Significance of digit 7 in human civilization.

^{I have this weird habit of counting till 7 whenever I am without my phone or indulge in a thinking mode or simply practice living in the moment. It's happening since i memorized tables in schools. For instance: when i see dozens of crows in the sky i count them, i stop counting on 7 even if there are many more crows. I count floral, dots, circles, or any pattern printed on my clothes or present in my surrounding, but only till digit 7. I can't explain, it's already sounding stupid}

7 is my favourite number, I'll forever pick it over other digits. It's not that i find it lucky or unlucky. I just like it, that's why my email adress contains 7. I choose odd numbers over even numbers always.

I was reading a non-fiction the other day when i came to know that 7 is the average number our brain can memorize easily. Meaning it's the limit for our brain to handle information that contains 7digits or 7words effortlessly.

That's why our phone numbers usually consist of 7 digits so that our cognition system can quickly recall it for short term, in our **working memory**.

Our brain remember digits in chunks so is the case with phone numbers.

^{Pakistani numbers are 11-12 digits long, out of them 4-5 are country/SIM card company codes while remaining 7 counts for actual phone number.
+92 300 0000000-
+92 300(codes) 0000000(7digit no.)-}

Working memory is helpful in decision making and reasoning but on a temporary basis. Our brain can only memorize 5-9 pieces of information normally, in which 7 is the ideal digit, above all for only 10-20 minutes

Now that you have known how our brain works so shall we begin to explore the digit 7 in human civilization?

Things We all know that make us realise it's seven everywhere:

• We have seven days in a week
• Steemit payout comes in 7 days, so is the 7th anniversary of steemit, and so are words in my title.
• Seven seas in the world
• 7wonders of the world, though some say there are 8
• we have 7 continents
• PH ranges from 0-14 on scale and neutrality lies on number 7. E.g: Water has 7PH
• women bleed for 7 days each month
• 7 notes of music
• 7colours of rainbow-Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet.

^{7 shades of Rainbow
Rainbow is seen when sunrays fall on water droplets and refract instead of reflecting. So the light rays go inside the water drops which act as a prism and we see a rainbow in the sky. Because light encases all the colours.}

There are also many rituals which are native to different religions regarding number 7.

Let's explore them...

In Christianity: God has created the universe in 6 days and took rest from all the work on 7th day.

So is the belief among Muslims regarding universe creation in 6days followed by Almighty Allah setting on his throne afterward.

Muslims and Jewish share common belief that there are seven skys/heavens. Likewise, there are seven level and doors of hell. Each level is designed for a specific kind of sinners.

The deepest or 7th level of hell is for hypocrites.

While in skys or heavens live prophets. Following prophets live in the sky:

• 1st heaven-Adam and Eve live here
• 2nd heaven-(Īsā)Jesus and Yahya(John) live here
• 3rd- Yūsuf (Joseph) live
• 4th- Idrīs live
• 5th-Aaron/Haroon(A.S) here
• 6thheaven- Musa (A.S)/Moses live
• 7th heaven-Ibrahim/Abraham(father of prophets) live

It is in our belief that there is a tree on the 7th heaven beyound it no Angel or any other cresture can go and know about it.

It's unseen

The throne of Almighty is beyound this limit. Things coming from sky and going above from the earth terminate here.

This tree is called Sidrat al Muntaha, a large enigmatic Lote tree, marks the end of the seventh heaven and the utmost extremity for all of God's creatures and heavenly knowledge.

Our prophet had physically gone there accompanied by Angel jibrael with the speed of light on Burak at night. It's one of the miracles:)

Some scientists say it's actually the black hole where falls the stars and nothings come out of it once go inside.

In Hindu tradition, bride and groom walk around a sacred fire 7 times when getting married. It's called 7 pheray/ circumambulations.

Scarves of both bride and groom are tied, some prefer to hold each others hand while walking around the fire. I remember in some circumambulations bride follows groom and in the remaining groom walks behind her.

I know this all because I grew up watching Indian dramas and their culture. We have a lot common with them when it comes to show off on weddings and some unnecessary rituals.

^{7 plates of Mehandi and candles on one of our wedding ceremony, decades old picture}

Hindus also believe in 7lives, each person is born 7times and goes in hell or heaven, followed by initiation of another life and repeat.

7 circumambulations among Muslims

• Muslims who perform hajj walk around Kabah 7times. Kabah is the huge black room, quranic verses are written on it with gold wires.
• pilgrims also walk 7times between mountain Safa and Marwa, where Hajra (A.S) walked seven times in search of water for her son. A channel of water eventually emerged on her 7th walk. It has built into a well now, its water is called Zamzam, pilgrims drink it while their stay.

• Zamzam has the power to heal any ailment if prayed for healing before drinking it with full belief.

Children born are also given names and circumcised on 7th day in our religion. However, it's sunnah and not mandatory so people do it with their own convenience.

The famous interpretation of the dream of Egypt's king by Yusuf (A.S)/Joseph signifies 7.

Once a king had a dream that there are 7 fat cows and 7 lean cows, 7lean cows are eating fat ones.
And
There are 7green ear of corn and other 7 dry ear.

Yusuf was in jail when king had this dream so his people went to him for its interpretation.

Yusuf said: there will see 7 years of abundance in your crop followed by 7 years of femine. So, harvest as much as you can in 7years, don't consume all of it instead store the crop in its husk to use it during 7 years of femine (when there will be no crop).

King was amused by this interpretation and did as he was told. This strategic economic planning saved people of Egypt from harsh femine unlike the rest of the deserted areas nearby.

^{4+3=7, my mamo (mother's brother) sent this from Makkah}

So these were some glimpses of 7 among different religions, science, and psychology.

That was a lot of talk about 7, isn't it.? One can do more only if people don't have short attention span👧

@wakeupkitty.pal this 7digit hooked my attention so i couldn't resist this one:)

Inviting @samina-meenu to come and join this contest.