Madd means lengthening a vowel sound in recitation. It rests on three madd letters — ا و ي (alif, waaw, yaa) in their vowel-lengthening form — and splits into two families: natural madd (madd asli), held for two counts, and secondary madd (madd far‘i), held longer (typically four or six counts) because of a hamza or a sukoon that follows.
A "count" (haraka) is roughly the time to say one short vowel — the length of a single finger-fold. The whole subject is really one question: how long do you hold this vowel, and why. Here is the map.
The madd letters
Elongation happens on the three madd letters when they are preceded by their matching vowel: ا after a fatha, و after a damma, and ي after a kasra. In this state they carry no vowel of their own and simply stretch the sound.
Natural madd (Madd Asli)
Natural madd is the baseline: a madd letter with no hamza or sukoon following it. It is held for exactly two counts — no more, no less. Example: the alif in قَالَ, or the waaw in يَقُولُ. Every longer madd is built on top of this natural length.
Secondary madd (Madd Far‘i) — the main types
Secondary madd is a natural madd made longer by one of two causes: a hamza (ء) or a sukoon following the madd letter. The main types:
- Madd Muttasil (connected) — the madd letter is followed by a hamza in the same word. Obligatory, held about four to five counts. Example: جَاءَ, سُوءَ.
- Madd Munfasil (separated) — the madd letter is at the end of a word and a hamza begins the next word. Held about four to five counts (some read it at two). Example: يَا أَيُّهَا.
- Madd Lazim (necessary) — the madd letter is followed by an original sukoon or a shaddah. Held six counts, the longest madd. Example: الضَّالِّينَ (in Al-Fatiha), الْحَاقَّة.
- Madd ‘Arid lis-Sukun (temporary) — a madd letter is followed by a letter that only takes a sukoon because you stop on it. Flexible: it may be read at two, four or six counts, but stay consistent within a recitation. Example: stopping on الْعَالَمِينَ or نَسْتَعِينُ.
There are further sub-types (such as Madd Leen, Madd Badal and Madd ‘Iwad), but the four above cover the great majority of what you meet in reading.
Natural madd is two counts. Add a hamza and you get four to five (Muttasil/Munfasil); add a sukoon and you get six (Lazim). That is the whole logic.
A note on consistency
Where a madd allows a choice of length (as with Munfasil and ‘Arid), pick one length and keep it consistent throughout your recitation rather than varying it verse to verse. Consistency is part of correct tajweed.
See and hear the madd lengths
Madd is much easier to feel when you can see it marked and hear it held for the right count. RecitID’s Tajweed Mushaf reader colours elongations as you read, and per-verse audio lets you hear a reciter hold each madd correctly. For the colour legend, see the tajweed colour codes guide.
Frequently asked
What are the madd letters in tajweed?
Three: alif (ا) after a fatha, waaw (و) after a damma, and yaa (ي) after a kasra. In this form they carry no vowel of their own and lengthen the preceding sound.
How many counts is each madd held for?
Natural madd is two counts. Madd Muttasil and Munfasil are about four to five counts (Munfasil is sometimes read at two). Madd Lazim is six counts, the longest. Madd ‘Arid lis-Sukun, which occurs when you stop, may be read at two, four or six — chosen consistently.
What is the difference between Madd Muttasil and Munfasil?
Both are caused by a hamza after a madd letter. In Muttasil ("connected") the hamza is in the same word, so the madd is obligatory. In Munfasil ("separated") the hamza starts the next word, so it is permissible and some reciters shorten it.
Want the madd lengths shown and recited as you read? Download RecitID for iOS and Android — the Tajweed Mushaf marks elongations and lets you hear them held correctly.