Tajweed Madd Rules: Elongation Followed by Sukun or Shadda

Introduction

In this fifteenth lesson on learning the Tajweed of the Holy Quran, we continue our study of the rules of elongation. Here, we will examine the elongations that are followed by a sukun or a shadda.

1. Elongation Caused by a Sukun — مَدٌّ عارِضٌ لِلسُّكونِ

This elongation occurs when a sukun (ـْ) is placed on a letter because the reader stops during recitation, whether in the middle or at the end of a verse.

Required elements:

• A natural elongation letter
• Followed by a sukun on which the reader stops

This sukun is not written in the Quranic text; it appears only because the reader stops.

Effect:

• Elongation of 2, 4 or 6 counts
• It is preferable to elongate for 4 or 6 counts

Examples:

2. Soft Elongation — مَدُّ اللِّينِ

This elongation occurs when a word contains a diphthong and the reader chooses to stop on it, whether in the middle or at the end of a verse.

Required elements:

• One of the following letters: ي or و
• Followed by a sukun on the final letter
• Preceded by a fatha

This rule appears orally when the reader stops on the Arabic letter, even if it is not visible in writing.

Effects:

• Elongation of 2, 4 or 6 counts

Examples:

3. Necessary Elongation — مَدُّ اللّازِمِ

Required elements:

• A natural elongation
• Followed by a sukun (ـْ) or a shadda (ـّ)

The shadda is included because it represents two letters: the first one with sukun and the second one with a vowel.

This elongation lasts for 6 counts and is obligatory, or lazim.

There are two types: word-based (كَلِمي) and letter-based (حَرفي).

a. Necessary Word-Based Elongation — مَدُّ اللازِمِ الكَلِمي

Found within a single word, this elongation is heavy (ثَقيل) when followed by a shadda.

It is light (خَفيف) when followed by a sukun.

b. Necessary Letter-Based Elongation Composed of Three Letters

This elongation appears at the beginning of certain surahs, in the disconnected letters (الحروف المقطعة), such as ن or ص.

The elongation lasts for 6 counts for these letters:

c. Necessary Letter-Based Elongation Composed of Two Letters

The following letters are elongated for two counts:

d. Necessary Elongation of a Single Letter

The Arabic letter ا (Alif) does not take an elongation because its spelling (اَلِف) does not contain one.

Conclusion

We have learned how to pronounce elongations followed by a sukun or a shadda, and how to distinguish between those found within words and those found in the opening letters of certain surahs.

In the next lesson, we will study elongations that have other effects than those covered in previous lessons.