The introductory chapter of this book is titled “The Meaning and Referent of Āyah.” It explains that āyah means a sign or symbol. In the Qur’an, it has been used as a term and is applied in four different contexts. The context of the discourse determines which of these four applications is appropriate at a given instance. At first glance, this may raise the question of how it is possible for a single word to have four different applications, for all four to be used in the same discourse, and yet be distinguishable from one another.
In our view, the usage of a word for more than one meaning and application is a common style in language and rhetoric. Numerous examples of this can be presented from the Holy Qur’an. One well-known and commonly understood example among these is the word dhikr. This word has been used for several meanings. For instance:
1. In Surah Al-Baqarah, it is mentioned in the context of remembering. It is stated to the Israelites:
يٰبَنِيْ٘ اِسْرَآءِيْلَ اذْكُرُوْا نِعْمَتِيَ الَّتِيْ٘ اَنْعَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَاَوْفُوْا بِعَهْدِيْ٘ اُوْفِ بِعَهْدِكُمْﵐ وَاِيَّايَ فَارْهَبُوْنِ.
[The Qur’an has brought this very guidance for you; so,] O Israelites! Recall My favor which I had bestowed upon you and keep my covenant, I shall keep yours and keep fearing Me only. (2:40)
2. In Surah Al-Maidah, the same word is used in the meaning of mentioning by name with the tongue.
يَسْـَٔلُوْنَكَ مَاذَا٘ اُحِلَّ لَهُمْﵧ قُلْ اُحِلَّ لَكُمُ الطَّيِّبٰتُﶈ وَمَا عَلَّمْتُمْ مِّنَ الْجَوَارِحِ مُكَلِّبِيْنَ تُعَلِّمُوْنَهُنَّ مِمَّا عَلَّمَكُمُ اللّٰهُﵟ فَكُلُوْا مِمَّا٘ اَمْسَكْنَ عَلَيْكُمْ وَاذْكُرُوا اسْمَ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْهِﵣ وَاتَّقُوا اللّٰهَﵧ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ سَرِيْعُ الْحِسَابِ.
They ask you what is lawful for them. Say: All pure things are lawful to you as well as the hunting animals you have taught to hunt, training them from the knowledge God has taught you, [the animal hunted by them is also allowed.] So, eat of what they catch for you and [before you let loose the animal to catch the prey,] pronounce upon it the name of God. And remain fearful of God. Indeed, swift is God in taking account. (5:4)
This word appears in Surah Aale Imran in such a way that it includes both the remembrance of the heart and the expression of the tongue. The command is:
اِنَّ فِيْ خَلْقِ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَالْاَرْضِ وَاخْتِلَافِ الَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ لَاٰيٰتٍ لِّاُولِي الْاَلْبَابِ. الَّذِيْنَ يَذْكُرُوْنَ اللّٰهَ قِيٰمًا وَّقُعُوْدًا وَّعَلٰي جُنُوْبِهِمْ وَيَتَفَكَّرُوْنَ فِيْ خَلْقِ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَالْاَرْضِ...
[They are totally bereft of intellect and that is why demand a sign to believe in the Prophet; otherwise,] in reality, in the creation of the heavens and the earth and in the alternation of night and day, there are many signs for people of insight; for those who remember God in all states whether standing, sitting, and lying down on their sides, and keep reflecting on the creation of the heavens and the earth. (3:190-191)
4. In Surah Al-Anbiya, this is mentioned in the sense of making a general mention or talking about someone:
قَالُوْا مَنْ فَعَلَ هٰذَا بِاٰلِهَتِنَا٘ اِنَّهٗ لَمِنَ الظّٰلِمِيْنَ. قَالُوْا سَمِعْنَا فَتًي يَّذْكُرُهُمْ يُقَالُ لَهٗ٘ اِبْرٰهِيْمُ.
[When they came and saw this state of their idols,] they said: “Who has done this with our idols? Surely, he is very oppressive.” People said: “We had heard a youngster called Abraham say something bad to them.” (21: 59-60)
5. In Surah Al-Ahzab, it is mentioned in the context of discussing and conversing:
وَاذْكُرْنَ مَا يُتْلٰي فِيْ بُيُوْتِكُنَّ مِنْ اٰيٰتِ اللّٰهِ وَالْحِكْمَةِﵧ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ كَانَ لَطِيْفًا خَبِيْرًا.
And communicate what is taught to you of the revelations of God and His wisdom. Indeed, God is Very Discerning and All-Knowing. (33:34)
6. In Surah Al-Maidah, this word has been used in the sense of a reminder:
وَمِنَ الَّذِيْنَ قَالُوْ٘ا اِنَّا نَصٰرٰ٘ي اَخَذْنَا مِيْثَاقَهُمْ فَنَسُوْا حَظًّا مِّمَّا ذُكِّرُوْا بِهٖ....
In a similar manner, We took a covenant from those also who said: “We are Nazarenes.” Then they too forgot a part of that through which they were reminded… (5:14)