What is the Meaning of the word ayat? How one interprets this word can make a huge difference in how one understands major issues in the Quran, because although it is a short word, relatively confined in meaning, it is used extensively used in the Quran. It has two basic meanings, two major purposes, and four distinct applications interpreted according to context.
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As explained in my Quranic Architecture page as well as Quranic Architecture Summary post, this site presents an entirely new vision of the Quran’s arrangement (order of surahs) and organization (from mid-life in time to edges-of-life closer to timelessness) as forming a spiral correlated to the shape of a chambered nautilus shell, where each surah fits into a separate chamber, naturally descending in size from outer to inner with the final Surah Al-Nass – people – in the center. It shows how the Quran’s message is not randomly arranged but rather forms a surprisingly precise fit in what has become known as an especially beautiful example of sacred geometry found in nature. The discovery of the Birmingham Manuscript pictured above, showing chapter divisions clearly marked and radiocarbon dated to the period of prophet Mohammad’s lifetime, provides physical evidence that this precise arrangement of surahs was indeed sent by Allah the Exalted with the text itself, described with more proofs below.
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The word sujud, sometimes transliterated sujood, is most often associated with the full prostration position illustrated above and below in this post. It is a powerful focal position in salat prayer in Islam indicating humility, but also in the original Christianity per Jesus’ example as mentioned in the Bible. Healing benefits of sujud have also been shown. It is strongly associated with worship and tawheed or worshiping Allah alone. But the Quran uses the word sujud (“prostration”) in contexts distinctly outside of prayer and worship, giving us an expanded usage of the word, which is extremely important to understand to avoid confusion and misconceptions, especially in the Creation of Adam narratives (found in order with Surah number here2, here7, here15, here17, and here18.)
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This is the shortest of the Creation of Adam narratives, consisting of only two ayat, whose central section is taken from the second half of the first aya 18:50. The center in bluegreen above is essentially a question addressed to us as Adam’s descendants. It is intended for the here and now, regardless to what era in time or what place on earth we are in. The words are crystal clear and stark: Satan, who represents evildoing and destruction, is an obvious enemy, an imminent threat to our very souls/ selves as humans — shall we then take him and his descendants as guardians or protectors? Instead of the Almighty All-Merciful who alone can protect us and guide us?
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This creation-of-Adam narrative is the 4th out of 7, and comes in Surat Al-Isra’ 17:61-5, consisting of only 5 ayat, each aya forming a section in a ring composition, with the third aya #63 in the middle.
114 Chambers 