Stopping in the Arabic Language: Importance and Types

In the beautiful and intricate art of Tajweed (the science of Quranic recitation), "وقف" (stopping) holds a pivotal role. Stopping in Arabic is not just a pause in recitation; it ensures that the pronunciation, meaning, and flow of the recitation remain intact and precise. This article aims to dive into the crucial aspects of stopping in Arabic, highlighting the rules of Tajweed and their practical applications, enriched with real examples and a detailed understanding.

1. Stopping on a Sākīn (ساكن)

Definition: In Arabic, sākīn refers to a letter that carries no vowel (like fatha, damma, or kasra). Unlike the term "silent," sākīn emphasizes the absence of any vowel sound, but the letter is not mute.

Method of Stopping: When stopping on a sākīn, the letter remains as it is, without any change to its form or sound.

Example: In the verse "نَسْتَعِينْ" from Surah Al-Fatiha (1:5), we pause on the sākīn without altering the pronunciation of the last letter.

Tajweed Application: The precision of stopping on a sākīn ensures that no vowel sound is added, maintaining the purity and clarity of the recitation.

2. Stopping on a Moving Letter (متحرك)

Definition: A moving letter is a letter with a vowel (fatha, damma, or kasra) attached.

Method of Stopping: In Arabic, stopping on a moving letter involves turning the vowel into a sukūn (a sign of silence) because pausing on a vowel sound disrupts the natural flow.

Example: In the verse "يَكْتُبُ" from Surah Al-A'raf (7:21), when stopping, the moving u (damma) becomes a sukūn, rendering it as "يَكْتُبْ."

Tajweed Application: This transition ensures the stop is smooth and the pronunciation clear.

3. Stopping on a Shaddah (مشدّد)

Definition: The shaddah marks a doubled letter in Arabic. It involves two identical letters—one vocalized and one silent.

Method of Stopping: When stopping on a word with a shaddah, you only pronounce the silent letter, omitting the second occurrence of the letter.

Example: In Surah Al-Hajj (22:6), the word "الحَقُّ" is stopped as "الحَقْ", leaving the second qaf silent.

Tajweed Application: This technique preserves the intended rhythm and clarity in recitation.

4. Stopping on a Word with Tanween (تنوين)

Definition: Tanween refers to the diacritical marks indicating the indefinite form of a noun, commonly appearing as fatha, damma, or kasra.

Method of Stopping:

• **For tanween with damma or kasra, the tanween is replaced by a sukūn.
• **For tanween with fatha, an "alif al-‘awwadh" (compensating alif) is added to replace the tanween.

Example:

• In Surah Al-Baqarah (2:276), "كِتَابٌ" becomes "كِتَابْ" when stopped.
• In Surah Al-Imran (3:93), "كِتَابًا" becomes "كِتَابَا", reflecting the compensating alif replacing the tanween.

Tajweed Application: This substitution is essential for correct pronunciation, especially in Quranic recitation, preserving the structure of the Arabic grammar.

5. Stopping on a Hamza (همزة)

Definition: A hamza represents a glottal stop, often accompanied by an open or closed vowel sound.

Method of Stopping: When stopping on a hamza, if the hamza is preceded by an open or closed vowel, it is replaced with a suitable vowel. If it is preceded by a kasra, it is made silent.

Example:

• "يَقرَأُ" becomes "يَقرَا" in Surah Al-Qamar (54:40).
• "يَقرَؤُ" becomes "يَقرَو" in Surah Al-A'raf (7:27).
• "يَقرَأِ" becomes "يَقرَاي" in Surah Al-Baqarah (2:145).

Tajweed Application: The flexibility in stopping on hamza allows smooth and precise recitation while maintaining the rhythm.

Additional Reference: According to Tajweed books, a detailed stoppage rule for the word "شيء" (something) should be noted. It is stopped as "شيءْ" when recited in Quranic verses to maintain clarity without disturbing the flow of meaning.

6. Stopping on the Ta' Marbuta (هاء التأنيث)

Definition: The ta’ marbuta is a form of the letter "h" used to indicate femininity.

Method of Stopping: When stopping, the ta’ marbuta is pronounced as a silent "h."

Example: "رَحْمَةٌ" becomes "رَحْمَهْ" in Surah Al-Ahzab (33:43).

Tajweed Application: This ensures the correct pronunciation, as it avoids distortion in the sound when stopping.

7. Stopping on Qalqalah Letters

Definition: Qalqalah refers to a group of letters (ق، ط، ب، ج، د) that are pronounced with a bouncing or echo-like sound when they occur at the end of a word.

Method of Stopping:

• The strength of the qalqalah sound varies depending on its position.
• If the qalqalah letter appears in the middle of the word, the bouncing sound is light.
• If it ends with a sukūn, the sound is medium.
• If it ends with a shaddah, the sound is strong.

Example: In the word "قُرْآنٌ" from Surah Al-Alaq (96:1), stopping will result in a more pronounced qalqalah sound when the word ends with a sukūn or shaddah.

8. Stopping on a Word Ending with a Long Vowel (مد بالواو أو الياء)

Definition: A long vowel occurs when a word ends with either a "waw" or "ya" sound.

Method of Stopping: When stopping on a word with a long vowel, the elongation of the sound is maintained, but it should not exceed the natural length.

Example: In Surah Al-Baqarah (2:276), words like "مَرْضِيٌّ" and "مَرْجُوٌّ" should be stopped with an elongation, but not excessively.

Tajweed Application: The elongation should be controlled, ensuring smoothness in recitation while avoiding over-extension.

Words with a special pronounciation in Hafs recitation

The recitation of {وَلَيَكُونٗا} [Yusuf: 32], {لَنَسۡفَعَۢا} [Al-‘Alaq: 15], and {إِذٗا} wherever it appears, is with a noon (ن) when connecting (in continuation) and with an alif (ا) when stopping.

The recitation of {ءَاتَىٰنِۦَ} [An-Naml: 36] includes affirming an open ya (ياء مفتوحة) in continuation and either affirming or omitting it when stopping.

The alif (ا) is omitted in continuation and affirmed when stopping in:

• {أَنَا۠} in all its occurrences throughout the Quran.
• {لَّٰكِنَّا۠} [Al-Kahf: 38].
• {ٱلظُّنُونَا۠} [Al-Ahzab: 10].
• {ٱلرَّسُولَا۠} [Al-Ahzab: 66].
• {ٱلسَّبِيلَا۠} [Al-Ahzab: 67].
• {قَوَارِيرَا۠} [Al-Insan: 15].

The recitation of {ءَاتَىٰنِۦَ} [An-Naml: 36] involves affirming an open ya (ياء مفتوحة) in continuation and either affirming or omitting it when stopping.

The alif (ا) is omitted in continuation and affirmed when stopping in:

• {أَنَا۠} in all its occurrences throughout the Quran.
• {لَّٰكِنَّا۠} [Al-Kahf: 38].
• {ٱلظُّنُونَا۠} [Al-Ahzab: 10].
• {ٱلرَّسُولَا۠} [Al-Ahzab: 66].
• {ٱلسَّبِيلَا۠} [Al-Ahzab: 67].
• {قَوَارِيرَا۠} [Al-Insan: 15].