The Representation of Sakinah's Meaning in the Qur'an Perspective
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Abstract
The concept of sakinah is one of the fundamental values in the Qur’an, closely related to family life and marital relationships. Qur’an Surah Ar-Rum (30): 21 explicitly mentions sakinah as the purpose of the creation of spouses, along with mawaddah and rahmah. This study aims to examine the meaning of sakinah in this verse using Roland Barthes’ semiotic approach, which emphasizes three levels of meaning: denotation, connotation, and myth as a form of cultural meaning construction. This research employs a qualitative method with a library research design, using the Qur’an and classical as well as contemporary Qur’anic commentaries as primary sources, supported by relevant secondary literature. The findings reveal that at the denotative level, sakinah refers to tranquility and inner peace within marital life. At the connotative level, sakinah represents a harmonious and balanced relationship grounded in spiritual values. At the level of myth, sakinah is understood as an ideal construction of the Islamic family that emphasizes emotional stability, moral commitment, and social responsibility. Thus, sakinah is not merely interpreted as psychological calmness but also reflects a value system that shapes the Islamic family paradigm.
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Articles
References
Basyar, Fahmi. “Perspective Of Islamic Family Law And Traditional Law Regarding Migrant Husbands In Creating A Sakinah Family.” Review of Islamic Studies 3, no. 1 (January 15, 2024): 37–45. doi:10.35316/ris.v3i1.545.
Berger, Arthur Asa. “Semiotics and Society.” Society 51, no. 1 (February 2014): 22–26. doi:10.1007/s12115-013-9731-4.
Fitriono, Eko Nani. “Kontribusi Tafsir Maqashidi Dalam Pengembangan Makna Teks Al-Quran: Telaah Ayat-Ayat Relasi Keluarga Dalam Tafsir Al–Azhar Karya Hamka.” AL-MIKRAJ Jurnal Studi Islam Dan Humaniora (E-ISSN 2745-4584) 4, no. 02 (2024): 1844–61. https://ejournal.insuriponorogo.ac.id/index.php/almikraj/article/view/5459.
Fuadi, Muhamad Hanif, Ah Khairul Wafa, Ade Arena Kuswanto, and Frista Fitriany Ramadhanita. “Representation of Islamic Culture in the Islamic Documentary Empire of Faith: A Semiotic Analysis of Roland Barthes.” Journal of Social Sciences and Cultural Study 2, no. 2 (March 29, 2025): 45–53. https://www.swastikajournal.com/index.php/jsscs/article/view/119.
Furqon, Muhammad Arif, and Nabilah Kamiliyah Zain. “Exploring Marital Satisfaction Through the Lens of Psychology and Islamic Perspectives.” Proceedings Conference Psychology and Flourishing Humanity 1, no. 1 (February 3, 2025): 91–98. https://conferences.uin-malang.ac.id/index.php/pfh/article/view/3284.
Hasanah, Baiq Latifah. “The Concept of Keluarga Sakinah (Tranquil Family) in the Perspective of the Qur’an (A Literature Review).” Journal of Islamic Religious Studies 1, no. 2 (November 28, 2024): 67–74. http://www.journal.formadenglishfoundation.org/index.php/Jirs/article/view/40.
Ishaque, Md, and Mahmudulhassan. “Islamic Family Ethics: A Pathway to Strengthening Social Harmony in The Modern Era.” Solo International Collaboration and Publication of Social Sciences and Humanities 3, no. 02 (April 23, 2025): 247–58. doi:10.61455/sicopus.v3i02.296.
İsrafiloğlu, Fahime. “The Qur’ān and Value Conflicts in Marriage in the Modern Era.” Diyanet İlmi Dergi 61, no. 4 (December 26, 2025): 1341–76. doi:10.61304/did.1723044.
Karim, Fatimah, Sayyed Mohamed Muhsin, and Nur Elyliana Abd Hadi. “Mohd. Kamal Hassan’s Perspectives on Family Relationships: Strategies for Strengthening Malaysian Muslim Families.” Intellectual Discourse 33, no. 3 (October 30, 2025). doi:10.31436/id.v33i3.2350.
Khalim, Muhammad Nur, and Mirwan Akhmad Taufiq. “Study of Munasabah on Words of Sakinah Mawaddah Rahmah and Its Stylistics.” Al-Dzikra: Jurnal Studi Ilmu al-Qur’an Dan al-Hadits 17, no. 2 (December 29, 2023): 221–46. doi:10.24042/002023171908300.
Martin, Richard C. “Understanding the Qurʾan in Text and Context.” History of Religions 21, no. 4 (May 1982): 361–84. doi:10.1086/462906.
Mubarok, Achmad. Psikologi keluarga: dari keluarga sakinah hingga keluarga bangsa. Malang, 2005.
Panggabean, Alya Hamzah, and Irma Yusriani Simamora. “We Will Tell You The Representation Of Family Communication In Today’s Film: Analysis Of Semiotics Roland Barthes.” International Journal of Islamic Education, Research and Multiculturalism (IJIERM) 7, no. 2 (June 11, 2025): 898–915. doi:10.47006/ijierm.v7i2.482.
Main Article Content
Abstract
The concept of sakinah is one of the fundamental values in the Qur’an, closely related to family life and marital relationships. Qur’an Surah Ar-Rum (30): 21 explicitly mentions sakinah as the purpose of the creation of spouses, along with mawaddah and rahmah. This study aims to examine the meaning of sakinah in this verse using Roland Barthes’ semiotic approach, which emphasizes three levels of meaning: denotation, connotation, and myth as a form of cultural meaning construction. This research employs a qualitative method with a library research design, using the Qur’an and classical as well as contemporary Qur’anic commentaries as primary sources, supported by relevant secondary literature. The findings reveal that at the denotative level, sakinah refers to tranquility and inner peace within marital life. At the connotative level, sakinah represents a harmonious and balanced relationship grounded in spiritual values. At the level of myth, sakinah is understood as an ideal construction of the Islamic family that emphasizes emotional stability, moral commitment, and social responsibility. Thus, sakinah is not merely interpreted as psychological calmness but also reflects a value system that shapes the Islamic family paradigm.
Article Details
References
Basyar, Fahmi. “Perspective Of Islamic Family Law And Traditional Law Regarding Migrant Husbands In Creating A Sakinah Family.” Review of Islamic Studies 3, no. 1 (January 15, 2024): 37–45. doi:10.35316/ris.v3i1.545.
Berger, Arthur Asa. “Semiotics and Society.” Society 51, no. 1 (February 2014): 22–26. doi:10.1007/s12115-013-9731-4.
Fitriono, Eko Nani. “Kontribusi Tafsir Maqashidi Dalam Pengembangan Makna Teks Al-Quran: Telaah Ayat-Ayat Relasi Keluarga Dalam Tafsir Al–Azhar Karya Hamka.” AL-MIKRAJ Jurnal Studi Islam Dan Humaniora (E-ISSN 2745-4584) 4, no. 02 (2024): 1844–61. https://ejournal.insuriponorogo.ac.id/index.php/almikraj/article/view/5459.
Fuadi, Muhamad Hanif, Ah Khairul Wafa, Ade Arena Kuswanto, and Frista Fitriany Ramadhanita. “Representation of Islamic Culture in the Islamic Documentary Empire of Faith: A Semiotic Analysis of Roland Barthes.” Journal of Social Sciences and Cultural Study 2, no. 2 (March 29, 2025): 45–53. https://www.swastikajournal.com/index.php/jsscs/article/view/119.
Furqon, Muhammad Arif, and Nabilah Kamiliyah Zain. “Exploring Marital Satisfaction Through the Lens of Psychology and Islamic Perspectives.” Proceedings Conference Psychology and Flourishing Humanity 1, no. 1 (February 3, 2025): 91–98. https://conferences.uin-malang.ac.id/index.php/pfh/article/view/3284.
Hasanah, Baiq Latifah. “The Concept of Keluarga Sakinah (Tranquil Family) in the Perspective of the Qur’an (A Literature Review).” Journal of Islamic Religious Studies 1, no. 2 (November 28, 2024): 67–74. http://www.journal.formadenglishfoundation.org/index.php/Jirs/article/view/40.
Ishaque, Md, and Mahmudulhassan. “Islamic Family Ethics: A Pathway to Strengthening Social Harmony in The Modern Era.” Solo International Collaboration and Publication of Social Sciences and Humanities 3, no. 02 (April 23, 2025): 247–58. doi:10.61455/sicopus.v3i02.296.
İsrafiloğlu, Fahime. “The Qur’ān and Value Conflicts in Marriage in the Modern Era.” Diyanet İlmi Dergi 61, no. 4 (December 26, 2025): 1341–76. doi:10.61304/did.1723044.
Karim, Fatimah, Sayyed Mohamed Muhsin, and Nur Elyliana Abd Hadi. “Mohd. Kamal Hassan’s Perspectives on Family Relationships: Strategies for Strengthening Malaysian Muslim Families.” Intellectual Discourse 33, no. 3 (October 30, 2025). doi:10.31436/id.v33i3.2350.
Khalim, Muhammad Nur, and Mirwan Akhmad Taufiq. “Study of Munasabah on Words of Sakinah Mawaddah Rahmah and Its Stylistics.” Al-Dzikra: Jurnal Studi Ilmu al-Qur’an Dan al-Hadits 17, no. 2 (December 29, 2023): 221–46. doi:10.24042/002023171908300.
Martin, Richard C. “Understanding the Qurʾan in Text and Context.” History of Religions 21, no. 4 (May 1982): 361–84. doi:10.1086/462906.
Mubarok, Achmad. Psikologi keluarga: dari keluarga sakinah hingga keluarga bangsa. Malang, 2005.
Panggabean, Alya Hamzah, and Irma Yusriani Simamora. “We Will Tell You The Representation Of Family Communication In Today’s Film: Analysis Of Semiotics Roland Barthes.” International Journal of Islamic Education, Research and Multiculturalism (IJIERM) 7, no. 2 (June 11, 2025): 898–915. doi:10.47006/ijierm.v7i2.482.