Intermediate
Meem Saakinah Rules
Sillat Meem Al-Jam' — Hafs' Two Modes
Meem Al-Jam' (Plural Meem): The sukoon meem ending nouns/verbs referring to masculine plural — هُمْ، أَنْتُمْ، عَلَيْهِمْ.
In Hafs 'an Asim, two modes (only in wasl):
(1) Sukoon (preferred mode): Meem stays sakinah. Examples: عَلَيْهِمْ، أَنْتُمْ، لَهُمْ فِي.
(2) Sillah (Connection/Filling): Meem is given a dammah extended into a waw of natural Madd (2 counts).
Condition: Followed by hamza qat' (a moving hamza).
Examples: أَنْتُمُو أُولَاءِ، عَلَيْهِمُو إِصْرَهُمْ، وَلَكُمُو الْأَرْضُ
Notes:
In Hafs 'an Asim, two modes (only in wasl):
(1) Sukoon (preferred mode): Meem stays sakinah. Examples: عَلَيْهِمْ، أَنْتُمْ، لَهُمْ فِي.
(2) Sillah (Connection/Filling): Meem is given a dammah extended into a waw of natural Madd (2 counts).
Condition: Followed by hamza qat' (a moving hamza).
Examples: أَنْتُمُو أُولَاءِ، عَلَيْهِمُو إِصْرَهُمْ، وَلَكُمُو الْأَرْضُ
Notes:
- Sillah is only in wasl, never in waqf
- Preferred mode in standard recitation is sukoon
- When meeting a sukoon letter, the meem takes dammah to avoid two consecutive sukoons: عَلَيْهِمُ الذِّلَّةُ
Source: An-Nashr by Ibn Al-Jazari (1/279) | Ghayat Al-Mureed (p. 105) | Hidayat Al-Qari
Test Yourself
What is the preferred mode for Meem Al-Jam' in Hafs? When does Sillah apply? Does it apply in waqf?
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