In linguistic terms, sakinah refers to tranquility, serenity, and a sense of security. In the realm of Sufism, it signifies a spiritual state in which the heart remains at peace when divine grace descends upon it. Thus, sakinah stands in contrast to agitation; it is a state of inner calm that arises when the soul is freed from worldly anxieties. Sufis describe it as the heart's contentment and stillness due to the spiritual state it experiences. It may also be defined as a divine strength bestowed upon a servant by Allah.
Raghib al-Isfahani explains sakinah as follows: It is an angel that brings peace and reassurance to the heart of a believer. It is also the intellect, which protects a person from fear and from succumbing to base desires. And it is the removal of fear itself.
Regarding the verse in the Qur’an:
"It is He who sent down tranquility (sakinah) into the hearts of the believers so that they would increase in faith upon their faith." (Al-Fath 4)
Ibn Ajibah al-Hasani interprets this verse as follows:
"Allah sends tranquility (sakinah), which encompasses patience, calmness, and assurance, into the hearts of those who turn to Him. Thus, when they face manifestations of majesty (hardship and trials) or beauty (mercy and blessings), they do not lose their composure. Whatever form divine decree takes—whether bitter or sweet—they accept it with serenity."
The Messenger of Allah [sallallahu alayhi wa sallam] described how sakinah descends upon those engaged in the remembrance of Allah:
"Whenever a group gathers in one of the houses of Allah to recite the Qur’an, to study it together, and to engage in the remembrance of Allah, divine tranquility (sakinah) descends upon them, mercy envelops them, and the angels surround them, supplicating for them. And Allah mentions them in the company of His angels." (Muslim)
Scholars have interpreted sakinah in this hadith as meaning a deep reverence for Allah, which frees a person from worldly fears; a state of inner contentment that leads to spiritual fulfillment; the purification of the heart through the light of the Qur’an; the removal of darkness caused by worldly desires; and a heart filled with joy and eagerness for divine proximity.
Imam Qushayri [quddisa sirruhu] describes sakinah in the following manner:
"It is the light of faith and certainty (yaqin), through which the heart attains tranquility. Or it is the knowledge gained through direct witnessing (mushahadah). True sakinah is to be perpetually immersed in the ocean of divine reality, unbound by time or circumstance, and to be lost in the manifestations of the Divine."
Khwaja Abdullah al-Harawi [rahimahullah] describes sakinah as the peace and stillness that Allah bestows upon His chosen servants, freeing their hearts from worldly distractions. He classifies sakinah into three categories:
- The sakinah of Tawhid (Divine Oneness): It instills three qualities in the heart:
Fearlessness of the Day of Judgment, despite never having witnessed it.
Knowledge of Allah, despite never having comprehended Him fully.
Love for Him, despite never having seen Him.
- The sakinah of Servitude: It manifests in three ways:
A steadfast commitment to following the Sunnah.
Absolute reliance upon Allah alone.
Liberation from the desire for recognition and the insincerity of ostentation.
- The sakinah of Certainty (Yaqin): It brings three states to the heart:
Contentment with the One who apportions sustenance.
Acknowledgment that all harm and benefit come solely from Allah.
Complete trust in Allah’s guardianship, leading to detachment from futile concerns.
Sufis say:
"When sakinah descends upon the heart, it finds peace. The limbs become still, filled with humility and dignity. Sakinah refines the tongue, inspiring it to speak wisdom and truth while guarding it against falsehood and idle speech."
This illustrates that a heart graced with sakinah influences all aspects of a person’s being, transforming both their outward conduct and their inner reality.
Imam Qushayri [quddisa sirruhu] categorizes sakinah into two levels:
- For the elite: Sakinah is the certainty (yaqin) and insight (basirah) that bring peace to the heart. Through sakinah, the heart transcends the realm of speculation and reaches the station of unwavering conviction. Knowledge ceases to be mere conjecture and transforms into certainty.
- For the common people: Sakinah is the tranquility of the heart and the assurance of faith.
Thus, sakinah manifests in different ways according to a person’s spiritual state. The closer a servant draws to Allah, the more profound the impact of sakinah upon them, and the more deeply their heart is filled with divine knowledge (ma‘rifah).
In conclusion, in the Sufi understanding, sakinah refers to contentment with divine decree, an unwavering sense of security, inner peace derived from divine grace, the eradication of doubt and fear, and the attainment of absolute certainty. By sending sakinah into their hearts, Allah delivers His servants from distress, anxiety, and fear, drawing them nearer to Him.
As a result, a servant who is free from worldly attachments experiences a profound spiritual serenity. Sakinah is also a divine gift that descends upon the heart in moments of hardship, relieving it from fear and anxiety, and granting it divine security. Through sakinah, the servant finds peace solely in Allah and attains the awareness that their heart is under His divine care.
