Rules of Alif, Waw, Yaa ا و ي

Madda letters

1. When waw sakin is followed by Zammah (paish), it is wao maddah (واؤ مده).
2. When Alif sakin is followed by Fat-ha (Zabar), it is Alif maddah (الف مده).
3. When Yaa sakin is followed by kasra (zair), it is Yaa maddah (ي مده)

 Example: اُوْتِيْنَآ

Leen letters

1. When waw sakin is followed by Fat-ha (zabar) it is wao Leen,

For example: مِنْ خَوْف

2. When Yaa sakin is followed by Fat-ha (Zabar) it is Yaa Leen,

For example: وَالصَّيْفِ

The Harakat Fat-ha, Kasra, and Zamma (Zabar, zair, paish) stretch (long) about half a second = 1 Harakah. The maddah letters stretch (long) about 2 Harakah = 1 second.

Madd sign (~) indicates to prolong (stretch) the maddah letters (Alif, wao, and Yaa) or Leen letters (wao and Yaa).

Note: there are several kinds of Madd, Duration of stretching (1 to 4 Harakah), and it depends on adjacent letters in a word. Advanced learners need detailed rules, but we should understand the basic madds.

There are four kinds of Madd

1. Madd e Muttasil
2. Madde Munfasil
3. Madde Aariz
4. Madde Laazim

1. Madd e Muttasil:

The Madd in which, after the maddah letter, the next letter is hamza in the same word is called Madd e Muttasil. It is prolonged from 4 to 6 Harakah (2 to 3 seconds).

For example: جَآءَ

2. Madd e Munfasil:

The Madd in which after the Maddah letter, the next letter is hamza at the beginning of the next word is called Madd e Munfasil. It is optional and may be prolonged from 2 to 4 Harakah (1 to 2 seconds).

For example: إِنَّا أَعْطَيْنَاكَ

3. Madde Aariz:

The Madd Aariz, in which, after the Maddah or Leen letter, the harakat of the word’s last letter will be changed into a sakoon which is temporary due to prolonged from 2 to 4 Harakah (1 to 2 seconds).

For example, رَبِّ الْعَالمِيْن

4. Madd e Lazim:

The Madd in which, after the maddah letter, there is an original sukoon or shaddah in the same word or at the starting of the next word is called Madd e Lazim. It is prolonged from 4 to 6 measures of Harakah (2 to 3 seconds).

For example, الضَّآلِّيْن