"Verses of sakinah" is a common label rather than a scriptural term. It refers to the places where the word sakinah, a tranquillity sent down by Allah, occurs in the Quran. There are six of them, not seven and not ten. All six appear below in Uthmani script, and each card plays its recitation.
The six places in full
First: al-Baqarah 248
Surah Al-Baqarah 2:248
Verified recitation
وَقَالَ لَهُمْ نَبِيُّهُمْ إِنَّ ءَايَةَ مُلْكِهِۦٓ أَن يَأْتِيَكُمُ ٱلتَّابُوتُ فِيهِ سَكِينَةٌۭ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَبَقِيَّةٌۭ مِّمَّا تَرَكَ ءَالُ مُوسَىٰ وَءَالُ هَٰرُونَ تَحْمِلُهُ ٱلْمَلَٰٓئِكَةُ ۚ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَـَٔايَةًۭ لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ وَقَالَ لَهُمْ نَبِيُّهُمْ إِنَّ ءَايَةَ مُلْكِهِۦٓ أَن يَأْتِيَكُمُ ٱلتَّابُوتُ فِيهِ سَكِينَةٌۭ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَبَقِيَّةٌۭ مِّمَّا تَرَكَ ءَالُ مُوسَىٰ وَءَالُ هَٰرُونَ تَحْمِلُهُ ٱلْمَلَٰٓئِكَةُ ۚ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَءَايَةًۭ لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ
Context: the Children of Israel ask for a sign confirming the kingship of Talut, and the sign is the return of the ark containing tranquillity from their Lord. Here sakinah accompanies a tangible sign that settles a hesitant heart.
Second: at-Tawbah 26
Surah At-Tawbah 9:26
Verified recitation
ثُمَّ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ سَكِينَتَهُۥ عَلَىٰ رَسُولِهِۦ وَعَلَى ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَأَنزَلَ جُنُودًۭا لَّمْ تَرَوْهَا وَعَذَّبَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ ۚ وَذَٰلِكَ جَزَآءُ ٱلْكَٰفِرِينَ ثُمَّ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ سَكِينَتَهُۥ عَلَىٰ رَسُولِهِۦ وَعَلَى ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَأَنزَلَ جُنُودًۭا لَّمْ تَرَوْهَا وَعَذَّبَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ ۚ وَذَٰلِكَ جَزَآءُ ٱلْكَٰفِرِينَ
Context: after the ranks were shaken at the beginning of Hunayn. The tranquillity descends after the psychological setback, not before it, which is the precise point of the verse: steadiness is rebuilt after a break.
Third: at-Tawbah 40
Surah At-Tawbah 9:40
Verified recitation
إِلَّا تَنصُرُوهُ فَقَدْ نَصَرَهُ ٱللَّهُ إِذْ أَخْرَجَهُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ ثَانِىَ ٱثْنَيْنِ إِذْ هُمَا فِى ٱلْغَارِ إِذْ يَقُولُ لِصَٰحِبِهِۦ لَا تَحْزَنْ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَنَا ۖ فَأَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ سَكِينَتَهُۥ عَلَيْهِ وَأَيَّدَهُۥ بِجُنُودٍۢ لَّمْ تَرَوْهَا وَجَعَلَ كَلِمَةَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ ٱلسُّفْلَىٰ ۗ وَكَلِمَةُ ٱللَّهِ هِىَ ٱلْعُلْيَا ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ إِلَّا تَنصُرُوهُ فَقَدْ نَصَرَهُ ٱللَّهُ إِذْ أَخْرَجَهُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ ثَانِىَ ٱثْنَيْنِ إِذْ هُمَا فِى ٱلْغَارِ إِذْ يَقُولُ لِصَٰحِبِهِۦ لَا تَحْزَنْ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَنَا ۖ فَأَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ سَكِينَتَهُۥ عَلَيْهِ وَأَيَّدَهُۥ بِجُنُودٍۢ لَّمْ تَرَوْهَا وَجَعَلَ كَلِمَةَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ ٱلسُّفْلَىٰ ۗ وَكَلِمَةُ ٱللَّهِ هِىَ ٱلْعُلْيَا ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ
Context: the night of the cave during the migration, with the danger present and no visible way out. The tranquillity comes down while the cause of fear remains, not after it is removed.
Fourth: al-Fath 4
Surah Al-Fath 48:4
Verified recitation
هُوَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنزَلَ ٱلسَّكِينَةَ فِى قُلُوبِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ لِيَزْدَادُوٓا۟ إِيمَٰنًۭا مَّعَ إِيمَٰنِهِمْ ۗ وَلِلَّهِ جُنُودُ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ عَلِيمًا حَكِيمًۭا هُوَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنزَلَ ٱلسَّكِينَةَ فِى قُلُوبِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ لِيَزْدَادُوٓا۟ إِيمَٰنًۭا مَّعَ إِيمَٰنِهِمْ ۗ وَلِلَّهِ جُنُودُ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ عَلِيمًا حَكِيمًۭا
Context: the treaty of Hudaybiyyah and the difficulty its terms caused. The verse states both the place and the purpose: its place is the heart, its purpose is an increase of faith.
Fifth: al-Fath 18
Surah Al-Fath 48:18
Verified recitation
۞ لَّقَدْ رَضِىَ ٱللَّهُ عَنِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِذْ يُبَايِعُونَكَ تَحْتَ ٱلشَّجَرَةِ فَعَلِمَ مَا فِى قُلُوبِهِمْ فَأَنزَلَ ٱلسَّكِينَةَ عَلَيْهِمْ وَأَثَٰبَهُمْ فَتْحًۭا قَرِيبًۭا لَّقَدْ رَضِىَ ٱللَّهُ عَنِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِذْ يُبَايِعُونَكَ تَحْتَ ٱلشَّجَرَةِ فَعَلِمَ مَا فِى قُلُوبِهِمْ فَأَنزَلَ ٱلسَّكِينَةَ عَلَيْهِمْ وَأَثَٰبَهُمْ فَتْحًۭا قَرِيبًۭا
Context: the pledge under the tree. The order in the verse is precise: He knew what was in their hearts, then sent down tranquillity, then rewarded them with a near victory. Tranquillity here answers inward sincerity.
Sixth: al-Fath 26
Surah Al-Fath 48:26
Verified recitation
إِذْ جَعَلَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ فِى قُلُوبِهِمُ ٱلْحَمِيَّةَ حَمِيَّةَ ٱلْجَٰهِلِيَّةِ فَأَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ سَكِينَتَهُۥ عَلَىٰ رَسُولِهِۦ وَعَلَى ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَأَلْزَمَهُمْ كَلِمَةَ ٱلتَّقْوَىٰ وَكَانُوٓا۟ أَحَقَّ بِهَا وَأَهْلَهَا ۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيمًۭا إِذْ جَعَلَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ فِى قُلُوبِهِمُ ٱلْحَمِيَّةَ حَمِيَّةَ ٱلْجَٰهِلِيَّةِ فَأَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ سَكِينَتَهُۥ عَلَىٰ رَسُولِهِۦ وَعَلَى ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَأَلْزَمَهُمْ كَلِمَةَ ٱلتَّقْوَىٰ وَكَانُوٓا۟ أَحَقَّ بِهَا وَأَهْلَهَا ۚ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيمًۭا
Context: an explicit contrast between a heart filled with the zeal of ignorance and a heart on which tranquillity descends. Sakinah here is the opposite of reactive impulse, not the opposite of action.
The six places at a glance
| No. | Surah and verse | The situation | What the tranquillity did |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Al-Baqarah 248 | A sign of kingship requested | Settled a doubting heart before new leadership |
| 2 | At-Tawbah 26 | The shaken ranks at Hunayn | Rebuilt steadiness after a setback |
| 3 | At-Tawbah 40 | The night of the cave | Security of heart with the danger still present |
| 4 | Al-Fath 4 | Hardship in the treaty terms | Increased faith alongside acceptance |
| 5 | Al-Fath 18 | The pledge under the tree | Answered inward sincerity, hastened victory |
| 6 | Al-Fath 26 | Zeal of ignorance against piety | Restrained impulse and held them to piety |
What all six share: tranquillity comes down from Allah and is not engineered by human planning; it arrives in hardship rather than in ease; and it produces action afterwards, whether steadiness, a pledge, or holding fast to a word of piety.
What sakinah means
The root means stillness, the settling of something after motion. Commentators describe it as a calm Allah places in the heart that removes fear and holds a person firm on the truth. Ibn al-Qayyim drew a fine distinction: reassurance is an effect in the self, while sakinah is a light and firmness that yields certainty, which is why the verses pair it with an increase of faith rather than mere comfort.
Three words people mix up:
- Patience is an act a servant is commanded to and struggles for.
- Reassurance is a fruit that follows remembrance and certainty, as in "in the remembrance of Allah hearts find reassurance".
- Sakinah is a gift sent down in the place of fear, which is why in five of the six verses it is paired with the verb "sent down".
Authentic supplications in distress
Reading the verses reflectively is one door; alongside it are authentic supplications for the same state. First, the supplication of distress:
The supplication
لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ الْعَظِيمُ الْحَلِيمُ، لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ رَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيمِ، لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ رَبُّ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَرَبُّ الْأَرْضِ وَرَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْكَرِيمِ
Reported by al-Bukhari and Muslim. And the supplication for anxiety and grief:
The supplication
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي عَبْدُكَ، ابْنُ عَبْدِكَ، ابْنُ أَمَتِكَ، نَاصِيَتِي بِيَدِكَ، مَاضٍ فِيَّ حُكْمُكَ، عَدْلٌ فِيَّ قَضَاؤُكَ، أَسْأَلُكَ أَنْ تَجْعَلَ الْقُرْآنَ رَبِيعَ قَلْبِي، وَنُورَ صَدْرِي، وَجَلَاءَ حُزْنِي، وَذَهَابَ هَمِّي
Reported by Ahmad and others. More sourced remembrances, ordered by their times, are on the azkar page.
What should not be attributed to these verses
These verses need no additions:
- The count: lists circulate with seven or nine "verses of sakinah". The word itself occurs in six places, all given above. Larger counts add verses that carry the meaning of reassurance, which is a useful thematic grouping but not a count of the word.
- A special merit: no authentic prophetic report singles out these six verses with a fixed number of recitations or a specific reward. Reciting them carries the reward of reciting the Quran; nothing beyond that is established.
- A binding order or number: saying they must be read seven times after Fajr to obtain tranquillity legislates what was not legislated. Ruqyah is established with the Quran generally, without numbers no text specifies.
- A substitute for treatment: severe anxiety and psychological disorders call for a qualified specialist alongside remembrance and supplication. The verse sends tranquillity to the heart; it does not cancel the instruction to seek treatment and take practical means.
How to read them in practice
- Read Surat al-Fath in full once with reflection rather than the verses in isolation; the three occurrences make more sense in context on the Surat al-Fath page.
- Play one of the passages before sleep; the verse cards on this page start the recitation directly.
- To trace every occurrence of the word yourself, the verse search tool lists the places and highlights the matching word.
- Tie it to a measured daily routine on the tasbih counter rather than relying on passing moods.
Frequently asked questions
How many verses of sakinah are in the Quran
The word occurs in six places: al-Baqarah 248, at-Tawbah 26 and 40, and al-Fath 4, 18 and 26. Lists that give seven or more include verses carrying the meaning of reassurance and security, which is a thematic collection rather than a count of the word.
Do these verses have a special reported merit
No authentic report singles them out with a particular merit or number of recitations. They carry the reward of Quran recitation, and whoever finds calm through reflecting on them has taken what is in them; fixing a number or a time has no evidence behind it.
What is the difference between sakinah and reassurance
In the Quran sakinah is paired with being sent down by Allah in situations of fear, and its effect is firmness and certainty that increases faith. Reassurance is a fruit that settles in the heart through remembrance of Allah, as in the verse "in the remembrance of Allah hearts find reassurance", and it is the broader, more everyday word.
Are these verses used for ruqyah
Ruqyah with the Quran is established, and these verses are recited as any other part of the Quran with the intention of healing and calm, without a specific number or sequence that no text specifies, and without replacing treatment or qualified advice when needed.
Where can I read these passages in Uthmani script with recitation
Every passage on this page appears in a card with the Uthmani text and audio recitation, and the full context is on the surah pages: al-Baqarah, at-Tawbah and al-Fath inside the Quran section.
Related articles
Data sources
- The Uthmani text of the Quran, occurrences of the word sakinah: al-Baqarah 248, at-Tawbah 26 and 40, al-Fath 4, 18 and 26
- Ibn Kathir, commentary on Surat al-Fath and the sending down of sakinah
- Al-Tabari, Jami al-Bayan, commentary on the ark containing sakinah from your Lord
- Ibn al-Qayyim, Madarij al-Salikin, on the difference between sakinah and reassurance
- Kuwaiti Encyclopaedia of Fiqh, entry on ruqyah
- Sahih al-Bukhari, the supplication of distress
- Sunan Abu Dawud, the supplication for anxiety and grief
Last updated: 21 October 2026