In the Qur’an, the term āyah is also used for supernatural signs in the human self and the universe. These refer to conditions and events that occur out of the ordinary as grand manifestations of God’s power. They do not transpire through the agency of prophets but rather occur directly by the command of God or through the agents of fate and destiny. Their occurrence is rare and sudden, which is why people are unfamiliar and unprepared for them. Due to their contrary nature to common customs and norms, they provoke astonishment and wonder. There is no need to draw people’s attention to them; their rarity and sensational nature naturally draws attention. Such signs may appear in ordinary times, but they occur more frequently during the times of prophethood and messengership. Their purpose can be admonition and reminder, reward and honor, as well as burden and punishment. In each case, they manifest in such a way that they cannot be overlooked as ordinary events nor dismissed as coincidental incidents.
A few examples of the verses of this nature mentioned in the Holy Qur’an are as follows.