Definition of Mud
The term “mud” refers to the prolonged sound produced when articulating one of the letters of mud. Its opposite is known as “qasar,” which describes the pronunciation of a letter in a neutral manner without any additional lengthening. This is referred to as the natural mud. There are three letters of mud: Alif, which is preceded by an open vowel; Waw, when preceded by a rounded vowel; and Ya, when preceded by a broken vowel. Additionally, the two letters of leniency, Waw and Ya, can be elongated if they are preceded by an open vowel. It is important to note that Alif is not classified as a letter of leniency, as it is always preceded by an open vowel.
Rules of Mud
Mud occurs in two primary forms: the natural mud and the subsidiary mud. Below, we will discuss the rules governing each type.
Natural Mud
The natural mud is characterized by the necessity of the letter itself. It can be categorized into two main forms, along with a third type. A detailed explanation is provided as follows:
- Word Mud: This occurs when the letter of mud appears in a single word, which is why it is referred to as “word mud.” For example, in the word “يُنَادُونَك,” the mud can be maintained both in pause and connection, or it may be sustained in pause but not in connection, or vice versa. The word mud is extended by a duration of two movements only.
- Dual Mud: This refers to the elongation of letters found at the beginning of certain chapters, such as those that introduce the chapters of Ta-Ha or Ya-Sin. Scholars have compiled these letters into the phrase “حيٌّ طهُر,” indicating the blessed chapters: Ta-Ha, Maryam, Ya-Sin, the Hawmim, the Tawassim, and the openings of the chapters of Yunus, Hud, and Yusuf among others.
- Compensation Mud: This is governed by the same rules as the natural mud and is only applicable in situations where a word ends with an alif that is logically marked with a fatḥah in a noticeable pause. For instance, in the words “سَوَىً” and “زَرْعًا.”
Subsidiary Mud
The subsidiary mud is divided into three categories, detailed as follows:
- Mandatory Mud: Also known as connected mud, this occurs when an alif is accompanied by a letter of mud within the same word. In such instances, the letter of mud is elongated for four to five movements if the alif is in the middle of a word, and for six movements if it is at the end.
- Permissible Mud: This is referred to as separated mud, where either elongation or shortness is permissible, hence its name. It describes the scenario in which a letter of mud meets an alif across two distinct words.
- Necessary Mud: This occurs when a letter of mud meets a state of silence both in connection and pause. It is designated as necessary mud due to the requirement for its extension in both scenarios. An example includes the letter mim in the disconnected letters at the start of Surah Al-Imran.