Mad (Lengthening)

Mad Iwadh

Tanwin fathah read long when stopping.

مَدّ عِوَض
▶ Open the full lesson + audio in the app

What is this rule?

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'.

How to read it

When stopping, turn the 'an' into a lengthening: 'afwājan' → 'afwājā'.

Trigger letters

ـًا
NoteIt substitutes (iwadh) for the tanwin that drops when stopping. It does not apply to ة (ta marbutah).

Examples of Mad Iwadh in the Qur'an

Surah An-Nasr 110:2
يَدْخُلُونَ فِى دِينِ ٱللَّهِ أَفْوَاجًا

yadkhulūna fī dīnillāhi afwājā

"And you see the people entering into the religion of Allāh in multitudes,"

Frequently asked questions

What is Mad Iwadh in tajwid?

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'.

How do you pronounce Mad Iwadh?

When stopping, turn the 'an' into a lengthening: 'afwājan' → 'afwājā'.

What is an example of Mad Iwadh in the Quran?

One example is in Surah An-Nasr 110:2: "يَدْخُلُونَ فِى دِينِ ٱللَّهِ أَفْوَاجًا" (yadkhulūna fī dīnillāhi afwājā) — "And you see the people entering into the religion of Allāh in multitudes,".

Other rules in Mad (Lengthening)

Mad Thabi'i
The basic 2-count lengthening.
مَدّ طَبِيعِي
Mad Wajib Muttasil
Mad + hamzah in one word → 4–5 counts.
مَدّ وَاجِب مُتَّصِل
Mad Jaiz Munfasil
Mad at the end of a word + hamzah in the next → 2/4/5 counts.
مَدّ جَائِز مُنْفَصِل
Mad Lin (Layyin)
Silent wau/ya after a fathah, stretched when stopping.
مَدّ لِين
Mad 'Aridh Lissukun
Mad thabi'i before the final letter when stopping → 2/4/6 counts.
مَدّ عَارِض لِلسُّكُون
Mad Badal
Hamzah meeting a mad letter → 2 counts.
مَدّ بَدَل
Mad Tamkin
Doubled ya meeting a silent ya → 2 counts.
مَدّ تَمْكِين
Mad Silah Qashirah
Ha dhamir between two vowels → 2 counts.
مَدّ صِلَة قَصِيرَة
Mad Silah Thawilah
Ha dhamir meeting a hamzah → 4–5 counts.
مَدّ صِلَة طَوِيلَة
Mad Farq
Distinguishing the question hamzah → 6 counts.
مَدّ فَرْق
Mad Lazim Kilmi Mutsaqqal
Mad meeting a doubled letter in one word → 6 counts.
مَدّ لَازِم كِلْمِي مُثَقَّل
Mad Lazim Kilmi Mukhaffaf
Mad meeting a sukun (not a doubled letter) in one word → 6 counts.
مَدّ لَازِم كِلْمِي مُخَفَّف
Mad Lazim Harfi Mutsaqqal
Opening letters that merge → a heavy 6 counts.
مَدّ لَازِم حَرْفِي مُثَقَّل
Mad Lazim Harfi Mukhaffaf
Opening letters without merging → a light 6 counts.
مَدّ لَازِم حَرْفِي مُخَفَّف

See all Mad (Lengthening) rules → · Complete list of rules →