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You are here: BDIslam Home > Learn Quran >  Lesson 28 : Rules of Stopping  

Lesson 28 : The Rules of Stopping (Waqf)

Definition
'To stop on the last letter of a complete word, which is disconnected from the word after it, and giving the last letter a sukoon and by breaking the breath, then taking a new breath to read the next word.'

The Rules of Stopping (Waqf) are as followes:

1. The proper way to stop in a word is by putting a on the last letter of the word.Example:

Without waqf: The word should be read 'Al Muzzammilu' and continue.

اَلْمُزَّمِّلُ

With waqf: The word should be read 'Al Muzzammil' and not 'Al Muzzammilu'.

اَلْمُزَّمِّلْ

2. If it is two Fathah then instead of two fathah read as one fathah make it 2 harakah long.Example:

Without waqf: read "Sirajan" and continue

سِرَاجًا

With waqf: read 'Siraja' and not 'Sirajan'

سِرَاجَا

3. If the last letter is a 'taa marbutah' (), then it is read as 'ha' () Example:

Without waqf: Will be read 'bararatin' and continue

بَرَرَةٍ

With waqf: Will be read 'bararah' and not 'bararatin'

بَرَرَهْ

4. If the last letter of a word contains a 'hamzah'(), then the harakah on the hamzah is changed into a sukoon (), and the hamzah is read clearly. A common mistake is that when stopping at a hamzah is not to indicate the presence of the hamzah at all

Without waqf: read as 'Bainas Samaaaaaai' and continue

بَيْنَ السَّمَاءِ

With waqf: read as bainas Samaaaaaa (Suddenly stop with sukun on hamzah)

بَيْنَ السَّمَاءْ

5. If the last letter of a word contains a 'tashdeed' (), the mashaddad letter is changed into a saakin letter, BUT making sure the tashdeed is still read i.e. by spending more time on the letter. Example:

Without waqf: read 'Famanid turra' and continue

فَمَنِ اضْطُرَّ

With waqf: read 'Famanid tur' not 'Famanid turra'

فَمَنِ اضْطُرْ

6. If the last letter of a word is Ya with no sign and the letter before is long Fathah then it should be read as it is. In this case, Do not put the sukun on the last letter. Example:

اَحْوٰى , تُتْلٰى , تُسْقٰى

7. If the last letter of a word is Alif with no sign and the letter before is Fathah then it should be read as it is. In this case, Do not put the sukun on the last letter. Example:

فِيْهَا , اَبْصَارُهَا , اَنْزَلْنَا

NB remember to tighten / emphasize the saakin letter so to differentiate from an ordinary saakin letter

A waqf is only correct if breath is taken before reading the following word. To read the last letter as sukoon () and not to renew the breath is incorrect.

The opposite of waqf is known as 'wasl'. Wasl means to join verses / sentences without stopping.

Different letters / symbols are placed to indicate compulsory stops, recommended stops, better to read on, and other such commands:

ۢ	The compulsory stop - we have to stop, wasl is prohibited
ۙ	The prohibited stop - we can not stop
ۖ	The good stop - it is better to continue, but stopping is allowed
ۗ	The sufficient stop - it is better to stop
ۚ	The quality stop - it is the same to stop or continue
ۜ	The subtle stop/pause - stop vocal sound for a brief time, without taking breath
۝	Necessary stop - denotes end of sentence
	Stopping at either of the points but not at both

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Click here to view a printable chart depicting the symbols of Waqf (where to and where not to stop)

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