Sakina

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Sakina (Arabic: سكينة) is an Arabic word derived from "Sakoon", meaning "peace" or "tranquility". It appears in the Qur'an.

[edit] Usage in the Qur'an

Sakina is the Spirit of Tranquility, or Peace of Reassurance. Sakina is mentioned in the Quran as having descended upon Muhammad and the believers as they made an unarmed pilgrimage to Mecca, and were faced with an opposing military force of the Quraysh, with whom Muhammad struck the Treaty of Hudaybiyah. "He it is Who sent down the sakina into the hearts of the believers that they might add faith unto their faith" (48:4)

[edit] Sakina and Shekhinah

Karen Armstrong notes: "The sakina it will also be recalled, seems to be related to the Hebrew Shekhinah, the term for God’s presence in the world."^[1]

Another Quranic verse portrays sakina as reassurance: "Allah's Good Pleasure was on the Believers when they swore Fealty to thee under the Tree: He knew what was in their hearts, and He sent down Sakina - tranquillity (alssakeenata) to them; and He rewarded them with a speedy Victory;" (48:18)

The root of the word is sa-ka-na which means "dwelled" or "remained in place". This further supports the association with the Shekhinah as "indwelling". The fact that the word is preceded by "al" (the) shows that it does not denote a name, but has an abstract meaning. This is consistent with the Shekhinah as abstract feminine and is the only remaining reference to the sacred feminine in Islam after Allat, al-Uzza and Manat were excommunicated in the Satanic Verses according to al-Tabari and Ibn Sad following Ibn Ishaq ^[2].

Sufi writings ^[3], in expounding the inner peace of Sufi contemplation, which dwells in a sanctuary or in the heart, confirm the association with both Sakina and the Shekhinah. Sufi reference to sa-ka-na as meaning both stillness and habitation adds to the identity with Shekhinah's indwelling nature.

Another Quranic association with the concord of dwellings in peace coincides with the attribution of the Shekhinah to matrimonial concord under the tent of Sarah: "And God gave you your houses as a quiescent place (sakanan)." (16:80)

Sakina is further mentioned in the following verse: "While the Unbelievers got up in their hearts heat and cant - the heat and cant of ignorance,- Allah sent down His Sakina - tranquility (sakīnatahu) to his Messenger and to the Believers, and made them stick close to the command of self-restraint; and well were they entitled to it and worthy of it. And Allah has full knowledge of all things." (48:26)

[edit] References

[edit] See also

• Sakina bint Husayn
• Shekhinah