The Quran is the holy book of muslims which was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) over a span of 23 years. The Quran is divided into 30 juzz or paras and surahs.
There are 114 surahs in quran. Each surah consists of a varying number of verses or ayahs. But other than Surahs and Ayahs, the Quran is also divided in a way known as Rukus.
What is a Ruku?
The word Ruku (رُكوع) refers to bowing down in Arabic which is a position to be performed during Muslim Namaz. But in terms of the Quran, Ruku signifies to the verses that are linked to what is narrated in them in meaning.
A Ruku is marked in the printed Quran with the Arabic letter ع at the end of the section. It helps readers:
- Understand one full topic or message at a time.
- Know where to pause during recitation.
- Make it easier for imams to recite complete sections in prayer.
Total Number of Rukus in the Quran
There are 558 Rukus in the entire Quran.
This number is consistent across most printed copies of the Quran especially those published in South Asia and used in countries like:
- Pakistan
- India
- Bangladesh
However Ruku markings are not present in every copy of the Quran globally especially in Arab countries.
Why Are Rukus Important?
Rukus are not part of the original revelation but they were introduced by Islamic scholars to help with:
- Tafsir (interpretation): Since a Ruku often covers one topic, it is easier to explain and understand.
- Tarawih prayer: Imams use Rukus to plan how much to recite each night in Ramadan
- Teaching: Many teachers use Rukus to help students memorize the Quran in small and meaningful portions.
How Are Rukus Distributed in the Quran?
Each Surah can have a different number of Rukus. For example:
- Surah Al-Baqarah (Chapter 2) has the highest number: 40 Rukus
- Shorter Surahs like Surah Al-Kawthar have just 1 Ruku
| Surah | Rukus |
| Al-Baqarah | 40 |
| Al-Imran | 20 |
| An-Nisa | 24 |
| Al-Ma’idah | 16 |
| Al-An’am | 20 |
| … | … |
| Many shorter Surahs | 1 or 2 Rukus |
The total across all Surahs is 558 Rukus.
Also read this: A Simple Guide on How to Perform Tahajjud Prayer and Its Benefits
