Al-Sakan and Al-Bayt in the Holy Qur’an between Linguistic Significance and Legislative Function: A Thematic-Analytical Study

Abstract

Abstract:

This study provides a thematic and analytical exploration of the meanings of Sakan (dwelling) and Bayt (house) in the Holy Qur’an, viewing them as central concepts that transcend their material sense to encompass spiritual, moral, and social dimensions. The Qur’an presents sakan not merely as a place of residence, but as a symbol of tranquility, affection, and divine harmony, while bayt emerges as a value-based institution that safeguards the family, preserves dignity, and anchors the believer’s identity and faith.
The research aims to analyze the semantic and contextual distinctions among the related Qur’anic terms—sakan, bayt, dar, and ma’wa—through a linguistic, exegetical, and maqāṣidī (teleological) framework, drawing upon classical and modern sources.
Findings reveal that Qur’anic synonymy is functional rather than literal: sakan expresses emotional and spiritual peace, bayt embodies social and sacred privacy, dar refers to existential domains (worldly and eternal), and ma’wa denotes refuge and ultimate destiny. The study concludes that lexical choices in the Qur’an follow a precise rhetorical and theological system, wherein the bayt represents both the nucleus of moral civilization and the sanctuary of human serenity.