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."
Question: What is the measure of connected madd for Hamza and for Hafs? Why do the two measures differ?
Answer: Hamza: 6 counts. Hafs: 4-5 counts. The difference is because each narrated it through his own mutawatir chain — measures are not a matter of opinion but of following.