In the name of Allah The Compassionate The Loving.
Mudd Letters
Salam alaikum wa rahmatu Allahi wa BarakatuHu. Peace be upon the followers of guidance.

In this lesson we will cover the Mudd letters.

In the recitation, we must pronounce each letter with the correct Mudd (extension) with the number of beats. The beats must be exactly the right length according to the rules of tajwid given by our noble ulema. If a particular calls for 1 haraqah (beat), we have to recite exactly 1.0 beats, not 1.2 beats. If 2 beats , extactly 2.0 beats, not any more or any less.

Also the beats must be exactly the same length on all the voweled letters. It is not allowed to pronounce a particular voweled letter a different length than another voweled letter. For example بَ would be pronounced the exact same length as تَ and ثَ and جَ and so on for all the letters. The same goes for particular vowel on the letter, بَ بِ بُ would all be exactly the same length of 1 haraqah (beat).

However in the case the letter has a sakoon, like for example بْ, the letters have differing ways and lengths of pronounciation.

Mud مَدْ in arabic means to extend. Normally speaking when pronouncing a letter with a vowel, we pronounce it with 1 haraqah (1 beat). When this voweled letter is followed by a mudd letter, we pronouce it 2 times the length, 2 haraqahs (2 beats), or in particular situations, 4, 5, upto 6 haraqahs (beats). Allah willing , we will go through these rules in future lessons.

It is incumbant on everyone to recite the Quran with the correct muddud (extensions) according to the rules taught to us by our noble shuyukh. It is a real travesty for someone to recite with the wrong extensions. We must stick with the pronunciations that have been transferred to us from our predecessors going to prophet Muhammed, may Allah's peace and blessings be upon us, and not innovate prononciations. The noble tajwid will persist, the innovations will deviate.

It is good to recite along with a shaikh to practice pronouncing the letters the correct length. Praises are to Allah that there are many recordings available that are easily accessible. A good way to learn is to play these recordings and recite simultaneously with the shaikh. One of the shuyukhs, may Allah have mercy on them all, I would recommend is Minshawi. Recitations are found in the following links, as well as others:

www.audioislam.com

www.aswatalislam.net

english.Islamway.com

www.quranexplorer.com/quran

We must make effort in learning these rules, and it does take time, sometimes years, to learn and inculcate them all. Allah will give much reward for the efforts people make to learn the recitation with tajwid, on following the path of our righteous predecessor ulema. One can see how many years of education people spend on the dunya (wordly) knowledge, certainly it would be worthwhile to learn the knowledge that will give us great rewards in the akhira (hereafter).

There are three mudd letters:
ا (alif) which is preceded by a letter with a َ (fatha) like مَ
ي (ya) which is preceded by a letter with a ِ (qasra) like سِ
و (wau) which is preceded by a letter with a ُ (dhumma) like تُ

These letters are pronounced throughout the cave of the mouth. Like if you go to a doctor, and he asks you to open your mouth and say , "AAAH". The sound is resonated throughout the cave of the mouth.

ا


In the following ayats, listen to the sound of مَ :

1. {مَلِكِ ٱلنَّاسِ}

2. {مَـٰلِكِ يَوۡمِ ٱلدِّينِ}

3. {وَأَنزَلَ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءً۬}

In the first verse, from Surah Naas, the مَ only has 1 haraqah (beat). In the second verse from surah fatiha, 2 haraqahs (beats), and the third verse from surah baqarah 4 (or 5) haraqahs (beats).

In the above example, one should not recite the مَ in surah naas like the مَا in surah fatihah. The مَ in surah naas is short, while مَا in surah fatihah is longer. In surah fatiha, the alif is actually written vertically above the letter. Also, one should not recite the the مَا in surah fatihah like مَ in surah naas. The مَا in surah fatihah is long, while مَ in surah naas is short.

Whenever you see an ا preceded by any letter with a fatha َ you must pronounce it longer, called mudd.

Another thing to keep in mind is that the ا mudd when extended is sometimes pronounced thick, and sometimes thin. It is pronounced thick when it follows a thick letter خ ص ض غ ط ق ظ and ر and thin when it follows the other letters. To pronounce thick, say the ا mudd with the sides of the lips close together, and thin with the side of the lips apart. Insha Allah we will cover the thickness and thinness in a future lesson on thickness (tafkheem) and thinness (tarqeeq). In the examples above, the م is a thin letter and it has a more of an "a" sound. A thick letter would have more of an "o" sound.

The following ayat, the last ayat in surah fatihah, following the ض in ضالين has a thick sound.

4. {وَلَا ٱلضَّآلِّينَ۬}

In pronouncing the ا of mudd, one should not lean the sound to that of a ي , that is pronouncing the sound like "ai" instead of "a". Here is an example where the pronounciation is leaned. Listen to the sound of رَا and هَا.

5. { وَمَآ أَدۡرَٮٰكَ مَا ٱلۡقَارِعَةُ } HAFS Correct

6. { وَمَآ أَدۡرَٮٰكَ مَا ٱلۡقَارِعَةُ } WARSH

7. { أَلۡهَٮٰكُمُ ٱلتَّكَاثُرُ } HAFS Correct

8. { أَلۡهَٮٰكُمُ ٱلتَّكَاثُرُ } WARSH

ي


In the following ayats, listen to the sound of سِ :

1. {وَمِن شَرِّ حَاسِدٍ إِذَا حَسَدَ}

2. {وَطُورِ سِينِينَ}

3. {يسٓ۬}

In the first verse, from Surah falaq, the سِ only has 1 haraqah (beat). In the second verse from surah teen, 2 haraqahs (beats), and the third verse from surah Yaseen 6 haraqahs (beats).

In the above example, one should not recite the سِ in surah falaq like the سِي in surah teen. The سِ in surah falaq is short, while سِي in surah teen is longer.

Also, one should not recite the the سِي in surah teen like سِ in surah falaq. The سِي in surah teen is long, while سِ in surah falaq is short.

Whenever you see a ي preceded by any letter with a qasra ِ you must pronounce it longer, called mudd.

In the third ayat from surah Yaseen, the names of the letters are pronounced, which is the case in the beginning of some of the surahs.



و




In the following ayats, listen to the sound of نُ :

1. {لَكُمۡ دِينُكُمۡ وَلِىَ دِينِ}

2. {إِنَّآ أَرۡسَلۡنَا نُوحًا إِلَىٰ قَوۡمِهِۦۤ أَنۡ أَنذِرۡ}

3. {نٓ‌}

In the first verse, from Surah Kafiroon, the نُ only has 1 haraqah (beat). In the second verse from surah Nuh, 2 haraqahs (beats), and the third verse from surah Qalam 6 haraqahs (beats).

In the above example, one should not recite the نُ in surah Kafiroon like the نُو in surah Nuh. The نُ in surah Kafiroon is short, while نُو in surah Nuh is longer.

Also, one should not recite the the نُو in surah Nuh like نُ in surah Kafiroon. The نُو in surah Nuh is long, while نُ in surah Kafiroon is short.

Whenever you see a و preceded by any letter with a dhumma ُ you must pronounce it longer, called mudd.

In the third ayat from surah Qalam, the name of the letter is pronounced.