FAQ
Questions, answered.
If we missed yours, write to sakinah.help@gmail.com, we read every message, in shā Allāh.
Faith & adab
Is Sakinah a dating app?
No. Dating apps are built around browsing and entertainment. Sakinah is built around marriage. Every screen, default, and notification is shaped by that, from vanishing photos to wali visibility to question prompts that push toward seriousness instead of small-talk.
Who is Sakinah for?
Practicing Muslims, eighteen or older, who are seriously looking for a spouse. If you are casually browsing or experimenting, Sakinah is not the right app for you, and that is by design.
Are the principles reviewed by scholars?
The product decisions that touch directly on Islamic practice, wali involvement, photo modesty, conversation boundaries, are reviewed by imams and community advisors we are working with. We will publish the advisors and their guidance before launch, in shā Allāh.
Privacy
Can people see me without my knowing?
No. There are no photos in the feed at all, you are matched on character first. A photo is only revealed once, for six seconds, and only after you have both explicitly agreed to it, and it cannot be saved or screenshotted. There is no anonymous browsing, if you are seen, you agreed to be seen, and so did they.
How does the first glance work?
Inside a conversation, each of you has a button: I agree to a first glance. Pressing it shows a warning first, are you sure, because it cannot be undone or replayed. Nothing happens until the other person presses theirs too. Only when both of you have agreed does the glance unlock: you each get a single six-second look at the other person, once, and that is it. If you would rather talk first and look later, or never, simply don't press it.
How do photos work?
Your face is never a thumbnail in a feed and never something to be collected. When you both agree to a first glance, you each get a single six-second look at the other person. After six seconds the photo disappears, and the app blocks screenshots and screen recording so it cannot be saved or passed around. A glance to confirm, not a gallery to browse.
Do you sell or share my data?
Never. We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information. We do not run third-party advertising in the app. We do not target you with promotions based on your behaviour. The full details are in our privacy policy.
What happens when I delete my account?
Your profile, photos, and messages are deleted within thirty days, except where we are legally required to retain limited records (for example, to handle reports of harm). Backups are rotated on a thirty-day cycle.
Matching
How does Sakinah decide who to show me?
Matches are based on what you tell us about your deen, family, stage of life, and what you are looking for in a spouse, not on engagement metrics or how often you open the app. We do not optimise for swipes or screen time; we optimise for sincerity of fit.
Can I filter by sect, madhhab, or ethnicity?
Yes. You can filter by sect, madhhab, level of practice, language, ethnicity, and where you are open to living. Filters are private, the people you filter never know.
How many matches will I see?
There is no daily cap and no rationing. You see everyone who fits the filters you set, sect, practice, ethnicity, city, age, and no one who doesn't. What we refuse to build is an engagement algorithm: no ranking people to keep you scrolling, no withholding profiles to bring you back tomorrow. Your filters decide, not our metrics.
Wali
Do I need a wali to use Sakinah?
Sisters are strongly encouraged to add a wali, and the experience is designed around that. Brothers may add a parent or trusted older relative if they wish. Either way, wali tools are free and never gated by a paywall.
What does my wali see?
Your wali sees the matches you receive and the conversations you invite them into. They do not see your private messages before mutual interest, the profiles you pass on, or your browsing history. Wali is not surveillance, it is partnership.
What if my wali is far away or doesn't speak English?
Wali tools work on any phone, in basic data conditions, and the interface will be available in major languages at launch, including Arabic, Urdu, Bahasa, Turkish, and French.
Pricing
How much does Sakinah cost?
Browse for free, then choose a plan when you are ready to message: $24.99/month, $109.99 for six months ($18.33/mo, the most popular), or $249.99 once until you are married. All prices are in US dollars (USD). See the Pricing page for what each plan includes.
What if I cannot afford it?
Sakinah has a hardship program, free access for sincere applicants who cannot pay, covered by Sakinah at our own cost. A small volunteer team reviews each application within forty-eight hours. The full details are on the Pricing page.
Support
How do I reach you?
Email sakinah.help@gmail.com. We read every message, in shā Allāh, and reply quickly.
When is the app launching?
August 2026, in shā Allāh, in a small set of cities to start. Join the waitlist and we will let you know the moment your city is included.
Still have questions?
We read every email.
Write to sakinah.help@gmail.com and a real human, not a bot, will write back to you, in shā Allāh.