Mad (Lengthening)

Mad Lazim Harfi Mukhaffaf

Opening letters without merging → a light 6 counts.

مَدّ لَازِم حَرْفِي مُخَفَّف

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What is this rule?

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.

How to read it

Spell the letter out and stretch it 6 counts with no merging: 'qōōōf'.

Trigger letters

The 6-count muqaṭṭa'ah letters that are spelled out clearly, without idgham (izhar).

قٓصٓنٓمٓكٓ

NoteSīn is also mukhaffaf in يٰسٓ/طٰسٓ, and 'Ain (عٓ) follows a special rule (mad lin, 4/6 counts).

Examples of Mad Lazim Harfi Mukhaffaf in the Qur'an

Surah Qaf 50:1

قٓ

qāāf

"Qāf. By the honored Qur’ān..."

Surah Sad 38:1

صٓ

ṣāād

"Ṣād. By the Qur’ān containing reminder..."

Surah Al-Qalam 68:1

نٓ

nūūn

"Nūn. By the pen and what they inscribe,"

Surah Ghafir 40:1

حمٓ

ḥā mīīm

"Ḥā, Meem."

Surah Maryam 19:1

كٓهيعٓصٓ

kāāf hā yā 'ain ṣād

"Kāf, Hā, Yā, ʿAyn, Ṣād."

Frequently asked questions

What is Mad Lazim Harfi Mukhaffaf in tajwid?

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.

How do you pronounce Mad Lazim Harfi Mukhaffaf?

Spell the letter out and stretch it 6 counts with no merging: 'qōōōf'.

Which letters trigger Mad Lazim Harfi Mukhaffaf?

There are 5 letters: قٓ صٓ نٓ مٓ كٓ. The 6-count muqaṭṭa'ah letters that are spelled out clearly, without idgham (izhar).

What is an example of Mad Lazim Harfi Mukhaffaf in the Quran?

One example is in Surah Qaf 50:1: "قٓ" (qāāf) — "Qāf. By the honored Qur’ān...".

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 Iwadh
Tanwin fathah read long when stopping.مَدّ عِوَض 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

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