The Quran stop signs are essential to understand when it comes to reading the Quran. Allah (SWT) has ordered Muslims in the Quran to recite the Quran with measured recitation. This means one must understand the nuances of reading and reciting the Quran to read it the way it should be read. Today, we will explain the most important Quran stop signs with examples.
What are the Quran Stop Signs?
Quran Stop Signs guide you on when to pause during recitation. Some pauses are quick breaths, while others urge deeper reflection. These markings help ensure the meaning stays clear and the beauty of the Quran shines through. They’re not strict rules, but a way to enhance your connection with the text. With the help of these signs, anyone can understand rules of stopping in quran to recite quran perfectly.
1. Compulsory Stop (Waqf Lazim) مـ:
Definition: Waqf Lazim signifies a mandatory stopping point in the recitation of the Quran. The word “Lazim” translates to “obligatory” or “essential,” indicating that pausing at this point is crucial to preserve the intended meaning of the verse. Failing to stop here can drastically alter the message being conveyed.
Example:
- Quran 6:151: وَلَا تَقْتُلُوا النَّفْسَ الَّتِي حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ إِلَّا بِالْحَقِّ ۚ (Wa laa taqtulū an-nafsal-lati harrama Allahu illa bil-haqqi) – “And do not kill the soul which Allah has forbidden, except by right.”
2. Permissible Stop (Waqf Jaaiz) ج:
Definition: Waqf Jaaiz indicates a place in the Quran where pausing is permissible but not obligatory. These stopping points often mark a shift in thought within the verse, allowing the reciter to take a brief breath and prepare for the next section. However, continuing the recitation without stopping is also acceptable.
Example:
- Quran 2:186: وَعَلَيْكُمْ الْصَّلَاةُ وَالزَّكَاةُ وَإِيتَاءُ ذِي الْقُرْبَىٰ وَالْيَتَامَىٰ وَالْمَسَاكِينِ وَالضَّيْفِ وَابْنِ السَّبِيلِ وَالْمَا لَكُمْ (Wa ‘alaykumus-salatu waz-zakatu wa itaa’u dhi al-qurba wa al-yataama wa al-masaakini wa ad-dayfi wa ibni as-sabeeli wa al-maa lakum) – “And upon you is the [obligation of] prayer, the Zakah [almsgiving], and the giving to near relatives and orphans and the needy and the traveler and those in need and [what is] in your possession.”
3. Continue Reading (Waqf Mujawwaz) ز:
Definition: Waqf Mujawwaz indicates a point in the Quran where stopping is not recommended, and continuing the recitation is preferable. These markings often connect grammatically related phrases or clauses within a verse. While a brief pause for breath might be necessary, a complete stop could disrupt the flow of the message.
Example:
- Quran 55: الرحمن الرحيم (Ar-Rahman, Ar-Rahim) – “The Most Gracious, The Most Merciful”
4. Licensed Pause (Waqf Murakh-khas) ص:
Definition: Waqf Murakh-khas signifies a point in the Quran where pausing is permissible only due to fatigue. These markings typically occur in long sentences or passages. While continuing the recitation without stopping is generally encouraged, a reciter experiencing exhaustion is allowed to pause here to catch their breath.
Example:
- Quran 2:282: وَلِلَّهِ الْمَوَارِيثُ إِنْ لَّكُمْ وَلَدٌ ۖ فَلَهُنَّ ثُلُثُ مَا تَرَكْتُمْ إِنْ كَانَ لَكُمْ وَلَدٌ وَإِنْ لَّمْ يَكُنْ لَّكُمْ وَلَدٌ وَتَرَكْتُمْ زَوْجًا فَلَهَا الرُّبُعُ مِمَّا تَرَكْتُمْ إِنْ كَانَ لَكُمْ وَلَدٌ ۚ وَإِنْ لَّمْ يَكُنْ لَّكُمْ وَلَدٌ وَهَرِثَكُمْ أَبَوَاكُمْ فَلَهُمَا الثُّلُثُ مِنْ كُلِّ مَا تَرَكْتُمْ إِنْ كَانَ لَكُمْ وَلَدٌ ۚ وَإِنْ لَّمْ يَكُنْ لَّكُمْ وَلَدٌ وَكَانَ لَكُمْ أَخٌ أَوْ أُخْتٌ فَلَهُمَا السُّدُسُ مِنْ كُلِّ مَا تَرَكْتُمْ إِنْ كَانَ اثْنَيْنِ ۖ فَإِنْ كَانُوا أَكْثَرَ مِنْ
5. Continue Reading (Waqf Mujawwaz) ز:
Definition: Waqf Mujawwaz indicates a point where pausing is discouraged and continuing recitation is preferred. These markings often connect grammatically related phrases for smoother reading.
Quranic Example:
- Quran 1:1-2: (ز) الَّرَّحْمَنُ (ز) الرَّحِيمُ (Al-Rahman, Ar-Rahim) – “The Most Gracious, The Most Merciful”
Note: Hidayah Network teach all Quran reading rules to students in our online quran recitation course.
6. Licensed Pause (Waqf Murakh-khas) ص:
Definition: Waqf Murakh-khas allows pausing only due to fatigue. These markings typically occur in long sentences where a brief pause for breath might be necessary.
Quranic Example:
- Quran 2:282 (excerpt): (ص) وَإِنْ لَّمْ يَكُنْ لَّكُمْ وَلَدٌ وَهَرِثَكُمْ أَبَوَاكُمْ (ص) (…and if you have no children and your parents inherit you…)
7. Preference for Continuation (Al-wasl Awlaa) صلي:
Definition: Al-wasl Awlaa strongly encourages continuing recitation without stopping. These markings often connect ideas within a verse for a cohesive flow.
Quranic Example:
- Quran 103: 1-3: (صلي) عَلِمْ (صلي) قَدْ أَفْلَحَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا (Iqra Bismi Rabbika allathi Khalaq, Khalaqa al-insana min `alaq, Iqra’ wa Rabbuka al-Akram. – “Read in the name of your Lord who created. Created man from adhering protoplasm. Read and your Lord is the Most Generous.”)
8. Licensed Pause (Waqf Murakh-khas) ص:
Definition: Waqf Murakh-khas allows a pause for breath during recitation, but only due to fatigue. These markings typically occur in long sentences where a natural stopping point might be lacking.
Quranic Example:
- Quran 20:99 (excerpt): (ص) وَإِن كَانُوا قَلِيلاً فِي أَعْيُنِكُمْ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ غَنِيٌّ عَنِ الْعَالَمِينَ (Wa in kānu qalilan fi a’yunikum fa inna Allaha ghaniyyun `an al-‘alamin) – (“…And even if they were few in your eyes, then indeed, Allah is free of need from the worlds.”)
9. Preference for Continuation (Al-wasl Awlaa) صلي:
Definition: Al-wasl Awlaa strongly encourages continuing recitation without stopping. These markings often connect ideas within a verse that build upon each other.
Quranic Example:
- Quran 94: 1-3: (صلي) أَلَمْ نَشْرَحْ لَكَ صَدْرَكَ وَوَضَعْنَا عَنْكَ وِزْرَكَ الَّذِي أَثْقَلَ ظَهْرَكَ وَوَرَفَعْنَا لَكَ ذِكْرَكَ (Al-a’la nashrah laka sadrak wa waḍa’na ‘anka wizrak allathee athqala dhahrak wa rafa’na laka dhikrak) – (“Have We not expanded for you your chest And removed from you your burden Which weighed down your back And raised high for you your renown?”)
10. Better Not to Stop (Qeela ‘Alayhil-Waqf) ق:
Definition: Qeela ‘Alayhil-Waqf indicates a point where stopping is generally discouraged, but there are some scholarly differences in opinion. These markings often connect two complete sentences with a strong thematic link.
Quranic Example:
- Quran 2:186 (excerpt): وَعَلَيْكُمْ (ق) الصَّلَاةُ وَالزَّكَاةُ (Wa ‘alaykumus-salatu waz-zakatu) – (“And upon you (ق) is the [obligation of] prayer and the Zakah…”)
11. Silence Symbol (Saktah) س:
Definition: Saktah indicates a brief pause during recitation without taking a breath. This allows for a contemplative reflection on the preceding words.
Quranic Example:
- Quran 2:30-31: خَلَقَ الْأَوْسَادَ مِنْ بَعْدِكُمْ لِيَسْكُنَ إِلَيْهَا أَزْوَاجُكُمْ ۚ أَلَيْسَ فِي ذَلِكَ آيَاتٌ لِّقَوْمٍ يَعْقِلُونَ (Saktah) وَخَلَقَ لَكُمْ مِنْ أَنْفُسِكُمْ أَزْوَاجًا وَجَعَلَ لَكُمْ مِنْهُنَّ بَنِينَ وَبَنَاتٍ وَرِزْقًا حَسَنًا ۚ أَفَبِالْبَاطِلِ يُؤْمِنُونَ وَبِنِعْمَةِ اللَّهِ يَكْفُرُونَ
The Saktah sign (س) appears after the first sentence. While a brief pause for breath might be taken, a complete stop would disrupt the flow of thought. The verse contemplates the creation of spouses and the blessings of family, and the Saktah allows the listener to ponder these Divine gifts before moving on.
12. No Need of Stopping (Laa) لا:
Definition: Laa indicates a point where stopping is not recommended and can alter the intended meaning. These markings often connect grammatically dependent phrases.
Quranic Example:
- Quran 55:1-2: (لا) الرَّحْمَنُ (لا) الرَّحِيمُ (Ar-Rahman, Ar-Rahim) – (“The Most Gracious, (لا) The Most Merciful”)
13. Similar Meaning as Previous Sign (Kadhaalik) ك:
Definition: Kadhaalik signifies a meaning similar to Laa, indicating that stopping is not recommended. These markings often connect short phrases or clauses within a verse.
Quranic Example:
- Quran 94:5-6: فَإِنَّ مَعَ الْعُسْرِ يُسْرًا (ك) إِنَّ مَعَ الْعُسْرِ يُسْرًا (Fa inna ma’al-‘usri yusran (ك) inna ma’al-‘usri yusran) – (“So indeed, with hardship will come ease. (ك) Indeed, with hardship will come ease.”)
14. The Embracing Stop (Mu’aanaqah) ∴
Definition: Mu’aanaqah indicates a point where stopping at either of two nearby options is acceptable. These markings provide flexibility in recitation, allowing the reciter to choose the pause that best suits the flow and meaning.
Quranic Example:
- Quran 7:156-157: قَالُوا يَا مُوسَىٰ إِنَّ فِي قَوْمٍ نَخَافُ أَن يُبْطِشُوا بِنَا أَوْ يَظْلَمُونَا (∴) فَخَرَجَا مِنْهَا خَائِفَيْنَ يَتَرَقَّبَانِ (Qalu ya Musa inna fi qawmin nakhafu an yubtashu bina aw yazlimuna (∴) fa kharajaa minha khaifayni yataraqabani) – (“They [the magicians] said, ‘O Moses, indeed we fear that Pharaoh and his establishment will overpower us or oppress us.’ (∴) So they went out of it, both fearing and looking out.”)
15. The Pause of Prophet PBUH (Waqf-un-Nabi) وقف النبی
Definition: Waqf-un-Nabi signifies places in the Quran where Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) himself is reported to have paused during recitation. These pauses serve as a guide for understanding the emotional weight or importance of specific passages.
Quranic Example (reference varies by scholar):
- Quran 25:60-61 (possible example): عَفَا اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَدْ تَوَلَّى عَنْكُمْ فَاذْهَبْ أَنْتَ وَأَصْحَابُكُمْ بِمَا أُتِيتُمْ إِنَّا نَظِرُ إِلَيْكُمْ (وقف النبی) وَإِنَّكُمْ لَآتُونَا (Afta Allahu anhu qad tawalla ‘ankum fa idhhab anta wa ashabakum bima utitum inna naظرu ilaykum (وقف النبی) wa innaakum la atuna)
وقف منزل – The Pause Sign of Jibrael A.S
16. The Pause Sign of Jibril (A.S) (Waqf-e-Manzil) وقف منزل
Concise Definition: Waqf-e-Manzil indicates a point in the Quran where the Angel Gabriel (A.S) is believed to have paused while revealing the verses to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). These pauses are seen as highlighting significant moments or transitions within the text.
Finding Specific Examples:
Unfortunately, unlike Waqf-un-Nabi (places where the Prophet himself paused), there isn’t a universally agreed-upon list of locations for Waqf-e-Manzil markings in the Quran. These markings are based on historical narratives and interpretations, and their placement can vary by source.
Example for Reference:
Here’s a possible example (placement may vary):
- Quran 2:255 (reference example): هُوَ الْوَلِيُّ النَّصِيرُ (وقف منزل) (Huwa al-Waliyy an-Nasir) – (“He is the Wali, the Helper.”)
Final Words
Understanding quran reading rules with their stopping signs is an enriching journey that unlocks deeper layers of meaning within the text. By incorporating these pauses – from the essential Waqf Laazim to the contemplative Waqf-un-Nabi – reciters can elevate their recitation and share the nuanced beauty of the Quran with others. As you delve into these symbols, remember, that they serve as a guide, not a rigid rule. Ultimately, your recitation should be a heartfelt exploration of the Divine message. Hidayah Network quran classes for beginners students will learn all the tajweed rules of reading quran with proper understanding.
