Reading Qur’anic Ruku Divisions as Paragraphs and Applying This Approach to the Eleventh Ruku of Surah al-Nahl

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 M.A. in Quran and Hadith Sciences, Meybod University, Meybod, Iran

2 Associate Professor, Department of Quran and Hadith Sciences, Faculty of Theology, Meybod University, Meybod, Iran

Abstract

Objective: Ruku is one of the divisions of the Quranic text. According to one view, its origins date to the time of the Prophet Muhammad, while evidence indicates that it received attention in earlier centuries. This study examines the eleventh ruku of Surah al-Nahl, comprising verses 77–83, as a paragraph. It seeks to offer a new approach to studying Quranic rukus and to provide a basis for identifying layers of meaning through the examination of Quranic discourse units.
Method: The study adopts a descriptive-analytical approach. It first identifies the principal theme or central topic of the selected ruku and explains its semantic independence as a textual unit. It then compares the boundaries of this ruku with the contextual divisions adopted by seven Quranic commentators for the same passage. Through this comparison, the study examines the distinctive features and advantages of ruku-based segmentation, focusing on how the delimitation of a passage affects the coherence and interpretation of its content.
Results: The findings indicate that the commentators’ differing contextual divisions present several interpretive problems within the passage examined. These include imprecise understanding of the text and obscuring its principal purpose, thematic heterogeneity and disproportion between topics, loss of connections between discussions, intermingling of content, and disruption of the meaning conveyed by the discourse. The comparison highlights the importance of textual boundaries in preserving relationships among topics. It also shows how differences in segmentation can affect the recognition of a passage’s central theme and its treatment as a coherent semantic unit.
Conclusion: The study concludes that these interpretive difficulties arise from a more fundamental problem: insufficient attention to the opening and closure of discourse. Carefully determining where a textual section begins and ends can assist in identifying Quranic semantic units, paragraphs, or discourse units. Accordingly, examining ruku boundaries offers a basis for reconsidering the organization of the selected passage and clarifying the relationship between textual segmentation, thematic coherence, and the understanding of Quranic discourse.

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Journal of Islamic Literary Studies
Volume 5, Issue 2 - Serial Number 12
September 2026
Pages 21-41

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History

  • Receive Date: 27 March 2025
  • Revise Date: 13 June 2025
  • Accept Date: 13 July 2025

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