Stoping (Waqf) at The End of Words | Tajweed Rules

How to Stop at the End of Words in Tajweed Rules

The definition of waqf is to stop recitation at the end of a word. This is one of the essential areas of knowledge in Tajweed. The time of the waqf should be enough to take a breath, with the intention of resuming after it.

How to Waqf (Stopping)

When a person reads the Quran and is out of breath then he has to stop. The way to read the last word when it stops is different from when it is connected. This lesson explains how to stop correctly, either at the end of a verse or in the middle when pausing to take breath.

There are following rules of stopping at the end of words:

● Words Ending with Saakin letter or with Madd letter

If a stop is made on a saakin letter, it stays the same and is pronounced the same. However, if the last word is a qalqalah letter then it will be read with an echoing sound or qalqalah.

كُوِّرَتْ - لَمْ يُوْلَدْ

If a stop is made on a letter bearing a madd letter, it stays the same and is pronounced the same, the madd letter is elongated to 2 harakah.

وَالضُّحَى – آمَنَّا - عِبَادِيْ

● Words Ending with Tanween Fat-hah

Changed into fat-hah on the last letter + alif madd

حَكِيْمًا ← حَكِيْمَا

يُسْرًا ← يُسْرَا

● Words Ending with any Harakah other than Tanween Fat-hah

Changed into sukoon on the last letter

أَحَدٌ ← أَحَدْ

وَالْفَجْرِ ← وَالْفَجْرْ

كَالْعِهْنِ ← كَالْعِهْنْ

If a word ends with a letter bearing a letter haa dameer (ه) with madd sillah, then replace it with a sukoon.

رَبِّهُ ← رَبِّهْ

وَرُسُلِهِ ← وَرُسُلِهْ

Some words when upon stopping become long vowels because the last letter is a waaw (و) or a yaa (ي).

هُوَ ← هُو

هِيَ ← هِي

● Words Ending with Taa’ Marbootah

Changed into “haa” (ه) saakinah, no matter which harakah is on the taa’ marbootah

رَاضِيَةً ← رَاضِيَهْ

اَلْقَارِعَةُ ← اَلْقَارِعَهْ

● Words Ending with a Mushaddad Letter

If the letter is a qalqalah letter, stop with strong qalqalah

بِالْحَقِّ ← بِالْحَقّ

وَتَبَّ ← وَتَبّ

If the letter is meem or noon mushadad, stop with no harakah and make ghunnah for 2 beats

فِى الْيَمِّ ← فِى الْيَمّ

مِنْهُنَّ ← مِنْهُنّ

If the letter is any letter other than meem or noon or qalqala letters, stop with a sukoon on both identical letters with a small Jerk (nabr) in the reader’s voice

الْحَيُّ ← الْحَيّ

الْمَسِّ ← الْمَسّ

● Words Ending with any Harakah and Precended by Madd Letter

If madd letter comes before a letter that is made saakin due to a stop then it can be elongated 2, 4, or 6 beats. be aware, whatever you choose to elongate it but be consistent throughout the surah.

يُنْفِقُوْنَ ← يُنْفِقُوْنْ

بِالْعِبَادِ ← بِالْعِبَادْ

● Words Ending with any Harakah and Precended by Leen Letter

If leen letters comes before a letter that is made saakin due to a stop then it can be elongated 2, 4, or 6 beats.

مِنْ خَوْفٍ ← مِنْ خَوْفْ

وَالصَّيْفِ ← وَالصَّيْفْ

To practice the right way stopping (waqf) must be guided by an expert teacher.

Hopefully the lessons above are useful. Amen.

Wednesday, May 3, 2023