Shatn—pronounced with a fatḥa on the shīn and a plain ṭāʾ—means “rope.”

Commentary
Imam al-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) places, in the chapter on the merit of Quranic recitation in Riyad al-Salihin, a number of reports demonstrating the excellence of reading the Quran. Among them is the hadith of al-Barāʾ ibn ʿĀzib (may Allah be pleased with him) which relates that a man was reciting Surah al-Kahf—the chapter that lies between al-Israʾ and Maryam. One of its virtues is that whoever recites it on a Friday will have a light shine for him between that Friday and the next. The surah also contains stories and lessons that Allah conveyed to His Messenger ﷺ.

While the man was reciting, something like a canopy enveloped him—a cloud-like shade that kept descending from above each time he continued to read. His horse, which was tied with two long reins, began to shy away from what it saw. When he informed the Prophet ﷺ, the Prophet said, “That was the sakīna (divine tranquility) that descended because of the Quran.” Sakīna descends whenever a person recites the Quran with deliberation and reflection; it comes down until it reaches the reciter’s heart, and Allah settles that tranquility within him.

This incident is one of the karāmāt (extraordinary favors) granted to the awliyāʾ (Allah’s devoted friends). The friends of Allah do indeed experience such favors, though not every wali is given one; Allah bestows a karāma on certain of His friends as a means of strengthening them and affirming the truth upon which they stand. It is—