muḍāriʿـَيَفْعَلُmaṣdarرُكُوعٌ
Core sense — he bowed himself, he lowered his head, he prayedgenerated
1.1
maṣdar رُكُوعٌ and رَكْعٌ.
He bowed himself, he bent himself; or he became bowed or bent. Er-Rāghib: it is sometimes used of a particular manner of doing this in prayer, and sometimes of humility and self-abasement, whether in worship or in other cases.
He lowered his head. Said of an old man: he became bowed or bent with age. This is [said to be] the primary meaning.
Or he fell on his face, and stumbled.
1.1.1the lowering of the head by a person praying, after the standing in which the recitation [of portions of the Qur'ān] is performed—رُكُوعُ الصَّلَاةِ
This comes from رَكَعَ as used in the first sense above, or as used in the first sense given of an old man, or as used in the last sense above.
So that the palms of the hands reach the knees; or so that the back becomes depressed; according to the doctors of practical law, so that a cup full of water placed on the back would not be spilled.
the same—الرُّكُوعُ فِى الصَّلَاة
1.1.2he lowered his head, or he humbled himself, to God—رَكَعَ إِلَى ٱللّٰهِ
Synonym: اِطْمَأَنَّ.
1.1.3he prayed—رَكَعَ
he prayed—تركّع
And pray with those who pray—وَٱرْكَعُوا مَعَ الرَّاكِعِينَ
he prayed a rekʿah—رَكَعَ رَكْعَةً
he prayed two rekʿahs—رَكْعَتَيْنِ
he prayed three rekʿahs—ثَلَاثَ رَكَعَاتٍ
So in the Qur'ān 2:40.
[See رَكْعَةٌ below.]
1.1.4
According to IKoot and several others: he stood to prayer.
1.1.5figurative · مجازthe camels became fatigued, so that they lowered their heads and fell on their faces—لَغِبَتِ الإِبِلُ حَتَّى رَكَعَتْ
Or fatigued in the utmost degree, or languid from fatigue.
1.1.6figurative · مجاز — inferredthe palm-tree inclined—رَكَعَتِ النَّخْلَةُ
A phrase which may be of classical authority, but [Mtr says,] I have not found it.
1.1.7figurative · مجازhe became poor after having been rich, or well enough off, and his condition became lowered—رَكَعَ
Said of a man.
Qur’ānic occurrences Form 1
2:43
وَأَقِيمُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتُوا۟ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَٱرْكَعُوا۟ مَعَ ٱلرَّٰكِعِينَAnd be steadfast in prayer; practise regular charity; and bow down your heads with those who bow down (in worship).
3:43
يَـٰمَرْيَمُ ٱقْنُتِى لِرَبِّكِ وَٱسْجُدِى وَٱرْكَعِى مَعَ ٱلرَّٰكِعِينَ"O Mary! worship Thy Lord devoutly: Prostrate thyself, and bow down (in prayer) with those who bow down."
22:77
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱرْكَعُوا۟ وَٱسْجُدُوا۟ وَٱعْبُدُوا۟ رَبَّكُمْ وَٱفْعَلُوا۟ ٱلْخَيْرَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ ۩O ye who believe! bow down, prostrate yourselves, and adore your Lord; and do good; that ye may prosper.
77:48
وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمُ ٱرْكَعُوا۟ لَا يَرْكَعُونَAnd when it is said to them, "Prostrate yourselves!" they do not so.
Occurrences of this form in the Qur’ān, not Lane’s choice of verse. They show the word in use; they do not say which sense above applies. Where more occur than are shown, the shortest āyāt are chosen.
Show Lane's original text
, (Th, S, &c.,) aor. رَكَعَ , (Th, TA,) inf. n. رُكُوعٌ (Th, S, Mgh, Msb, K) and رَكْعٌ , (Th, TA,) He bowed, or bent, himself; or became bowed or bent: (Th, S, Mgh, Msb:) so says Er-Rághib, adding that it is sometimes used to denote a particular manner of doing so in prayer, and sometimes to denote humility and self-abasement either in worship or in other cases: (TA:) he lowered his head: (Th:) and he (an old man) bowed himself, or bent himself, or became bowed or bent, by reason of age: (S, Msb, K:) this is [said to be] the primary signification: (TA:) or he fell upon his face; (IDrd, IB, K;) and stumbled. (IB.) And hence, from رَكَعَ as used in the first of the senses explained above, (S, Mgh,) or as used in the first of the senses assigned to it above when said of an old man, (TA,) or as used in the last sense explained above, (IB,) رُكُوعُ الصَّلَاةِ , (S, IB, Mgh, TA,) or الرُّكُوعُ فِى الصَّلَاة , The lowering of the head, (K, TA,) by a person praying, (TA,) [or in prayer,] after the act of standing in which the recitation [of portions of the Kur-án] is performed, so that the palms of the hands reach the knees; or, so that the back becomes depressed; (K, TA;) accord. to the doctors of practical law, so that if a cup full of water be placed upon the back, it will not be spilled. (TA.) رَكَعَ إِلَى ٱللّٰهِ He lowered his head, or he humbled himself, to God; syn. اِطْمَأَنَّ . (Z, TA.) رَكَعَ , also signifies He prayed; (Mgh;) and so تركّع . (TA.) Thus in the Kur [ii. 40], وَٱرْكَعُوا مَعَ الرَّاكِعِينَ , And pray ye with those who pray. (Mgh.) You say also, رَكَعَ رَكْعَةً , and رَكْعَتَيْنِ , and ثَلَاثَ رَكَعَاتٍ , He prayed a rek'ah, and two rek'ahs, and three rek'ahs. (K.) [See رَكْعَةٌ , below.] Also, accord. to IKoot and several others, He stood to prayer. (Msb) لَغِبَتِ الإِبِلُ حَتَّى رَكَعَتْ The camels became fatigued, or fatigued in the utmost degree, or languid in consequence of fatigue, so that they lowered their heads, and fell upon their faces. (TA.) رَكَعَتِ النَّخْلَةُ The palm-tree inclined: a phrase which may be of classical authority, but [Mtr says,] I have not found it. (Mgh.) Said of a man, (TA,) رَكَعَ , also signifies He became poor after richness, or competence, or sufficiency; and his state, or condition, became lowered, or abased. (K, TA.)