Comprehensive Quran Recitation Rules: Ta'awwudh, Basmalah, Madd, and More

Ta'awwudh

The phrase أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ (A'udhu billahi min ash-shaytan ir-rajim) - 'I seek refuge in Allah from the outcast Satan.'

When is the Ta'awwudh recited?

At the beginning of a recitation session. It is said once before starting to recite, to seek Allah's protection.

Do you repeat the Ta'awwudh for every new Surah?

No. It is only recited once at the very start of your recitation.

Basmalah

The phrase بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ (Bismillah ir-Rahman ir-Rahim) - 'In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.'

When is the Basmalah recited?

At the beginning of every Surah of the Qur'an.

Is there any Surah where you do NOT recite the Basmalah at the beginning?

Yes. You do not recite the Basmalah before Surah At-Tawbah.

What do you do when finishing Surah Al-Fatihah and starting Surah Al-Baqarah?

1. Stop after Al-Fatihah. 2. Recite the Basmalah for Surah Al-Baqarah. 3. Begin reciting Surah Al-Baqarah.

Do you recite the Basmalah between Surah Al-Anfal and Surah At-Tawbah?

No. You do not recite the Basmalah between Al-Anfal and At-Tawbah.

Idgham Mithlain

Another name for the rule of Mim & Nun Mushaddadah (Merging of Two Identical Letters).

Mushaddadah letter

It is a letter with a Shaddah (ّ ) on it, indicating that two of the same letter have met - the first is Sakin (ـنْ / ـمْ) and the second is Mutaharrik (نـ / مـ).

Rule for Nun Mushaddadah (نّ)

It is pronounced with a full Ghunnah (nasalization) for 2 counts.

Ghunnah

A nasal sound that resonates through the nose.

Example of Nun Mushaddadah

إِنَّا (Inna) - The 'n' sound is prolonged with a strong nasal resonance.

Rule for Mim Mushaddadah (مّ)

It is also pronounced with a full Ghunnah for 2 counts, but with the lips closed.

Why is the pronunciation different for Mim Mushaddadah?

Because the letter Meem is articulated by closing the lips, so the Ghunnah is produced with the lips closed.

Example of Mim Mushaddadah

لَكُم مَّا (Lakum ma) - The 'm' sound is prolonged with the lips closed.

Common factor between Mim and Nun Mushaddadah

Both are pronounced with a compulsory Ghunnah for 2 counts.

Qalqalah

Echo or vibration.

Purpose of the Qalqalah sound

To prevent the sound of certain letters from being completely cut off when they are silent, giving them a slight 'bounce.'

Qalqalah letters

ق ط ب ج د

When does Qalqalah apply?

When a Qalqalah letter is Sakin (has a sukoon).

Qalqalah Sughra (Minor)

When a Qalqalah letter is Sakin in the middle of a word or verse (and you do not stop on it). * Example: يَطْمَعُونَ (The 'Taa' has a bounce)

Qalqalah Wusta (Medium)

When a Qalqalah letter is Sakin at the end of a word and you stop on it. * Example: أَحَدْ (Stop - the 'Daal' has a bounce)

Qalqalah Kubra (Major)

When a Qalqalah letter has a Shaddah and you stop on it. * Example: الْحَقّ‎ (Stop - the 'Qaaf' has a strong bounce)

Qalqalah Wusta

The Qaaf is Sakin at the end and you are stopping on it.

Qalqalah Kubra

The Qaaf has a Shaddah and you are stopping on it.

Lam of Allah (لَفْظُ الْجَلَالَة)

The pronunciation of the Lam (ل) in the word الله.

Heavy Lam Pronunciation

When the vowel BEFORE it is a Fathah (ـَ) or Dammah (ـُ).

Example of Heavy Lam

قَالَ اللَّهُ (Fathah before)

Light Lam Pronunciation

When the vowel BEFORE it is a Kasrah (ـِ).

Example of Light Lam

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ

Heavy Moving Ra

When it has a Fathah (رَ) or Dammah (رُ).

Example of Heavy Moving Ra

رَحْمَةِ (Heavy - Fathah)

Light Moving Ra

When it has a Kasrah (رِ).

Example of Light Moving Ra

رِجَالٌ (Light - Kasrah)

Heavy Still Ra

When the letter BEFORE it has a Fathah (ـَ) or Dammah (ـُ).

Example of Heavy Still Ra

وَقُل رَّبِّ (Heavy - Fathah before)

Light Still Ra

When the letter BEFORE it has a Kasrah (ـِ).

Example of Light Still Ra

فَاصْبِرْ (Light - Kasrah before)

Ya Sakinah before Ra Sakinah

It can be heavy or light, but pronouncing it HEAVY is the preferred method in Hafs recitation.

Example of Ya Sakinah before Ra

خَيْرْ (Usually pronounced with a heavy 'R')

Full Mouth Letters

خ ص ض غ ط ق ظ

Rule for Full Mouth Letters

They are ALWAYS HEAVY, no matter what vowel they have.

Example of Heavy Letter with Fathah

قَالَ - The Qaf is always heavy.

Example of Heavy Letter with Kasrah

طِبْنَا - The Ta is always heavy, even with a Kasrah.

Meem Sakin Rules

A Meem (م) with a Sukoon (مْ).

Rules for Meem Sakin

Three rules. They are determined by the letter that comes immediately after the Meem Sakin.

Ikhfa' Shafawi

Rule: Meem Sakin (مْ) + Ba (ب)

Shafawi Meaning

"Of the lips", because both Meem and Ba are pronounced with the lips.

Example of Ikhfa' Shafawi

هُمْ بِئَا (Hum bi'a)

Idgham Shafawi

Rule: Meem Sakin (مْ) + Meem (م)

Example of Idgham Shafawi

لَكُم مَّا (Lakum maa) - Pronounced "Lakummaa"

Izhar Shafawi

Rule: Meem Sakin (مْ) + Any letter except Ba (ب) or Meem (م)

Example of Izhar Shafawi

هُمْ يَعْمَلُونَ (Meem before Ya)

Noon Sakinah/Tanween + Throat Letters

Rule: Noon Sakinah/Tanween + Throat Letters

Throat Letters

Letters: ء ه ع ح غ خ

Pronunciation of Noon Sakinah

The 'n' sound is pronounced clearly, with NO Ghunnah.

Example of Izhar

مِنْ أَمْرِ (Clear 'n' before Hamza) غَفُورٌ حَلِيمٌ (Clear 'n' before Ha)

Iqlab (Conversion)

Rule: Noon Sakinah/Tanween + Ba (ب)

Pronunciation of Iqlab

The 'n' sound is converted to a Meem (م) and pronounced with a Ghunnah (2 counts).

Example of Iqlab

مِن بَعْدِ → Pronounced 'Mim ba'di' سَمِيعٌ بَصِيرٌ → Pronounced 'Samee'um basheer'

Idgham (Merging)

Rule: Noon Sakinah/Tanween + Letters in يَرْمَلُون (Ya, Ra, Meem, Lam, Waw, Noon)

Types of Idgham

1. Idgham with Ghunnah (Idgham Naqis) 2. Idgham without Ghunnah (Idgham Tam)

Idgham WITH Ghunnah (Idgham Naqis)

ي ن م و (Yanmu)

Pronunciation of Idgham with Ghunnah

The 'n' merges completely and disappears, but a 2-count Ghunnah remains on the following letter.

Example of Idgham with Ghunnah

مِن يَقُول → 'Miyyaqool' (Ghunnah on the Ya) مِن نَّعْمَةٍ → 'Minna'matin' (Ghunnah on the Noon)

Idgham WITHOUT Ghunnah (Idgham Tam)

ل ر (Lam and Ra)

Pronunciation of Idgham without Ghunnah

The 'n' merges completely. No 'n' sound and NO Ghunnah.

Example of Idgham without Ghunnah

مِن لَّدُنْهُ → 'Mil ladunhu' (No 'n', just a heavy Lam) هُدًى لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ → 'Hudal lilmuttaqeen' (No 'n', just a heavy Lam)

Ikhfa' (Concealment)

Rule: Noon Sakinah/Tanween + The remaining 15 letters

Letters for Ikhfa'

ت ث ج د ذ ز س ش ص ض ط ظ ف ق ك

Pronunciation of Ikhfa'

The 'n' sound is concealed; the tongue doesn't touch for the 'n', but a 2-count Ghunnah is maintained.

Example of Ikhfa'

أَن تَقُولُوا (Concealed 'n' before Ta) عَذَابٌ قَرِيب (Concealed 'n' before Qaf)

Madd

To prolong or lengthen the sound of a vowel.

Madd letters

Alif (ا), Waw (و), Ya (ي) - but only when they are Sakinah (have a sukoon).

Length of Madd

In counts (harakat), where one count is the time it takes to open one finger.

Madd Asli / Madd Tabi'i (Natural Madd)

The basic, inherent lengthening. Condition: A Madd letter is preceded by its corresponding harakah and is NOT followed by a Hamza or Sukoon. Length: 2 counts.

Example of Madd Asli

قَالَ (Qaala) - Fathah before Alif. نُوحِيهَا (Nooheeaa) - Kasrah before Ya.

Madd Muttasil (Connected Madd)

Muttasil means 'attached.' Condition: A Madd letter is followed by a Hamza (ء) in the same word. Length: 4 or 5 counts (must be consistent).

Example of Madd Muttasil

جَاءَ (Jaaa'a) السَّمَاءِ (As-Samaaa'i)

Madd Munfasil (Separated Madd)

Munfasil means 'separated.' Condition: A Madd letter is at the end of a word, and the next word begins with a Hamza (ء). Length: 4 or 5 counts is preferred (2 counts is permissible).

Example of Madd Munfasil

إِنَّا أَنْزَلْنَاهُ (Inaa anzalnahu) رَبِّي أَمَرَ (Rabbee amara)

Madd 'Arid Lil Sukoon (Madd due to Stopping)

A Madd that only appears when you stop reading. Condition: You stop on a word that ends with a Madd letter. The sukoon is temporary. Length: 2, 4, or 6 counts (all are permissible; 2 is most common).

Example of Madd 'Arid Lil Sukoon

الرَّحْمَٰنِ (When stopping: Ar-Rahmaaan) الْعَالَمِينَ (When stopping: Al-'aalamin)

Difference between Madd Muttasil and Madd Munfasil

Muttasil: The Hamza is in the same word as the Madd letter. Munfasil: The Hamza is at the start of the next word.