FAQ

Is it permissible to repeat them?

It is permissible to repeat Qur'an generally for reflection and benefit, but a Muslim should not believe in a required number that has no evidence.

Conclusion

Conclusion

The verses of sakinah remind the Muslim that tranquility of the heart does not come from the servant's own strength or from worldly means alone. Rather, it is a gift from Allah that He sends down into the hearts of the believers. Read them with reflection, ask Allah for sakinah and firmness, and attach your heart to the One who controls all hearts.