Mad (Lengthening)

Mad Thabi'i

The basic 2-count lengthening.

مَدّ طَبِيعِي

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What is this rule?

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.

How to read it

Stretch the sound for exactly 2 counts (1 alif) — no more, no less.

Trigger letters

Alif after a fathah, silent wau after a dhammah, silent ya after a kasrah.

اوي

NoteMad thabi'i is the 'root' of almost every other mad rule.

Examples of Mad Thabi'i in the Qur'an

Surah Al-Fatihah 1:2

رَبِّ ٱلْعَٰلَمِينَ

rabbil-'ālamīn

"[All] praise is [due] to Allāh, Lord of the worlds -"

Surah Al-Kafirun 109:2

مَا تَعْبُدُونَ

mā ta'budūn

"I do not worship what you worship."

Surah Al-Fatihah 1:3

ٱلرَّحِيمِ

ar-raḥīm

"The Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful,"

Frequently asked questions

What is Mad Thabi'i in tajwid?

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.

How do you pronounce Mad Thabi'i?

Stretch the sound for exactly 2 counts (1 alif) — no more, no less.

Which letters trigger Mad Thabi'i?

There are 3 letters: ا و ي. Alif after a fathah, silent wau after a dhammah, silent ya after a kasrah.

What is an example of Mad Thabi'i in the Quran?

One example is in Surah Al-Fatihah 1:2: "رَبِّ ٱلْعَٰلَمِينَ" (rabbil-'ālamīn) — "[All] praise is [due] to Allāh, Lord of the worlds -".

Other rules in Mad (Lengthening)

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 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 →