Eyes at Rest with God: The Qur'anic Meaning of Home

Through an exploration of the word mustaqarr (a place of settling) and associated terms, I will argue in this paper that the Qur’anic concept of “home” refers to a state of being settled on the land, in one’s self, and with God. The search for home thus ties together three journeys: the physical search for one’s homeland (especially after exile), the inward search for peace within one’s heart, and the spiritual search for God. These journeys are intertwined through the idea of mustaqarr, which, the Quran suggests, can only be found at the place where all three searches find their conclusion. Thus, so long as any of those journeys remains incomplete, then you are not at home: you are in a temporary resting-place (mustawda), and the journey must continue.