Types Of Madd In Tajweed: With Examples

There are many types of madd in Tajweed, when reciting the Holy Qur’an, you may have noticed the symbol “~”. 

This is known in Tajweed as “Madd.” In this discussion, we will explore the different types of Madd and the rules governing it in Tajweed. 

By understanding and correctly applying these rules, you can significantly enhance your recitation of the Qur’an, allowing you to recite beautifully as you master one of the most essential and frequently encountered principles in Tajweed.

In this article, we will teach you all types of madd in Tajweed.

What is Madd in Quran?

In the Qur’an, “Madd” refers to the elongation of a vowel sound, occurring over any long vowel and there are 3 types of madd in Tajweed.

In Arabic, “Madda” signifies the prolongation or stretching of the voice when pronouncing a letter associated with Madd. 

This involves extending the pronunciation of specific letters, as seen in the following examples:

• غفور (Ghafoor): One of the names of Allah (SWT), meaning “Forgiving,” where the letter و (Waw) represents the Madd.
• السماء (As-Samaa): An Arabic word meaning “the sky,” where the letter ا (Alif) represents the Madd.
• رحيم (Raheem): Another name of Allah (SWT), meaning “Merciful,” where the letter ي (Ya) represents the Madd.

Due to the importance of types of madd in Tajweed. In Sabil Al-Quran, we focus on personalized, one-on-one learning sessions tailored to individual needs in learning Quran.

After we talk about Madd definition, let’s talk about its letters.

Letters of Madd

In Tajweed, there are three letters associated with Madd: Alif (ا), Waaw (و), and Yaa’ (ي). 

These letters are grouped in the Arabic word نُوحِيهَا. For Madd to be correctly applied, these letters must remain silent without any vowel on them, while the preceding letter must not be a hamza and must carry a specific vowel that corresponds to the Madd letter:

• If the Madd letter is Alif (ا), the preceding letter must have a fatha sign, with the Alif itself remaining silent.
• If the Madd letter is Waaw (و), the preceding letter must have a dammah, with the Waaw remaining silent.
• If the Madd letter is Yaa’ (ي), the preceding letter must have a kasra, with the Yaa’ remaining silent.

It is important to note that if the preceding letter does not have the appropriate vowel, Madd is not applied, and the letter in question is not considered a Madd letter. 

For instance, in the word يومكم (your day), the letter Yaa’ carries a fatha sign, and the following Waaw is not a Madd letter, so Madd is not applied here.

The Madd letter must remain silent without any vowel, but this does not mean it should have a sukoon. 

If the Madd letter has a sukoon, then Madd is not applied. For example, in the word أولئك (they are), the Alif carries a dammah and is followed by a Waaw with a sukoon, meaning Madd is not applied, and Waaw is not considered a Madd letter. 

Similarly, in the same word, the letter ل has a fatha and is followed by an Alif without a vowel, which also indicates the absence of Madd.

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Examples Of Madd Letters:

Here are examples for each of the three types of Madd letters:

1. Alif Madd Examples

• بَاب (bāb) – The “a” sound is elongated because Alif is preceded by a letter with fatha.
• قَال (qāl) – The “a” sound is elongated because the Alif follows a letter with fatha.
• عَاد (ʿād) – The “a” sound is elongated with the silent Alif after a fatha.

2. Waw Madd Examples

• يَقُول (yaqūl) – The “u” sound is elongated because Waaw follows a dammah.
• يَدُوم (yadūm) – The “u” sound is elongated with a silent Waaw after a dammah.
• يَعُود (yaʿūd) – The “u” sound is elongated because Waaw follows a letter with dammah.

3. Yaa’ Madd Examples

• كِتَابِي (kitābī) – The “i” sound is elongated because Yaa’ follows a kasra.
• رَحِيم (rahīm) – The “i” sound is elongated with a silent Yaa’ after a kasra.
• كَبِير (kabīr) – The “i” sound is elongated because Yaa’ follows a letter with kasra.

Each of these examples illustrates the rules of Madd, where the Madd letter remains silent, and the preceding letter carries the vowel that corresponds to the Madd letter (fatha for Alif, dammah for Waaw, and kasra for Yaa’).

Types Of Madd In Tajweed

There are two primary types of madd in Tajweed: Madd Asli/Tabi’y (Natural Madd) and Madd Far’ee (Secondary Madd). 

Understanding the distinction between these types is crucial for proper Quranic recitation.

Natural Madd (Madd Asli/Tabi’y)

Natural Madd, or Madd Asli, derives its name from being an inherent part of the letter’s existence, independent of the presence of Hamza (ء) or Sukoon (ْ). 

For example, in the words سَاجِد (Saajid) and سَجَدَ (Sajada), the absence of the natural Madd in the latter changes both the structure and meaning of the word. This type of Madd is always extended for 2 beats or harakahs.

Examples of Madd Asli:

• هَلْ أَتَاكَ حَدِيثُ مُوسَىٰ  
• وَرَأَيْتَ النَّاسَ يَدْخُلُونَ فِي دِينِ اللَّهِ أَفْوَاجًا

Notes:

Madd Asli also appears in specific letters at the beginning of certain surahs, such as حم and طسم. Here, the Madd in حـ and طـ is considered Natural Madd and is lengthened for 2 counts.

Lesser Connecting Madd, a subtype of Madd Asli, occurs with the masculine third-person pronoun هاء when it has Dummah or Kasrah and is not followed by Hamza or Sukoon when pausing.

Examples include:

• حكماً من أهلهِ وحكماً من أهلها  
• فاعلم أنه لا إله إلا الله  
• كمن زيّن لهُ سوء عمله

Another subtype of Madd Asli is Substitute Madd, which occurs when a word ending with alif and tanween is paused upon, and the alif is stretched for two counts. Examples include:

•   هُدًى  
•   سُوًى  
•   أَحَدًا

Secondary Madd (Madd Far’ee)

Madd Far’ee, or Secondary Madd, involves the elongation of vowels but depends on the presence of Hamza or Sukoon. Some examples include:

• إلا أن يشاء الله  
• قال ربّ اجعل لي آية

Types of Madd Far’ee:

Madd Far’ee is categorized based on the presence of Hamza or Sukoon:

Madd Far’ee due to Hamza:

Attached Madd (Madd Muttasil): Occurs when the Madd letter is followed by Hamza within the same word and is stretched for 4, 5, or 6 counts. Examples include:

• وقالوا لو شاء الرحمن ما عبدناهم
• فبأي آلاء ربكما تكذبان

Separate Madd (Madd Monfasil): 

Similar to Madd Muttasil but the Madd letter and Hamza appear in separate words. It can be shortened to 2 counts or lengthened to 4 or 5 counts. Examples include:

• إنا أعطيناك الكوثر
• واعلموا أن فيكم رسول الله
• فآمنت طائفة من بني إسرائيل وكفرت طائفة

Exchange Madd (Madd Badal): 

Occurs when Hamza precedes the Madd letter, and it is lengthened for 2 counts. Examples include:

• وأنهار من ماء غير ءاسن
• وإن الذين أُورثوا الكتاب
• وإيتاء الزكاة

Greater Connecting Madd: 

Similar to Lesser Connecting Madd, this occurs when the masculine third-person pronoun هاء precedes a word starting with Hamza, allowing for 2, 4, or 5 counts of elongation. Examples include:

• ومبشراً برسول يأتي من بعدي اسمه أحمد
• ولا يشرك بعبادة ربه أحدا

Madd Far’ee due to Sukoon:

Madd ‘Arid lil-sukoon: Results when a Madd letter is followed by a letter with any Harakah that turns into Sukoon when pausing. It can be lengthened for 2, 4, or 6 counts, depending on the reader’s pausing style. 

Examples include:

• الرحمــن الرحيم
• إن في ذلك لآيات لقوم يؤمنون

Madd Lazim or Compulsory Madd: 

Occurs when the Sukoon following the Madd letter is original, and is stretched for 6 counts. Madd Lazim is further divided into:

Kalimi Muthaqqal (heavy): Occurs within a word when a Madd letter is followed by a saakin letter with shaddah. Example:

قال أتحاجوني في الله وقد هدانِ

Kalimi Mukhaffaf (light): Similar but the saakin letter has no shaddah. Example:

      أثم إذا ما وقع آمنتم به آلآن وقد كنتم به تستعجلون

Harfi Muthaqqal: Occurs in specific letters at the beginning of surahs, where the final letter of the three-letter word is saakin and merged with the following letter. Example:

      الم

Harfi Mukhaffaf: Similar to Harfi Muthaqqal, but the letter is not merged. Examples include:

      الر

      يس

      ق

In summary, Madd Far’ee requires the presence of Hamza or Sukoon, and the type of Madd Far’ee is determined by their positioning. 

Understanding these types of madd in Tajweed is essential for mastering Quranic recitation.

Learn Types Of Madd In Tajweed With Sabil Al-Quran

Learning the Quran with Tajweed online with Sabil Al-Quran offers numerous benefits:

• Accurate Pronunciation: Tajweed ensures proper pronunciation, preventing any alteration in the meaning of Quranic words.
• Arabic Grammar Mastery: Tajweed acts as the Quran’s grammar, enhancing both recitation and your grasp of Arabic.
• Strengthened Faith: Applying Tajweed during slow recitation fosters deeper reflection and elevates your faith.
• Preserving Arabic Integrity: Tajweed helps maintain the purity of Arabic texts, safeguarding them from losing their essence.

In essence, mastering Tajweed enhances Quranic recitation, deepens your Arabic understanding, and strengthens your spiritual connection.

Conclusion

In this article, we have covered the types of madd in Tajweed, along with its types and examples. The types of Madd in Arabic explained here include:

• Madd Asli (Natural Madd), along with some of its subtypes such as Lesser Connecting Madd and Substitute Madd.
• Madd Far’ee, which is further divided into two main categories:
• Madd due to Hamza, which includes Madd Muttasil, Madd Munfasil, and Madd Baddal (Exchange Madd).
• Madd due to Sukoon, which includes Madd Arid Lil-Sukoon and Madd Lazim.

To support you on your journey to mastering the Quran Tajweed, Sabil Al-Quran offers courses for both children and adults. 

These courses are taught by highly skilled and qualified teachers who use interactive methods to make learning engaging and effective.

At Sabil Al-Quran, you can connect with a qualified teacher who provides personalized guidance tailored to your unique learning needs.

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