In Islamic sources the Ark of the Covenant is called Taboot
Al-Sakinah , the literal translation of Taboot Al-Sakinah is the Coffin of Tranquility. Sakinah is also
Arabic for the Hebrew word Shekinah . The description of the Ark and instructions on how to
build it and what to place within it were given to Moses:
Now they shall construct an ark of acacia wood two and a half cubits long, one and a
half cubits wide, and one and a half cubits high. You shall overlay it with pure gold,
inside and out you shall overlay it, and you shall make a gold molding around it. You
shall also cast four gold rings for it and fasten them on its four feet; two rings shall be
on one side of it, and two rings on the other side of it. And you shall make poles of
acacia wood and overlay them with gold. You shall put the poles into the rings on the
sides of the ark, to carry the ark with them. The poles shall remain in the rings of the
ark; they shall not be removed from it. You shall put into the ark the testimony which I
shall give you. And you shall make an atoning cover of pure gold, two and a half
cubits long and one and a half cubits wide. You shall make two cherubim of gold;
make them of hammered work at the two ends of the atoning cover. Make one
cherub at one end and one cherub at the other end; you shall make the cherubim of one
piece with the atoning cover at its two ends. And the cherubim shall have their wings
spread upward, covering the atoning cover with their wings and facing one another; the
faces of the cherubim are to be turned toward the atoning cover. Then you shall put the
atoning cover on top of the ark, and in the ark you shall put the testimony which I will
give to you. There I will meet with you; and from above the atoning cover,
from between the two cherubim which are upon the ark of the testimony, I will speak to
you about every commandment that I will give you for the sons of Israel.
According to the Bible, inside of the Ark were three items: “ …the ark of the covenant covered on all
sides with gold, in which was a golden urn holding the manna, and Aaron’s staff that budded, and the
tablets of the covenant. ” The Holy Qur’an confirms this matter: “ And their Prophet said to them:
‘Indeed, a sign of his kingship is that the Ark will come to you in which is assurance (Shekinah) from
your Lord and the sacred relics (a Remnant) of the family of Moses and the family of Aaron, carried
by the angels.’ ” -The Holy Qur’an, Chapter 2 (Al-Baqarah), Verse 248
The sacred relics left by the family of Aaron (PBUH) in the Ark include his
budded staff, and the sacred relics left by the family of Moses (PBUH) include the tablets with the
commandments. Other than that, the Holy Qur’an confirms that the Shekinah or the Spirit of God
still resides in the Ark. It is mentioned in the narrations that Imam Mahdi (PBUH & His Family)
will bring back the Ark of the Covenant
Quoted from the book Goal of the wise, page 540,541 by Aba Sadiq from him is peace, Abdullah Hashem, Qaim of Ale Muhammad
