Qur'an · Al-An'am 6:36
إِنَّمَا يَسْتَجِيبُ الَّذِينَ يَسْمَعُونَ م وَالْمَوْتَىٰ يَبْعَثُهُمُ اللَّهُ
“Only those who listen will respond. [م] As for the dead, Allah will resurrect them.”
01Waqf (Stopping and Pausing Rules)
Mandatory Stop
Topic
The meem symbol (م) marks a place where stopping is required. Continuing without pausing here may affect the meaning of the verse.
مm
Quranic evidence
02Waqf (Stopping and Pausing Rules)
Do Not Stop
Topic
The lam-alif symbol (لا) indicates stopping here is not preferred in normal recitation, as it may break the meaning flow of the verse.
لاla
Quranic evidence
Qur'an · Al-Kahf 18:1–2
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي أَنزَلَ عَلَىٰ عَبْدِهِ الْكِتَابَ لا وَلَمْ يَجْعَل لَّهُ عِوَجًا
“Praise to Allah who revealed the Book to His servant [لا] and did not make it crooked”
03Waqf (Stopping and Pausing Rules)
Optional Stop
Topic
The jeem symbol (ج) marks a place where stopping or continuing are both acceptable. Choose based on your breath and the flow of recitation.
جj
Quranic evidence
Qur'an · Al-Fatiha 1:2
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ ج
“All praise is due to Allah, Lord of all the worlds [ج]”
04Waqf (Stopping and Pausing Rules)
Better to Stop
Topic
The ta symbol (ط) indicates stopping here is recommended for preserving meaning, though continuing is not wrong.
طt
Quranic evidence
Qur'an · Al-Baqarah 2:10
فِي قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ ط فَزَادَهُمُ اللَّهُ مَرَضًا
“In their hearts is a disease [ط] and Allah has increased their disease”
05Waqf (Stopping and Pausing Rules)
Concessionary Pause
Topic
The sad symbol (ص) marks a concessionary pause — stopping is permitted when needed, such as when breath runs short, though continuing is preferred.
صs
Quranic evidence
Qur'an · Al-Baqarah 2:2
ذَٰلِكَ الْكِتَابُ لَا رَيْبَ ص فِيهِ هُدًى لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ
“This is the Book, no doubt [ص] in it — a guidance for the God-fearing”
06Waqf (Stopping and Pausing Rules)
Stopping is Better (Qalā)
Topic
The symbol (قلى) indicates stopping is better at this point. Continuing is not wrong, but pausing better preserves the intended meaning.
قلىqalā
Quranic evidence
Qur'an · Ad-Duha 93:3
مَا وَدَّعَكَ رَبُّكَ وَمَا قَلَىٰ قلى
“Your Lord has not forsaken you, nor has He become displeased [قلى]”
07Waqf (Stopping and Pausing Rules)
Continuing is Better (Ṣilā)
Topic
The symbol (صلى) indicates continuing without stopping is better here. Stopping is permissible, but it may weaken the connection between the phrases.
صلىṣilā
Quranic evidence
Qur'an · Al-An'am 6:17
وَإِن يَمْسَسْكَ اللَّهُ بِضُرٍّ صلى فَلَا كَاشِفَ لَهُ إِلَّا هُوَ
“And if Allah touches you with adversity [صلى] there is no remover of it except Him”
Join the community
Found an issue, have a question, or want to stay updated? Join our Telegram channel — report errors, discuss topics, and get notified when new modules ship.
Join on Telegram