In the Remembrance of Allah Hearts Find Rest
Ar-Ra'd 13:28. Also known as Ala bi dhikrillahi tatma'innul qulub, Verily in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest, Hearts find comfort in the remembrance of Allah
ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَتَطۡمَئِنُّ قُلُوبُهُم بِذِكۡرِ ٱللَّهِۗ أَلَا بِذِكۡرِ ٱللَّهِ تَطۡمَئِنُّ ٱلۡقُلُوبُ ﴿٢٨﴾
Allatheena amanoo watatmainnu quloobuhum bithikri Allahi ala bithikri Allahi tatmainnu alquloobu
Those who believe, and whose hearts find comfort in the remembrance of Allah. Surely, it is in the remembrance of Allah that hearts find comfort.
Verse 28 of Surah Ar-Ra'd, the 13th surah, says that hearts find comfort in the remembrance of Allah. It is one of the verses Muslims share most often when someone is anxious or restless.
The verse first describes a group of people, those who believe and whose hearts are put at ease by remembering Allah, and then states a general truth that applies to every heart. Surah Ar-Ra'd, named after the thunder mentioned in 13:13, is listed as Medinan in many copies of the Quran, though scholars have differed over where it was revealed.
What it means
A description of the believers
The verse begins by describing those who believe and whose hearts become calm when they remember Allah. It continues a thought from the verse before, which spoke of the people Allah guides to Himself because they turn to Him.
Dhikr, the remembrance of Allah
The word used for remembrance is dhikr. It covers reciting the Quran, praising and glorifying Allah, making supplication, and simply keeping Him in mind during ordinary life.
A truth for every heart
The second half of the verse opens with the Arabic word ala, a word that calls for attention, and states that it is in the remembrance of Allah that hearts find comfort. It speaks of hearts in general, not only those of the people already described.
Rest that comes from the right source
The word for finding comfort, from the root of tuma'ninah, means settling and becoming still. The verse suggests that a heart searching for rest elsewhere will not find the same stillness it finds in remembering its Lord.
Where it sits in Surah Ar-Ra'd
Verse 27 reports that the disbelievers demanded a miracle, and Allah answers that He guides to Himself whoever turns back to Him. Verse 28 then describes those people. Verse 29 follows by promising happiness and a beautiful place of return for those who believe and do good. Verse 30 tells the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ that he was sent to a community as others were sent before, and instructs him to say that Allah is his Lord, that in Him he trusts and to Him he turns. A little earlier, verses 20 to 24 describe the people of understanding who keep their promises, are patient, pray and repel evil with good.
How it is used
This verse is often recited or shared as encouragement to make dhikr a regular habit, such as the remembrances after prayer and in the morning and evening. Sahih al-Bukhari reports that the Prophet ﷺ compared the person who remembers his Lord and the one who does not to the living and the dead.
Questions
Which surah says 'in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest'?
It is Surah Ar-Ra'd, the 13th surah, verse 28.
What counts as the remembrance of Allah?
Dhikr includes reciting the Quran, prayer, words of praise and glorification, supplication, and keeping Allah in mind throughout the day. Any of these can bring the calm the verse describes.
Does this verse mean a believer will never feel anxious?
No. The Quran describes prophets feeling fear and sorrow, for example Moses (Musa) in 20:67 and Jacob (Ya'qub) in 12:84. The verse points to where lasting calm is found, not a promise that difficult feelings will never come.