Types of Madd in Tajweed with Easy Examples And Charts

Madd refers to the elongation of vowel sounds in Arabic, crucial for Quranic recitation. It includes Madd Asli (natural) and Madd Far’i (secondary), which are further divided into categories like Madd Lazim, Madd Jaiz, Madd Muttasil, and Madd Munfasil, each with specific rules for proper pronunciation.

So, if you have questions in mind like how many types of Madd are there, what is yaa Madd, what is normal Madd, what is Madd far ee, or what is Madd Laazim, you have landed on the right post. In this post, we discuss the different types of Madd and their examples in detail. But before moving to the types, let’s learn about Madd closely.

Every rule of Madd traces back to how the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) himself recited, which is why Tajweed scholars treat elongation as a matter of transmission (naql) rather than personal taste — you don’t choose how long to hold a Madd letter, the recitation you were taught (your qira’ah) decides it for you.

What You’ll Learn in This Article

• The definition of Madd and the three letters that carry it.
• The difference between Madd Asli (natural) and Madd Far’i (secondary).
• All five sub-types of Madd Far’i, with their exact harakah counts.
• Real, source-checked Quranic examples with full tashkeel, translation, and links for every type.
• A quick-reference comparison table and answers to the most common Madd questions.

Madd in Quran

What is Madd in the Quran? Madd indicates a prolonged vowel. It is the extension of the pronunciation of the vowel, occurring over any long vowel such as Madd Asli and Madd Faree.

The clearest possible example sits in the opening line every reciter says before any surah:

(بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ) “

In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.” — Surah Al-Fatiha, 1:1(Saheeh International)

Here, the Alif in الرَّحْمَٰنِ and the Yaa in الرَّحِيمِ are both Madd letters carrying the natural two-count elongation — the same rule explained in detail below. This exact phrase is also the one the Prophet (PBUH) himself is reported to have visibly elongated:

“عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، قَالَ: سُئِلَ أَنَسٌ كَيْفَ كَانَتْ قِرَاءَةُ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم؟ فَقَالَ: كَانَتْ مَدًّا، ثُمَّ قَرَأَ: بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ، يَمُدُّ بِبِسْمِ اللَّهِ، وَيَمُدُّ بِالرَّحْمَٰنِ، وَيَمُدُّ بِالرَّحِيمِ”

Narrated Qatadah: “Anas was asked, ‘How was the recitation of the Prophet (PBUH)?’ He replied, ‘It was characterized by the prolongation of certain sounds.’ He then recited: In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful, prolonging the pronunciation of ‘In the name of Allah,’ ‘the Most Beneficent,’ and ‘the Most Merciful.'”

Sahih al-Bukhari 5046 — Book of the Virtues of the Qur’an, Chapter: Prolonging Certain Sounds While Reciting the Qur’an — Grade: Sahih

A second, shorter narration confirms the same habit in general terms:

“قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَنَسًا: كَيْفَ كَانَتْ قِرَاءَةُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم؟ قَالَ: كَانَ يَمُدُّ صَوْتَهُ مَدًّا”

“I asked Anas: ‘How did the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) recite Quran?’ He replied: ‘He used to elongate the sounds.'”

Sunan an-Nasa’i 1014 — Chapter: Elongating the Sounds When Reciting Quran — Grade: Sahih (Darussalam)

What Is Madd in Tajweed?

Madd in Arabic is “إطالة الصوت بالحرف لفترة زمنية محددة” — extending the sound of a letter for a fixed duration. This means to extend the pronunciation of the letter like the following examples:

• غَفُورٌ – It is one of the names of Allah, and (و) is the place of Madd. The pairing ﴿غَفُورًا رَّحِيمًا﴾ recurs throughout the Quran, for example at the end of Surah An-Nisa, 4:96: “…Degrees [of high position] from Him and forgiveness and mercy. And Allah is ever Forgiving and Merciful.”
• السَّمَاءِ – It means the sky, and (ا) is the place of Madd.
• رَحِيمٌ – It is one of the names of Allah, and (ي) is the place of Madd.

Letters of Madd

Now, what are the 3 Madd letters? Al-Madd in Tajweed comes with three letters (ا , و , ي) and they are collected in the Arabic word نُوحِيهَا. These letters must be silent without any vowel on them, but the letter which appears before the letter of Madd must not be hamza. Also, the letter must have a vowel that depends on the letter of Madd:

• If the letter of Madd is Alif (ا), the letter before must have a Fatha sign.
• If the letter of Madd is Waaw (و), the letter before must have a Dammah.
• If the Madd letter is Yaa’ (ي), the letter before must have a Kasra.

Note that the letter before the letter of Madd must have the mentioned vowels, or else Madd is not applicable, and the letter is not called the Madd letter. So, if the Madd letter is Waaw, and the letter before has the fatha sign in place of dammah, Madd will not be applied, and Waaw will not be a letter of Madd in this instance.

For example, in the word يَوْمَكُمْ (your day), the letter Yaa’ has a Fatha, and the following Waaw is not a letter of Madd. Therefore, Madd is not applied in this case.

The Madd letter must remain silent without any vowel, but it should not have a Sukoon. If Sukoon is present, Madd is not applied. For example, in the word أُولٰئِكَ (they are), the letter (أ) has a Dammah and is followed by (و) with Sukoon, so Madd doesn’t apply here. Similarly, the letter ل has Fatha and is followed by ا without a vowel.

Common mistake: beginners often assume any ا، و، or ي automatically signals a Madd. It doesn’t — as يَوْمَكُمْ and أُولٰئِكَ show above, the letter before it has to carry the matching vowel, and the Madd letter itself has to be free of both a vowel and a Sukoon.

Types of Madd in Tajweed

What are the 2 types of madd? The two main Types of Madd in Tajweed are:

• Madd Asli/Tabi’y (Natural Madd) المد الأصلي.
• Madd Far’ee (Secondary Madd) المد الفرعي.

Madd Far’ee includes subtypes like Madd Lazim, Madd Jaiz, Madd Muttasil, and Madd Munfasil, each differing in conditions and duration of elongation. The two categories break down like this:

• Madd Asli is the natural extension of the vowel sound. It is fixed and always lasts for two movements, making it a fundamental part of correct pronunciation.
• Madd Faree occurs as a result of specific conditions, such as the presence of a hamzah or Sukoon, and its length can vary depending on the context, ranging from two to six movements.

Keep reading for more details about each type with examples!

Madd Al-Asli (المد الأصلي) – Original Madd

Madd Asli refers to the natural or original Madd, which is essential for the pronunciation of certain words. This type of Madd doesn’t depend on external factors like a preceding or following hamzah or Sukoon.

It is the natural extension of the vowel sound and is always maintained for exactly two movements or “harakat.” The character of the letter does not change, and it does not increase or decrease in length.

Madd Asli – Definition, Length, and Why It’s Named This Way

Four things define Madd Asli — here’s each one:

a. Definition: A letter cannot exist without this type of madd. It occurs when any of the three madd letters is preceded by hamza or sukoon.

b. Length: Two harakahs. A harakah is the duration of opening one of the fingers after making a closed fist, and two harakahs is the time it takes to open two fingers, one after another.

c. Reason for the Name —

• It is called madd asli as it has no causes for secondary madd, has a natural place compared to other types of madd in Arabic, has a single form (only two harakahs), and the identity of the madd letter is established simply by pronouncing the madd itself.
• It is called madd tabee (natural) because a person naturally lengthens it for only two harakahs, neither more nor less.

d. What Madd Asli Includes —

• The five alphabets mentioned separately at the start of some verses. These alphabets take the form of two letters, the second of which is the letter of madd. The letters can be found in the two words of حَيٌّ طَهُر. Madd asli examples are قَالَ – أَمْثَالُكُمْ – أَعْمَالُهُمْ وَقَالُوا – لِإِيلَافِ – الْعَزِيزِ الْحَكِيمِ وَقِيلَ – تُبْصِرُونَ – يُوسُفُ – بُورِكَ – يُوصِيكُمُ – خَالِدِينَ.
• Alif that is changed from the tanween that has a fat-ha, like عَلِيمًا حَكِيمًا.
• Alif with rectangular sukoon on it, known in the classical books as the “extra alif” (ألف الإطلاق), which appears at the end of a fixed, small set of words in the Hafs recitation. Each reference below was checked directly against the Uthmani Mushaf text:

أَنَا۠ whenever it appears in the Quran

(لَّٰكِنَّا۠ هُوَ اللَّهُ رَبِّي)

“But as for me, He is Allah, my Lord, and I do not associate with my Lord anyone.” — Surah Al-Kahf, 18:38:

(الظُّنُونَا۠)

“…and you assumed about Allah [various] assumptions.”— Surah Al-Ahzab, 33:10:

(الرَّسُولَا۠)

“…they will say, ‘How we wish we had obeyed Allah and obeyed the Messenger.'”— Surah Al-Ahzab, 33:66:

(السَّبِيلَا۠)

“…we obeyed our masters and our dignitaries, and they led us astray from the way.”— Surah Al-Ahzab, 33:67:

(سَلَاسِلَا۠)

“Indeed, We have prepared for the disbelievers chains and shackles and a blaze.”— Surah Al-Insan, 76:4:

(قَوَارِيرَا۠)

“And there will be circulated among them vessels of silver and cups having been [created] clear [as glass].”— Surah Al-Insan, 76:15

These seven words are worth memorizing as a set — they are the only places in the Hafs recitation where this extra alif shows up, and reciters who haven’t drilled them tend to either skip the elongation or add it in the wrong spot.

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Types of Madd Al-Asli

In addition to the basic natural Madd, there are specific extensions that apply under certain conditions. Below are the main types of these additions:

1. Al-Madd Al-Iwad (مد العوض) – Substitution Prolongation at the End of a Word

This type of Madd occurs when a word that ends with tanween ( ـًـ) is followed by a stop (waqf). The tanween is replaced with an alif, and the Madd is extended naturally for two harakats.

Example:

(إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ عَلِيمًا حَكِيمًا)

“…Your parents or your children – you know not which of them are nearest to you in benefit. [These shares are] an obligation [imposed] by Allah. Indeed, Allah is ever Knowing and Wise.” — Surah An-Nisa, 4:11(Saheeh International)

The word عَلِيمًا ends with tanween, and when stopping, the alif replaces it — treated as a natural Madd with two harakats.

Common mistake: reciters sometimes apply Madd Iwad mid-verse, when the word isn’t actually being paused on. Iwad only appears at a stop (waqf) — connect the recitation past that word, and the tanween is pronounced normally with no elongation at all.

Read more about: Madd Iwad

2. Madd Tamkeen (مد تمكين) – Prolongation Specific to Yaa and Waw

This Madd is applied when two consecutive yā’ letters appear in a word, with the first yā’ being doubled (shaddah) and the second yā’ being saakin (silent).

Example:

(وَإِذَا حُيِّيتُم بِتَحِيَّةٍ فَحَيُّوا بِأَحْسَنَ مِنْهَا)

“And when you are greeted with a greeting, greet [in return] with one better than it or [at least] return it [in a like manner]. Indeed, Allah is ever, over all things, an Accountant.” — Surah An-Nisa, 4:86

The word حُيِّيتُم contains a doubled yā’ followed by a silent yā’, extended naturally for two harakats.

Read more about: Madd Tamkeen

3. Madd Al-Silah Al-Sughra (مد الصلة الصغرى)

This Madd is used when the pronoun “hā’ al-khināyah” is followed by a vowel sound matching the pronoun’s own vowel, when two words are connected.

Example:

(إِنَّهُ كَانَ بِعِبَادِهِ خَبِيرًا بَصِيرًا)

“Indeed, your Lord extends provision for whom He wills and restricts [it]. Indeed He is ever, concerning His servants, Acquainted and Seeing.” — Surah Al-Isra, 17:30

The pronoun ه in بِعِبَادِهِ is followed by a vowel in the next word, creating a natural Madd two harakats long.

Read more about: Madd Leen

Madd Faree (مد الفرعي) – Secondary Prolongation

Madd Faree refers to secondary or additional Madd that occurs due to a specific reason, such as the presence of a hamzah (glottal stop) or Sukoon (silent letter).

Madd Faree – Definition, Causes, and Rules

Understanding Madd Faree comes down to three things — what it is, why it happens, and how strictly each rule applies:

a. Definition — It is the type of madd which is added to madd asli for a certain reason.

b. The Two Causes —

• Incorporeal — where it has to do with meaning; not found in the Hafs recitation of Al-Shatibiyyah, though permitted in some ways of Tayyibat Al-Nashr.
• Lexical — where a certain letter itself causes the lengthening.

c. The Three Rules —

• Compulsory – applied only to madd muttasil, by consensus, to lengthen it more than madd asli.
• Permissible – pertains to madd munfasil, madd ‘arid lil-sukun, and madd badal, which can be shortened or lengthened.
• Absolutely Necessary – only concerns madd lazim, which has a single case of six harakahs in all recitations.

“Jaiz” (permissible) is not a sixth, separate type sitting alongside Muttasil, Munfasil, Badal, Aarid Lissukoon, and Lazim — it’s the permissibility label covering Munfasil, Aarid Lissukoon, and Badal, since a reciter may shorten or lengthen those three within their permitted range.

Types of Madd Faree

The types of Madd Faree in Tajweed include five key forms: Madd Al-Muttasil (mandatory prolongation when a Madd letter connects to a hamzah in the same word), Madd Al-Munfasil (optional extension when the hamzah is in the next word), Madd Al-Badal (substitution prolongation caused by a preceding hamzah), Madd Al-Aarid Lissukoon (temporary elongation when stopping on a word with a Sukoon), and Madd Al-Laazim (necessary prolongation due to a permanent Sukoon).

Each type follows specific rules for extending the Madd between two to six movements, enhancing fluency and melody in Quranic recitation.

Let’s discuss each of them in detail.

1. Al-Madd Al-Muttasil (مد متصل) – Connected Prolongation

This type of Madd occurs when a Madd letter is followed directly by a hamzah within the same word.

Examples:

(وَأَنزَلْنَا مِنَ السَّمَاءِ مَاءً بِقَدَرٍ)

“And We have sent down rain from the sky in a measured amount and settled it in the earth. And indeed, We are able to take it away.”— Surah Al-Mu’minun, 23:18

(ثُمَّ اسْتَوَىٰ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ فَسَوَّاهُنَّ سَبْعَ سَمَاوَاتٍ)

“…Then He directed Himself to the heaven [His being above all creation], and made them seven heavens, and He is Knowing of all things.”— Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:29

(أَوْلِيَاءَ﴾ in ﴿لَا تَتَّخِذُوا عَدُوِّي وَعَدُوَّكُمْ أَوْلِيَاءَ)

“O you who have believed, do not take My enemies and your enemies as allies…” — Surah Al-Mumtahanah, 60:1

Here, the Madd is obligatory and must be extended for four or five movements, and it can be extended further when pausing.

2. Al-Madd Al-Munfasil (مد منفصل) – Separated Prolongation

This occurs when a Madd letter is followed by a hamzah, but the hamzah is in a separate word.

Examples:

(يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ)

“O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous.”— Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:183

(يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا قُوا أَنفُسَكُمْ وَأَهْلِيكُمْ نَارًا) “O you who have believed, protect yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is people and stones…”— Surah At-Tahrim, 66:6

In this case, the extension of the Madd is optional — four or five movements, with the possibility of shortening it to two movements in some recitations.

Common mistake: the practical difference between Muttasil and Munfasil comes down to one question — is the hamzah in the same word (Muttasil, obligatory) or the next word (Munfasil, optional)? Reciters who mix these two up usually end up under-extending a Muttasil or over-extending a Munfasil — checking word boundaries first solves it.

3. Al-Madd Al-Badal (مد البدل) – Substitution Prolongation

This occurs when a hamzah precedes a Madd letter in the same word, with no hamzah or Sukoon after it.

Examples:

(وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يَقُولُ ءَامَنَّا بِاللَّهِ وَبِالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ)

“And of the people are some who say, ‘We believe in Allah and the Last Day,’ but they are not believers.” — Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:8

(وَإِذَا تُلِيَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتُهُ زَادَتْهُمْ إِيمَانًا)

“The believers are only those who, when Allah is mentioned, their hearts become fearful, and when His verses are recited to them, it increases them in faith…” — Surah Al-Anfal, 8:2

(وَإِنَّ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ لَيَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّهُ الْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّهِمْ)

“…Indeed, those who have been given the Scripture well know that it is the truth from their Lord…” — Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:144

This type of Madd is always extended for two movements, similar to the natural Madd.

4. Al-Madd Al-Aarid Lissukoon (مد عارض للسكون) – Temporary Prolongation due to a Stopping Condition

This occurs when a Madd letter is followed by a temporary Sukoon caused by pausing.

Example:

(الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ)

“[All] praise is [due] to Allah, Lord of the worlds.”— Surah Al-Fatiha, 1:2

This type of Madd can be extended two movements (short), four (medium), or six (long), depending on the reciter’s style.

Read more about: Al-Madd Al-Aarid Lissukoon

5. Al-Madd Al-Laazim (مد لازم) – Necessary Prolongation

Madd Lazim occurs when a Madd letter is followed by a permanent Sukoon in the same word, obligatory for six movements.

Examples:

(الْحَاقَّةُ)

“The Inevitable Reality —” — Surah Al-Haqqah, 69:1

(وَلَا الضَّالِّينَ)

“…not of those who have evoked [Your] anger or of those who are astray.”— Surah Al-Fatiha, 1:7:

This type of Madd must be extended for exactly six movements, both when pausing and connecting. There is one well-known exception reciters study separately: the letter ع (Ain) in the opening letters كهيعص at the start of Surah Maryam, 19:1, where scholars of Qira’at record two accepted lengths — four or six movements.

Madd Far’i Types at a Glance

Here’s every Madd Far’i rule side by side — trigger, duration, ruling, and a verified example — so you can compare all five types in one glance before moving to the visual chart below:

Type	Trigger	Duration	Ruling	Example
Muttasil	Hamzah in the same word	4–5 harakat (more on pause)	Obligatory	مَاءً — Al-Mu’minun, 23:18
Munfasil	Hamzah in the next word	2, 4, or 5 harakat	Permissible	يَا أَيُّهَا — Al-Baqarah, 2:183
Badal	Hamzah before the Madd letter	2 harakat	Fixed	ءَامَنَّا — Al-Baqarah, 2:8
Aarid Lissukoon	Temporary Sukoon on pause	2, 4, or 6 harakat	Permissible	الْعَالَمِينَ — Al-Fatiha, 1:2
Lazim	Permanent Sukoon in the word	6 harakat	Obligatory	الْحَاقَّةُ — Al-Haqqah, 69:1

Madd Tajweed Rules Chart

The Madd Tajweed rules are essential for correct pronunciation and proper recitation of the Quran. These rules guide how to elongate certain vowels and sounds, enhancing the clarity and beauty of the recitation. Below is a chart outlining the key Madd rules for a deeper understanding.

For quick reference without the chart, the table above covers the same five Madd Far’i rules with their exact harakah counts and source-checked examples.

How to Learn Madd?

Learning Madd in Tajweed is essential for accurate and beautiful Quranic recitation. It involves elongating certain vowels and sounds according to specific rules. Here are seven tips to help you master it:

1. Start with the Basics — Begin by familiarizing yourself with the concept of Madd in Tajweed and its significance in Quranic recitation.

2. Practice the Correct Pronunciation — Focus on mastering the correct pronunciation of Arabic letters and sounds.

3. Listen to Skilled Reciters — Listen to Quranic recitations by expert reciters to familiarize yourself with the proper application of Madd in context.

4. Break Down the Rules — Understand and memorize the specific rules of Madd, such as Madd Asli, Madd Far’i, and Madd Munfasil.

5. Recite Slowly and Focus on Elongation — Start reciting at a slower pace to focus on the elongation of the sounds, then gradually increase your speed.

6. Seek Feedback from a Teacher — Self-study can teach you the rules, but only a live listener can catch a Madd you’re consistently under- or over-extending. The Prophet (PBUH) himself was corrected and corrected others in recitation, which is the root of why Tajweed is traditionally taught by listening, not just by reading.

7. Drill the Extra-Alif Words by Heart — Memorize the seven words with the extra alif (أَنَا، لَكِنَّا، الظُّنُونَا، الرَّسُولَا، السَّبِيلَا، سَلَاسِلَا، قَوَارِيرَا) as a fixed list, since reciters who haven’t specifically drilled them tend to guess wrong the first time one appears.

Read also: Comparison between Madd Mutasil and Madd Munfasil With Examples

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Our advanced online classes allow for seamless communication and interaction between students and teachers, so a tutor can correct exactly where a Muttasil is cut short or a Lazim is under-extended, live.

Madd is a very important rule in Tajweed since it plays a vital role in understanding the meanings of the Quranic verses. The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) used to read Quran with elongations of the sounds, as documented directly in Sahih al-Bukhari 5046 above — leaving out the Madd means we are not reading the Quran the way it was revealed.

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Start Correcting Your Madd Today

Reading the exact letters of the Quran without holding the Madd correctly changes the sound of the recitation the Prophet (PBUH) himself modeled — the Bismillah example above is a direct, authentic description of it. A certified tutor can listen to your recitation live and correct exactly where a Muttasil is cut short or a Lazim is under-extended.

Conclusion

Madd in Arabic is the elongation of vowel sounds, crucial for proper pronunciation in Quranic recitation. It is divided into Madd Asli (natural elongation) and Madd Far’i (secondary elongation), with the latter further categorized into Madd Muttasil, Madd Munfasil, Madd Badal, Madd Aarid Lissukoon, and Madd Lazim, each defined by specific rules and elongation durations.

Understanding these types enhances the reciter’s ability to convey meaning accurately and adhere to Tajweed rules, following the same recitation style the Prophet (PBUH) is authentically reported to have used.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are quick, direct answers to the most common questions readers search about Madd — each one expands on a rule explained in detail above.

Sources

• Sahih al-Bukhari 5046 — Book of the Virtues of the Qur’an, Chapter: Prolonging Certain Sounds While Reciting the Qur’an. Grade: Sahih.
• Sunan an-Nasa’i 1014 — Chapter: Elongating the Sounds When Reciting Quran. Grade: Sahih (Darussalam).
• Quranic verses quoted follow the standard Uthmani Mushaf text (Hafs ‘an ‘Asim transmission); English translations are Saheeh International, verified against Quran.com.