Intermediate Madd Surah: Qaf (21)

Connected Madd Among Readers — Hamza Extends 6, Hafs Extends 4-5

وَجَآءَتۡ كُلُّ نَفۡسٍ مَّعَهَا سَآئِقٌ وَشَهِيدٌ
— ق الآية 21
Definition of connected madd:
When a hamza follows a madd letter within the same word — examples: "ja'a", "sa'a", "sha'a", "al-sama'i", "ja'at".

Ruling on connected madd:
Connected madd is obligatory by consensus — shortening it to natural length (two counts) is impermissible — the disagreement is only on its measure.

Measures of the ten readers:
  • Hamza, Warsh, and Khalaf: 6 counts — longest measure
  • Ibn Amir, Asim (Hafs and Shuaba), and Al-Kisai: 4 or 5 counts — medium
  • Ibn Kathir, Abu Amr, and Abu Jafar: 4 counts only
Reason for difference:
Each reader extended as they received through their chain — the longer extension is explained by some theories as compensation for the heaviness of hamza, and the shorter by the specific performance style of each.

Ibn Al-Jazari: "The measures in madd are a followed Sunna — neither addition nor subtraction is permissible — and all variants are correct in their proper places."
Source: Al-Nashr (1/316); Al-Shatibiyya (verses 101-108); Al-Dimyati (1/74)
Tags: المد المتصلمقادير المدحمزةحفصأحكام المد

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What is the measure of connected madd for Hamza and for Hafs? Why do the two measures differ?
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