Unit 4 · Lesson 24
Madd: lengthening
How long to stretch a vowel
Madd means stretching a long vowel (ا, و or ي). The natural length is two counts, and certain letters after it make it longer. A count is about the time it takes to fold or unfold one finger.
Natural madd
2 countsA long vowel with no hamza or sukūn after it. Always two counts.
Connected madd
4–5 countsA long vowel followed by a hamza in the same word. Stretch it for four or five counts; it must always be lengthened.
Separated madd
4–5 countsA long vowel at the end of a word, with a hamza at the start of the next. It is usually four or five counts, and two counts is also an accepted way of reading Ḥafṣ.
Necessary madd
6 countsA long vowel followed by a sukūn or shadda that is always there. Always six counts.
Madd before a stop
2 · 4 · 6 countsWhen you stop on a word that ends in a long vowel and one more letter, that letter takes a sukūn, and the vowel may be stretched to two, four or six counts. Pick one length and keep to it.
PRACTICE
Tap an answer to check yourself.
How long is a natural madd?
Which madd is this?
جَآءَ
How long is the madd here?
ٱلضَّآلِّينَ