The concept and function of Shekinah and Sakina in the issue of marriage in the Quran and Talmud

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Assistant Professor in Department of Religions and Gnosticism¸ faculty of Theaology and Islamic Studies¸ University of Tehran, Iran

2 Comparative Religions and Mysticism, Faculty of Theology and Islamic Knowledge, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Shekinah (שְׁכִינָה) is a Hebrew term derived from the root "shakan" (שכן), meaning to dwell, settle, or stand, which refers to the concept of residing and being present in a specific place. In Jewish religious tradition, it signifies the presence of God (Yahweh) and the implications associated with this presence. On the other hand, Sakīnah is the equivalent term for Shekinah in Islamic and Quranic tradition. The correspondence and equivalence of these two terms have been demonstrated in numerous studies. The root of the word Sakīnah can be either "sukūn" or "sakan": "sukūn" means to stand still and become stable after movement, and it is used in the context of settling down and residing, while "sakan" refers to finding peace and anything that brings tranquility. An examination of two religious texts, the Quran from Islam and the Talmud from Rabbinic Judaism, shows that the two corresponding concepts of Shekinah and Sakīnah are central to the theories of these two books regarding family, and other functions of the family are understood through this concept (Shekinah/Sakīnah). Shekinah and Sakīnah are symbols of divine presence intertwined with the heart and soul of humanity, and as a result of a legitimate bond, they encompass the peace derived from marriage for the body and soul of the couple; a peace that will bring blessings and mercy for the individual and the religious community. In fact, Shekinah/Sakīnah manifests itself after marriage in three dimensions of individual, familial, and social life, leading to outcomes such as procreation and the upbringing of a faithful generation, satisfying instinctual needs while maintaining purity and chastity, the completion of the human being, and the support and strengthening of the couple's ability to practice their faith

Keywords

References

Jakobson, Roman. (1959). on linguistic aspects of translation. Cambridge MA: Harvard University Press, 232-239.
Comparative Study of Religions and Mysticism
Volume 9, Issue 1
March 2025
Pages 241-263

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History

  • Receive Date: 18 March 2025
  • Accept Date: 18 March 2025

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