Explanation of the 'stop' markers in Mus-haf Al-Madeenah

20-1-2015 | IslamWeb

Question:

Assalaamualaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakaatuh, Please provide me with the full names and an explanation of the Waqf Signs at the back of the Madinah Quran. Jazakallahu khayran.

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Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

There are six Waqf (stop) markers in the Quran:

1) (م) : This is the sign of a mandatory stop. When you see it above a word, it means you have to stop after reading this word. You should not connect it to the word that follows; rather, stop then read the following word.

2) (لا) : This is the sign of a forbidden stop. When you see it above a word, it means that it is not allowed to stop after reading it because it is related to what follows in meaning. Stopping at it would not convey the intended meaning or would convey an incorrect meaning.

3) (ج) : This is the sign of a permissible stop. When you see it over a word, it means you are allowed to stop or continue; they are equal.

4) (صلي): This is the sign of a permissible stop but continuing is preferred to stopping.

5) (قلي): This is the sign of a permissible stop but stopping is preferred to continuing.

6) (approx. :. :.) Two Pairs of Three Dots: The "convergence of stops" sign is seen on two words; it indicates the convergence of two close stops. If yon stop at one of them, it is allowed to stop at the other.

These signs were introduced by Tajweed scholars through their Ijtihaad (personal reasoning) and there is difference of opinion regarding some of them.

Allaah Knows best.