The madd letters
- ا preceded by fatha: قَالَ
- و sakinah preceded by damma: يَقُولُ
- ي sakinah preceded by kasra: قِيلَ
The word نُوحِيهَا contains all three.
Types of madd
| Type | Cause | Length | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural (tabi'i) | No hamzah or sukoon after the madd letter | 2 counts | قَالَ, يَقُولُ |
| Connected (muttasil) | Hamzah follows in the same word | 4–5 counts | جَاءَ, السَّمَاءِ |
| Separated (munfasil) | Hamzah begins the next word | 2, 4 or 5 counts depending on the transmission; commonly taught as 4–5 | يَا أَيُّهَا, بِمَا أُنزِلَ (Al-Baqarah 2:4) |
| Necessary (lazim) | An original sukoon or shaddah follows | 6 counts | الضَّالِّينَ (Al-Fatihah 1:7), the letters at the start of surahs such as الٓمٓ |
| Temporary (arid lis-sukoon) | A sukoon caused by stopping follows | 2, 4 or 6 counts, consistently | الْعَالَمِينَ when stopping (Al-Fatihah 1:2) |
Other named types, such as madd al-leen (وْ or يْ after fatha when stopping, e.g. الْبَيْتِ) and madd al-badal (hamzah before a madd letter, e.g. آمَنُوا), are covered on the advanced page.
Common mistakes
- Reading natural madd too long, especially at the end of verses.
- Reading connected madd as two counts, as if it were natural.
- Changing the length of arid lis-sukoon from verse to verse. Pick a length and keep it consistent throughout the recitation.
Practice
Read Surah Al-Fatihah with attention to الْعَالَمِينَ, الرَّحِيمِ, نَسْتَعِينُ (temporary madd at the stop) and الضَّالِّينَ (necessary madd, 6 counts).
Examples of Madd
- Surah Al-Fatihah 1:2
ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَٰلَمِينَ
ٱلْعَٰلَمِينَ — Madd ṭabīʿī (natural): two counts on the yā.
[All] praise is [due] to Allah, Lord of the worlds -
- Surah Al-Fatihah 1:7
صِرَٰطَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ ٱلْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا ٱلضَّآلِّينَ
ٱلضَّآلِّينَ — Madd lāzim: six counts before the doubled lām.
The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have evoked [Your] anger or of those who are astray.
- Surah Al-Baqarah 2:4
وَٱلَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ وَمَآ أُنزِلَ مِن قَبْلِكَ وَبِٱلْءَاخِرَةِ هُمْ يُوقِنُونَ
بِمَآ أُنزِلَ — Madd munfaṣil: the madd letter ends one word and hamzah begins the next; four to five counts.
And who believe in what has been revealed to you, [O Muhammad], and what was revealed before you, and of the Hereafter they are certain [in faith].
- Surah Al-Baqarah 2:6
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ سَوَآءٌ عَلَيْهِمْ ءَأَنذَرْتَهُمْ أَمْ لَمْ تُنذِرْهُمْ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ
سَوَآءٌ — Madd muttaṣil: madd letter and hamzah in the same word; four to five counts.
Indeed, those who disbelieve - it is all the same for them whether you warn them or do not warn them - they will not believe.