Long vowels (madd)
Madd means lengthening a vowel. The three madd letters — ا و ي — lengthen the vowel before them when they carry no vowel of their own:
- alif after fathah: بَا = baa (two counts)
- waw with sukun after dammah: بُو = boo
- ya with sukun after kasrah: بِي = bee
This is the natural madd (madd tabi‘i), held for two counts. The standing fathah (ـٰ), standing kasrah and inverted dammah are also held for two counts: الرَّحْمٰنِ.
Other kinds of madd
| Kind | When | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Muttasil (obligatory) | A hamzah after the madd letter in the same word: جَاءَ، السَّمَاءِ | 4–5 counts |
| Munfasil (permissible) | A hamzah at the start of the next word: إِنَّا أَعْطَيْنَاكَ | 4–5 counts (2 allowed) |
| Lazim (necessary) | A shaddah or permanent sukun after the madd letter: وَلَا الضَّالِّينَ, الٓمٓ | 6 counts |
| ‘Arid (from stopping) | Stopping at the end of an ayah: الرَّحِيمْ، الْعَالَمِينْ | 2, 4 or 6 counts |
| Lin (soft) | A waw/ya with sukun after fathah, followed by a stop: خَوْفْ، الْبَيْتْ | 2–6 counts |
In printed mushafs a wavy sign (ـٓ) marks the long madds — lengthen wherever you see it.