The Quran has 114 surahs and about 6,236 ayahs. Those numbers are the ones most printed mushafs use. You will also find the Quran divided into thirty juz, sixty hizb, seven manzil, and many ruku' sections. This article explains each division, what it is for, and where it came from.
Surahs
A surah is a chapter of the Quran. The surahs vary greatly in length. Al-Baqarah has 286 ayahs and is the longest. The shortest surahs have three ayahs, and many of them come at the end of the Quran.
Most surahs take their name from a word or subject in the text. Al-Baqarah means "the cow," after the story of the cow in it. An-Nisa means "the Women," because the surah deals with family matters at length.
Scholars give a few meanings for the word surah. The common explanation is that it refers to a section or an enclosure with its own boundary, which fits the way each surah stands as one unit.
Ayahs
An ayah is a verse. The word also means a sign, and the Quran uses it both ways. Each ayah has a number inside its surah, and the numbering is what allows a reader to say "2:255" and be understood.
The count of 6,236 is the Kufan count, which most printed mushafs follow. Some other counts differ slightly, mainly in how the opening basmalah and a few short passages are numbered. When you compare a translation with a mushaf, check that both use the same count.
Juz
Juz means a part. The Quran is divided into thirty juz of roughly equal length. A reader who goes through one juz each day finishes the Quran in a month.
This is why the juz division is common in Ramadan. Many Muslims recite one juz each night during the nightly prayers, so the whole Quran is completed by the end of the month. The thirtieth juz is widely known as Juz Amma, after the opening words of its first surah, An-Naba.
Hizb
Hizb means a group or a portion. Each juz is divided into two hizb, which gives sixty in total. A hizb is a smaller unit than a juz. It suits a daily portion for a reader who does not have time for a full juz.
Manzil
The Quran is also divided into seven manzil, which are portions for reading over a week. A reader who reads one manzil each day finishes the Quran in a week.
The Prophet ﷺ taught a related point about pace. In the narration reported by Abu Dawud, he advised a companion not to finish the Quran in less than three days. The reason given is that the reader needs time to understand what he recites.
Ruku' and sajdah marks
Many mushafs also mark the ruku' sections. The name comes from the bow (ruku') in prayer. The marks show where a section ends, so a reader can stop at a natural break while reciting.
Mushafs also mark the places of prostration (sajdah). These marks help the reader know when to prostrate during recitation.
Quick reference
- Surah: a chapter. There are 114.
- Ayah: a verse, numbered inside its surah.
- Juz: one of 30 parts of roughly equal length.
- Hizb: one of 60 parts, with two in each juz.
- Manzil: one of 7 parts for a weekly reading.
- Ruku': a section marked for pausing during recitation.
In a reference such as 2:255, the first number is the surah and the second is the ayah. The juz, hizb, and manzil are separate systems. They do not change the numbering.
A common mistake is to treat a juz as if it were a surah. A juz can start in the middle of a surah, and a long surah can cross several juz. Keep the two systems apart when you plan your reading.
Where the divisions came from
The divisions are not all from the same time. Most scholars hold that the order of the ayahs within each surah was set under the Prophet ﷺ's direction, following revelation. The order of the surahs is discussed more widely, and scholars differ on how it was fixed.
The division into juz, hizb, and manzil, along with the markers, was added later for practical reasons. Tradition links the work to the Umayyad period, and it often names al-Hajjaj ibn Yusuf, the governor of Iraq. The dots and vowel signs were also added in stages after the early standard text was fixed.
These divisions do not change the text. They help people read, memorise, and recite the Quran in regular portions.
Why the divisions matter
The Quran asks the reader to think about its meaning. It asks, "Do they not reflect upon the Quran?" (47:24). Dividing the text into manageable parts makes that reflection possible. A reader can take one hizb, read it slowly, and ask what it means for their life.
أَفَلَا يَتَدَبَّرُونَ ٱلْقُرْءَانَ أَمْ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبٍ أَقْفَالُهَآ ٢٤
Then do they not reflect upon the Qur'an, or are there locks upon [their] hearts?
Surah Muhammad (47:24)
A practical plan can use these divisions. Read one page a day for the meaning, and one hizb a week for steady recitation. Use a juz as a monthly goal, or a manzil as a weekly goal. Pick the unit that fits your time, and keep to it.
If you want to find a division in the reader, the surah and ayah numbers are the best starting point. The juz and hizb marks are printed in most mushafs, so you can match them to the text in front of you.