Madd Rules in Tajweed: When and How Long to Elongate
Why Do Some Vowels Stretch?
Master reciters stretch some sounds long, clip others short. That’s Madd — one of Tajweed’s most audible rules.
What Is Madd?
Elongation of the three madd letters (ا و ي) beyond natural length.
Two Families
Madd Asli/Tabi’i — 2 counts (natural)
Example: قَالَ.
Madd Far’i — caused by Hamzah or Sukoon
- Muttasil (same word + hamzah): 4–5 — جَآءَ
- Munfasil (across words): 4–5 — إِنَّآ أَعْطَيْنَاكَ
- Badal (hamzah before madd): 2 — آمَنُوا
- Lazim (permanent sukoon): 6 MANDATORY — الْحَآقَّةُ
- Arid (stopping): 2/4/6 — نَسْتَعِينْ
- Leen: 2/4/6 when stopping — قُرَيْشْ
Counts Cheat Sheet
| Madd Type | Counts |
|---|---|
| Tabi’i, Badal | 2 |
| Muttasil, Munfasil | 4–5 |
| Lazim | 6 (mandatory) |
| Arid, Leen | 2/4/6 |
Common Mistakes
Stretching everything equally. Skipping Lazim’s 6. Over-stretching Tabi’i. Ignoring Madd when stopping.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: One harakah = ?
A: ~Half a second. 6 counts ≈ 3 seconds.
Q: Same in all Qiraat?
A: We teach Hafs; others vary slightly.
