Meaning of the word ‘Aayah’

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Ibn Hajar رحمه الله mentioned in al-Fath:

“al-Mu`aafa al-Nahrawaanee mentioned in his book “al-Jalees”: the word al-Aayah (الآية) in the (Arabic) language connotes three meanings:

1. A distinguishing sign.

2. A miracle (which took place or is) in progress.

3. A befalling affliction (calamity).

As for the first, it is the saying of Allaah تعالى:

﴿آيَتُكَ أَلَّا تُكَلِّمَ النَّاسَ ثَلَاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ إِلَّا رمزا﴾

{Your sign is that you shall not speak to mankind for three days except with signals.} [Surah aal-`Imraan (3): 41]

As for the second, then it is the saying of Allaah تعالى:

﴿إِن فِي ذَلِك لآيَة﴾

{Verily! Therein is indeed a sign (lesson)…} [Numerous times in the Qur’aan] [1]

As for the third, then it is saying:

جَعَلَ الْأَمِيرُ فُلَانًا الْيَوْمَ آيَةً

‘Today the ruler made an example of so-and-so’ (meaning: punished him so that others can take heed). [2]

All these three meanings are combined together in the word ‘Aayah’ to mean: evidence, distinction and demonstration.”

[Fath al-Baaree (the explanation of Saheeh al-Bukhaaree) of Ibn al-Hajar (6/498/3461)]

۩۞۩

Notes:

[1] Allaah تعالى mentions this numerous times in the Qur’aan:

{Verily! Therein is indeed a lesson for those who fear the punishment of the Hereafter.} [Surah Hood (11): 103]

{Verily! Therein is indeed a sign for the Believers.} [Surah al-Hijr (15): 77]

{Verily! Therein is indeed a sign for people who think.} [Surah al-Nahl (16): 11]

{Verily! Therein is indeed a sign for people who remember.} [Surah al-Nahl (16): 13]

{Verily! Therein is indeed a sign for people who listen.} [Surah al-Nahl (16): 65]

{Verily! Therein is indeed a sign for people who have wisdom.} [Surah al-Nahl (16): 67]

{Verily! In this is indeed a sign, yet most of them are not believers.} [Surah al-Shu`araa  (26): 139, 158, 174, 190]

[2] The example for this is also the saying of Allaah تعالى:

﴿وَقَوْمَ نُوحٍ لَّمَّا كَذَّبُوا الرُّسُلَ أَغْرَقْنَاهُمْ وَجَعَلْنَاهُمْ لِلنَّاسِ آيَةً﴾

{And Nooh’s people, when they denied the Messengers We drowned them, and We made them as an example for mankind.} [Surah al-Furqaan (25): 37]