Studio Arabiya Institute
Tajweed Rules: Stopping & Pausing Signs in the Quran
In previous blog posts, we explained the importance of tajweed rules and why learning tajweed is essential in mastering Quran recitation. We went over the most common mistakes that are done when reciting the Quran, and the first one is making inappropriate starts and stops, which can go as far as changing the meaning of the Words of Allah SWT. In this article, we go over the main stopping signs that can be found in most commonly used maṣāḥif (plural of muṣḥaf, which designates a copy of the Quran) today, giving a short explanation and an example for each sign.
List of stopping and pausing signs, their meanings and an example from the Quran
مـ – The Mandatory Stop
One must stop at this sign, which is a small "mīm" letter in the Arabic alphabet. Failing to stop at this sign would change the meaning of the verse or sentence.
إِنَّمَا يَسْتَجِيبُ الَّذِينَ يَسْمَعُونَ ۘ وَالْمَوْتَىٰ يَبْعَثُهُمُ اللَّـهُ ثُمَّ إِلَيْهِ يُرْجَعُونَ
"Only those who hear will respond. But the dead - Allah will resurrect them; then to Him they will be returned."
Sūrah Al-Anʿām, 6:36
قلى – The Preferred Pause
It is better to stop but it is allowed to continue.
أَلَا إِنَّ لِلَّـهِ مَن فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَن فِي الْأَرْضِ ۗ وَمَا يَتَّبِعُ الَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِ اللَّـهِ شُرَكَاءَ ۚ إِن يَتَّبِعُونَ إِلَّا الظَّنَّ وَإِنْ هُمْ إِلَّا يَخْرُصُونَ
"Unquestionably, to Allah belongs whoever is in the heavens and whoever is on the earth. And those who invoke other than Allah do not [actually] follow [His] "partners." They follow not except assumption, and they are not but falsifying."
Sūrah Yūnus, 10:66
ج – The Permissible Stop
At this small "jīm" letter, one may stop or continue. Both are allowed.
الر ۚ تِلْكَ آيَاتُ الْكِتَابِ الْمُبِينِ
"Alif, Lam, Ra. These are the verses of the clear Book."
Sūrah Yūsuf, 12:1
س – The Silence Symbol
When encountering this small "sīn" letter symbol, take a brief pause without breaking your breath, then continue.
وَقِيلَ مَنْ ۜ رَاقٍ
"And it is said, 'Who will cure [him]?'"
Sūrah Al-Furqān
Article Source studioarabiya.com/blog/tajweed-rules-stopping-pausing-signs
Tajweed Rules: Stopping & Pausing Signs in the Quran
In previous blog posts, we explained the importance of tajweed rules and why learning tajweed is essential in mastering Quran recitation. We went over the most common mistakes that are done when reciting the Quran, and the first one is making inappropriate starts and stops, which can go as far as changing the meaning of the Words of Allah SWT. In this article, we go over the main stopping signs that can be found in most commonly used maṣāḥif (plural of muṣḥaf, which designates a copy of the Quran) today, giving a short explanation and an example for each sign.
List of stopping and pausing signs, their meanings and an example from the Quran
مـ – The Mandatory Stop
One must stop at this sign, which is a small "mīm" letter in the Arabic alphabet. Failing to stop at this sign would change the meaning of the verse or sentence.
إِنَّمَا يَسْتَجِيبُ الَّذِينَ يَسْمَعُونَ ۘ وَالْمَوْتَىٰ يَبْعَثُهُمُ اللَّـهُ ثُمَّ إِلَيْهِ يُرْجَعُونَ
"Only those who hear will respond. But the dead - Allah will resurrect them; then to Him they will be returned."
Sūrah Al-Anʿām, 6:36
قلى – The Preferred Pause
It is better to stop but it is allowed to continue.
أَلَا إِنَّ لِلَّـهِ مَن فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَن فِي الْأَرْضِ ۗ وَمَا يَتَّبِعُ الَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِ اللَّـهِ شُرَكَاءَ ۚ إِن يَتَّبِعُونَ إِلَّا الظَّنَّ وَإِنْ هُمْ إِلَّا يَخْرُصُونَ
"Unquestionably, to Allah belongs whoever is in the heavens and whoever is on the earth. And those who invoke other than Allah do not [actually] follow [His] "partners." They follow not except assumption, and they are not but falsifying."
Sūrah Yūnus, 10:66
ج – The Permissible Stop
At this small "jīm" letter, one may stop or continue. Both are allowed.
الر ۚ تِلْكَ آيَاتُ الْكِتَابِ الْمُبِينِ
"Alif, Lam, Ra. These are the verses of the clear Book."
Sūrah Yūsuf, 12:1
س – The Silence Symbol
When encountering this small "sīn" letter symbol, take a brief pause without breaking your breath, then continue.
وَقِيلَ مَنْ ۜ رَاقٍ
"And it is said, 'Who will cure [him]?'"
Sūrah Al-Furqān
Article Source studioarabiya.com/blog/tajweed-rules-stopping-pausing-signs