Mad means stretching the sound. From the basic 2-count mad to the 6-count mad lazim — every type stems from mad thabi'i.
| Rule | Letters / form | How to read |
|---|---|---|
| Mad Thabi'i | ا و ي | The basic 2-count lengthening. |
| Mad Wajib Muttasil | جَآءَ ٱلسَّمَآءُ | Mad + hamzah in one word → 4–5 counts. |
| Mad Jaiz Munfasil | بِمَآ أُ إِنَّآ أَ | Mad at the end of a word + hamzah in the next → 2/4/5 counts. |
| Mad Lin (Layyin) | ـَوْ ـَيْ | Silent wau/ya after a fathah, stretched when stopping. |
| Mad 'Aridh Lissukun | ا و ي | Mad thabi'i before the final letter when stopping → 2/4/6 counts. |
| Mad Iwadh | ـًا | Tanwin fathah read long when stopping. |
| Mad Badal | ءَا ءِي ءُو | Hamzah meeting a mad letter → 2 counts. |
| Mad Tamkin | يِّيْ | Doubled ya meeting a silent ya → 2 counts. |
| Mad Silah Qashirah | ـهُ ـهِ | Ha dhamir between two vowels → 2 counts. |
| Mad Silah Thawilah | ـهُ + ء ـهِ + ء | Ha dhamir meeting a hamzah → 4–5 counts. |
| Mad Farq | ءَآ | Distinguishing the question hamzah → 6 counts. |
| Mad Lazim Kilmi Mutsaqqal | آلّ | Mad meeting a doubled letter in one word → 6 counts. |
| Mad Lazim Kilmi Mukhaffaf | ءَآلْـَٰٔنَ | Mad meeting a sukun (not a doubled letter) in one word → 6 counts. |
| Mad Lazim Harfi Mutsaqqal | لٓ سٓ | Opening letters that merge → a heavy 6 counts. |
| Mad Lazim Harfi Mukhaffaf | قٓ صٓ نٓ مٓ كٓ | Opening letters without merging → a light 6 counts. |
The basic 2-count lengthening. The original mad: a letter carrying a short vowel meeting a mad letter ( ا و ي ) with no hamzah or sukun after it. Read long for 2 counts.
Stretch the sound for exactly 2 counts (1 alif) — no more, no less.
rabbil-'ālamīn
"[All] praise is [due] to Allāh, Lord of the worlds -"
Full explanation of Mad Thabi'i →
Mad + hamzah in one word → 4–5 counts. A mad letter meeting a hamzah ( ء ) within ONE word. It must be stretched to 4–5 counts.
Stretch for 4–5 counts (2–2½ alif), then articulate the hamzah.
iżā jā'a naṣrullāh
"When the victory of Allāh has come and the conquest,"
Full explanation of Mad Wajib Muttasil →
Mad at the end of a word + hamzah in the next → 2/4/5 counts. A mad letter at the END of a word meeting a hamzah at the START of the next word. It may be stretched 2, 4, or 5 counts (pick one and stay consistent).
Usually read as 4–5 counts. 'Jaiz' = permissible, because several lengths are allowed.
bimā unzila ilaik
"And who believe in what has been revealed to you, [O Muḥammad], and what was revealed before you, and of the Hereafter they are certain [in faith]."
Full explanation of Mad Jaiz Munfasil →
Silent wau/ya after a fathah, stretched when stopping. A silent wau or silent ya preceded by a fathah. If you stop (waqaf) on it, it is read with a soft lengthening of 2/4/6 counts.
When stopping, stretch it gently: 'khauf' → 'khaaauf', 'quraisy' → 'quraaaisy'.
li'īlāfi quraisy
"For the accustomed security of the Quraysh -"
Full explanation of Mad Lin (Layyin) →
Mad thabi'i before the final letter when stopping → 2/4/6 counts. A mad thabi'i followed by a final letter that becomes silent because you stop (waqaf). It may be stretched 2, 4, or 6 counts.
When stopping at the end of a verse, stretch the mad before the last letter. Usually 4 or 6 counts.
…nasta'īn
"It is You we worship and You we ask for help."
Full explanation of Mad 'Aridh Lissukun →
Tanwin fathah read long when stopping. A tanwin fathah ( ـً ) that you stop on at the end of a word is read like a long alif of 2 counts — not 'an' but 'aa'.
When stopping, turn the 'an' into a lengthening: 'afwājan' → 'afwājā'.
yadkhulūna fī dīnillāhi afwājā
"And you see the people entering into the religion of Allāh in multitudes,"
Full explanation of Mad Iwadh →
Hamzah meeting a mad letter → 2 counts. A hamzah followed by a mad letter ( ا و ي ) within one word. Read long for 2 counts. It is called 'badal' (substitute) because it originally came from two hamzahs.
Pronounce the hamzah, then stretch for 2 counts: 'āmanū', 'īmān', 'ūtū'.
illallażīna āmanū wa 'amiluṣ-ṣāliḥāt
"Except for those who have believed and done righteous deeds and advised each other to truth and advised each other to patience."
Full explanation of Mad Badal →
Doubled ya meeting a silent ya → 2 counts. When a doubled ya carrying a kasrah meets a silent ya, it is read firmly (tamkin) for 2 counts so that both ya sounds stay distinct rather than merging.
Press the doubled ya, then stretch the silent ya for exactly 2 counts.
lafī 'illiyyīn
"No! Indeed, the record of the righteous is in ʿilliyyūn."
Full explanation of Mad Tamkin →
Ha dhamir between two vowels → 2 counts. A ha dhamir ( ـهُ / ـهِ ) preceded and followed by a letter carrying a short vowel (not a hamzah) is read long for 2 counts.
Stretch the ha for 2 counts (as if a small wau/ya were there): 'māluhū…'.
…māluhū wa mā…
"His wealth will not avail him or that which he gained."
Full explanation of Mad Silah Qashirah →
Ha dhamir meeting a hamzah → 4–5 counts. A ha dhamir followed by a hamzah is stretched like mad jaiz munfasil: 4–5 counts.
Stretch the ha for 4–5 counts, then move into the hamzah: 'mālahū… akhladah'.
…mālahū akhladah
"He thinks that his wealth will make him immortal."
Full explanation of Mad Silah Thawilah →
Distinguishing the question hamzah → 6 counts. A question (istifham) hamzah meeting the definite article alif lam is stretched to 6 counts, to distinguish it from a statement.
Stretch for 6 counts: 'āllāhu…' (not 'allāhu') so it reads as a question.
āllāhu khairun ammā yusyrikūn
"Say, [O Muḥammad], "Praise be to Allāh, and peace upon His servants whom He has chosen. Is Allāh better or what they associate with Him?""
Full explanation of Mad Farq →
Mad meeting a doubled letter in one word → 6 counts. A mad letter meeting a doubled letter within ONE word (kilmi). 6 counts are obligatory. 'Mutsaqqal' = heavy, because of the shadda.
Stretch the full 6 counts, then press the doubled letter.
wa laḍ-ḍāllīn
"The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have earned [Your] anger or of those who are astray."
Full explanation of Mad Lazim Kilmi Mutsaqqal →
Mad meeting a sukun (not a doubled letter) in one word → 6 counts. A mad letter meeting an ORIGINAL silent letter (not a doubled one) within one word. 6 counts are obligatory. 'Mukhaffaf' = light, because there is no shadda.
Stretch the mad for 6 counts, then read the silent letter lightly.
āl-āna
"Then is it that when it has [actually] occurred you will believe in it? Now? And you were [once] for it impatient."
Full explanation of Mad Lazim Kilmi Mukhaffaf →
Opening letters that merge → a heavy 6 counts. Among the surah-opening letters (muqaṭṭa'ah), when the letter spelled out long merges into the letter after it, it is read with a 'heavy' (mutsaqqal) 6 counts.
Spell the letter out, stretch it 6 counts, then merge it into the next: 'alif lāāāmmīm'.
alif lāām mīm
"Alif, Lām, Meem."
Full explanation of Mad Lazim Harfi Mutsaqqal →
Opening letters without merging → a light 6 counts. Among the surah-opening letters, when the letter spelled out long does not merge into the letter after it, it is read with a 'light' (mukhaffaf) 6 counts.
Spell the letter out and stretch it 6 counts with no merging: 'qōōōf'.
qāāf
"Qāf. By the honored Qur’ān..."
Full explanation of Mad Lazim Harfi Mukhaffaf →
Coloured on these verses of juz 'amma — open the surah to see every rule in each verse:
There are 15: Mad Thabi'i, Mad Wajib Muttasil, Mad Jaiz Munfasil, Mad Lin (Layyin), Mad 'Aridh Lissukun, Mad Iwadh, Mad Badal, Mad Tamkin, Mad Silah Qashirah, Mad Silah Thawilah, Mad Farq, Mad Lazim Kilmi Mutsaqqal, Mad Lazim Kilmi Mukhaffaf, Mad Lazim Harfi Mutsaqqal, Mad Lazim Harfi Mukhaffaf.
The basic 2-count lengthening. The original mad: a letter carrying a short vowel meeting a mad letter ( ا و ي ) with no hamzah or sukun after it. Read long for 2 counts.
Mad + hamzah in one word → 4–5 counts. A mad letter meeting a hamzah ( ء ) within ONE word. It must be stretched to 4–5 counts.
Mad at the end of a word + hamzah in the next → 2/4/5 counts. A mad letter at the END of a word meeting a hamzah at the START of the next word. It may be stretched 2, 4, or 5 counts (pick one and stay consistent).
Silent wau/ya after a fathah, stretched when stopping. A silent wau or silent ya preceded by a fathah. If you stop (waqaf) on it, it is read with a soft lengthening of 2/4/6 counts.
Mad thabi'i before the final letter when stopping → 2/4/6 counts. A mad thabi'i followed by a final letter that becomes silent because you stop (waqaf). It may be stretched 2, 4, or 6 counts.
Tanwin fathah read long when stopping. A tanwin fathah ( ـً ) that you stop on at the end of a word is read like a long alif of 2 counts — not 'an' but 'aa'.
Hamzah meeting a mad letter → 2 counts. A hamzah followed by a mad letter ( ا و ي ) within one word. Read long for 2 counts. It is called 'badal' (substitute) because it originally came from two hamzahs.
Doubled ya meeting a silent ya → 2 counts. When a doubled ya carrying a kasrah meets a silent ya, it is read firmly (tamkin) for 2 counts so that both ya sounds stay distinct rather than merging.
Ha dhamir between two vowels → 2 counts. A ha dhamir ( ـهُ / ـهِ ) preceded and followed by a letter carrying a short vowel (not a hamzah) is read long for 2 counts.
Ha dhamir meeting a hamzah → 4–5 counts. A ha dhamir followed by a hamzah is stretched like mad jaiz munfasil: 4–5 counts.
Distinguishing the question hamzah → 6 counts. A question (istifham) hamzah meeting the definite article alif lam is stretched to 6 counts, to distinguish it from a statement.
Mad meeting a doubled letter in one word → 6 counts. A mad letter meeting a doubled letter within ONE word (kilmi). 6 counts are obligatory. 'Mutsaqqal' = heavy, because of the shadda.
Mad meeting a sukun (not a doubled letter) in one word → 6 counts. A mad letter meeting an ORIGINAL silent letter (not a doubled one) within one word. 6 counts are obligatory. 'Mukhaffaf' = light, because there is no shadda.
Opening letters that merge → a heavy 6 counts. Among the surah-opening letters (muqaṭṭa'ah), when the letter spelled out long merges into the letter after it, it is read with a 'heavy' (mutsaqqal) 6 counts.
Opening letters without merging → a light 6 counts. Among the surah-opening letters, when the letter spelled out long does not merge into the letter after it, it is read with a 'light' (mukhaffaf) 6 counts.