Ayat
Definition
Ayat — usually translated as 'verses' (of the Quran) but literally meaning 'signs' — points to al-Ghazali's key understanding: the entire universe is a text written by God, filled with signs pointing to their Author. Every phenomenon in the natural world is an aya — a sign — that the contemplating heart can read. The human body is an aya. The alternation of night and day is an aya. The growth of a seed into a tree is an aya. Al-Ghazali teaches that the spiritually trained eye learns to read these signs — to move from the sign to what it signifies — and that this reading is a continuous form of worship available in every waking moment, requiring no special place or condition.
As understood in the classical tradition of Imam al-Ghazali and the scholars of his school.
How the scholars use Ayat.
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""Whoever prays Maghrib in congregation and then prays two rak’ahs afterwards, not speaking of worldly matters between them, and recites in the first rak'ah Fatiha of the Book and ten verses from the beginning of Surah Al-Baqarah and two verses from its middle, 'Your God is One God; there is no deity but Him, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate,' until the end of the verse, and 'Say, He is Allah, the One' fifteen times, then bows and prostrates, and when he stands for the second rak'ah, recites Fatiha of the Book and Ayat al-Kursi and the two following it, 'They are companions of the Fire, they will abide therein,' and three verses from the end of Surah Al-Baqarah,"
— Imam al-Ghazali, Book 10: The Mysteries of Regular Divisions
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"He should recite the protective chapters and blow into his hands, wiping them over his face and entire body, as it is narrated that the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, used to do. He should read ten verses from the beginning of Surat Al-Kahf and ten from its end. These verses are for awakening to perform the night prayer. Ali, may Allah honor his face, used to say, "I do not think a man of sound mind would sleep before reciting the last two verses of Surat Al-Baqarah.""
— Imam al-Ghazali, Book 10: The Mysteries of Regular Divisions
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"Another hadith mentions an angel who descended to the Prophet, saying, "Rejoice in two lights given to you: the Opening of the Book and the concluding verses of Surah al-Baqarah." The merit of Ayat al-Kursi is reported by Muslim, where it is described as the greatest verse in the Book of Allah. Another narration tells of a devil advising Abu Hurairah to recite Ayat al-Kursi before bed for protection, which the Prophet confirmed as true."
— Imam al-Ghazali, Book 10: The Mysteries of Regular Divisions
Appears in
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