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Iqra 5 — Waqf & Mad
Learn waqf (stopping rules), mad (lengthening), stop signs in the Quran, and mad wajib munfasil.
Lesson 1: Waqf (وقف) — Stopping
Waqf means to stop recitation at the end of an ayah or at a marked stopping point. When stopping, the final vowel becomes sukun (no vowel).
ثُمَّ نَظَرَ
thumma nazhara...
ثُمَّ عَبَسَ
thumma abasa...
ثُمَّ أَدْبَرَ
thumma adbara...
ثُمَّ اسْتَكْبَرَ
thumma astakbara...
وَقِيلَ
wa qīla (waqf)
فَالْيَوْمَ
fal-yawma (waqf)
وَلَا يُوثَقُ
wa lā yūthaqu (waqf)
وَالسَّمَاءُ
was-samā'u (waqf)
Lesson 2: Waqf Stop Signs
م
Waqf Lazim (Must Stop)
If you don't stop here, the meaning changes.
ط
Waqf Mutlak (Better to Stop)
Stopping is preferred.
ج
Waqf Jaiz (Allowed to Stop)
You may stop or continue.
صلي
Al-Wasl Awla (Better to Continue)
Continuing is preferred.
قف
Qif (Please Stop)
It is advised to stop here.
Lesson 3: Mad (مد) — Lengthening
Mad means lengthening the sound of a letter. The mad sign is a small wavy line ~ (or small mim) above the letter. Length: 2, 4, or 6 counts.
قَالَ
qāla (2 counts)
قِيلَ
qīla (2 counts)
يَقُولُ
yaqūlu (2 counts)
جَاءَ
jā'a (4-5 counts)
سُوءَ
sū'a (4-5 counts)
جِيءَ
jī'a (4-5 counts)
الْآنَ
al-āna (4-5 counts)
أُولَٰئِكَ
ulā'ika (4-5 counts)
Lesson 4: Mad Wajib Munfasil
When a mad letter (ا و ي) meets hamzah (ء) in a DIFFERENT word, lengthen 4-5 counts. Example: يَا أَيُّهَا, قُوا أَنْفُسَكُمْ
يَا أَيُّهَا
yā ayyuhā
إِنَّا أَنْزَلْنَا
innā anzalnā
فِي أَمْرٍ
fī amrin
قُوا أَنْفُسَكُمْ
qū anfusakum
السَّمَاءَ أُمَّهَاتِهِمْ
as-samā'a ummahātihim
لَنَسْفَعًا بِالنَّاصِيَةِ
lanasfa'an bin-nāsiyah
Practice
مَالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ
Waqf signs, mad 2-4 counts
إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ
Mad jaiz munfasil, waqf
اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ
Alif lam syamsiyah + mad
صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ
Mad + lam syamsiyah
أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ
Original mad, waqf
غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ
Lam qamariyah, mad