Ayat

Ayat is an Arabic term meaning "sign" or "verse." In Islamic usage, it refers primarily to the verses of the Qur'an. The singular form is ayah, while the plural is ayāt; in English transliteration, both ayah and ayat appear. The term can also denote a miraculous sign from God in a broader theological sense.

In the Qur'an, the text is divided into chapters called surahs, each containing a number of ayat. These verses are numbered and may vary in length from one to many lines. Some widely cited ayat include Ayat al-Kursi (2:255) and the last two ayat of Surah al-Baqarah (2:285–286), which are often recited for protection or blessing. The basmala, “Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim,” appears before most surahs but is not always counted as an ayah.

Beyond the Qur'an, ayat also signifies signs of God observed in creation and events, an idea used to argue for divine presence and power. The concept underpins Qur’anic exegesis (tafsir) and Islamic theology, emphasizing reflection on the natural world as a form of revelation. In practice, ayat are studied through methods of recitation (tajweed), memorization, and translation to convey meanings to non-Arabic readers.