Ayah means a sign (or 'token') which directs one to something
important. In the Quran the word has been used in four different
senses: (1) sign or indication; (2) the phenomena of the
universe (called ayat of God for the reality to which the
phenomena point is hidden behind the veil of appearances); (3)
miracles performed by the Prophets; and (4) individual units
(i.e. verses) of the Book of God.