Definition of Madd
The term “madd” in Arabic denotes an increase or extension. In a more specific context, it refers to the elongation of sound associated with the letters of madd or lean when certain conditions are present. The letters of madd are named for their capacity to extend sound, while the letters of lean are characterized by their ease of pronunciation. There are three letters of madd: the silent ‘alif’ that follows an open letter, the silent ‘waw’ that follows a closed letter, and the silent ‘ya’ that follows a letter pronounced with a kasra. These letters can be collectively remembered by the word (نُوحِيهَا).
Rules of Madd in Surah Al-Mu’minun
Natural Madd
Natural madd, also known as “madd asli,” is produced naturally by someone with a proper pronunciation, extending for two counts. There are three categories of natural madd, as follows:
- Type One
This type occurs when the letter of madd remains consistent in both connection and separation, whether it appears in a medial context, such as in (الْمُؤْمِنُونَ), (صَلَاتِهِمْ), (خَاشِعُونَ), and (مُعْرِضُونَ), or at the end of a word, examples include (فِي), (ما), (عَلَى), and (فِيهَا).
- Type Two
In this type, the letter of madd is retained in the pause but omitted in connection. An example includes the madd from an alif substituted for tanween fatha, such as in (عِظَامًا), (لَحْمًا), (خَلْقًا), and (نُوحًا). Additionally, there are instances where madd is removed to avoid the juxtaposition of two silent letters when connected, seen in phrases like (خَلَقْنَا الْإِنسَانَ) and (اعْبُدُوا اللَّـهَ). Furthermore, there are alifs marked with a rectangular zero when paused, as in (وَأَنَا رَبُّكُمْ).
- Type Three
This type features a letter of madd that is present in connection but absent in separation, often referred to as “madd silah.” This type is specifically associated with the “ha” that refers to the absent individual. It can be divided into two categories:
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- Minor Madd Silah: This occurs when no hamza follows the ha, categorizing it with natural madd, extended for two counts, found in examples like (قَوْمِهِۦ مَا) and (بِهِ جَنَّاتٍ).
- Major Madd Silah: This type connects with secondary madd, extending for four to five counts, as seen in examples like (غَيْرُهُ أَفَلَا) and (رَبِّهِۦٓۚ إِنَّهُ).
Secondary Madd
Secondary madd is an extension beyond the natural madd due to specific reasons, primarily arising from either a hamza or a silent letter. The varieties of madd caused by a hamza are three:
- Connected Madd
This occurs when a letter of madd and a hamza are contained within a single word, necessitating an extension of four to five counts. Examples include (فَأُولَـئِكَ) and (طَرَآئِقَ).
- Separated Madd
This situation arises when a letter of madd is at the end of one word and a hamza begins the next word, allowing for an extension of four counts at discretion. Examples from Surah Al-Mu’minun include (عَلَى أَزْوَاجِهِمْ) and (فَأَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْهِ).
Further examples include (مَآ ءَاتَواْ) and (حَتَّى أَخَذْنَا).
- Substituted Madd
In the case of substituted madd, the hamza precedes the letter of madd, requiring a two-count extension for both connection and separation. Examples include (ءَاخَرَۚ) and (بِآيَاتِنَا).
For madd caused by a silent letter, there are two types:
- Temporary Madd: This refers to a position where a short pause follows a letter of madd, allowing for an extension of two, four, or six counts. However, if connected, the extension diminishes to a natural sound, as can be seen in (الْمُؤْمِنُونَ) and (مَلُومِينَ).
- Mandatory Madd: In this scenario, a necessary silent letter follows the letter of madd in both connection and separation, requiring a six-count extension, as in (ضَآلِّينَ).