Stopping Unit 21

When we recite Quran we normally stop and take a breath at the sentence. We can also stop in the middle of sentences when we need to take a breath or if there are stopping symbols.

When we stop we change the symbol of the final letter into a sukoon.

Page. 77 - Stopping Symbols

The stopping symbols used in different mushafs vary slightly. The main ones are:

م = Must Stop

ط = Should stop

لا = Cannot stop

ج = Can choose to stop or join

صلى, ص, ز = Can stop but better to join

س = )Pause (without taking a breath)

فلى, وقف = Can stop or join, better to stop

Page 78 - How to stop

Each of the words below is read with a sukoon on the last letter when stopping, even though there may be a fatha, kasra, dhommah or tanween after it.

Page 79 - Stopping on Tanween with fatha

When you stop on a word that has two fatha at the end, you only pronounce one of the fatha and you pronounce the alif that is written after it. This is called madd 'ewad.

NOTE: The letter ء is often written without an alif after it but you still pronounce an alif when stopping.

Stopping on Ta Marbutah

Ta Marbutah (ة) occurs at the end of words. When you stop in this letter you pronounce it with sukoon and change the sound into a ha (ه) ie. pronounce it as if it does not have the dots.