Lesson 10 – Waqf | Pausing Rules

What is Waqf?

Waqf: The meaning of Waqf is to pause/stop i.e. at whichever word Waqf is to be done, the voice as well as the breath are ended on the last letter of that particular word. It is like giving a full stop.

What happens to the sign of the last letter on which you are doing waqf?

1. If a Fataah, Kasrah, Dammah, Kasrataan, Dammataan, Vertical Kasrah or Inverted Dammah comes on the last letter of the word, then make that (last) letter Saakin when doing Waqf. For e.g,. نَسْتَعِیْنُ is read as نَسْتَعِیْنْ, and صٰدِقِیْنَ is read as صٰدِقِیْنْ, and فِيهِ is read as feeh.
2. If two Fatahataan comes on the last letter of the word, then pronounce it as alif when doing Waqf. For example, عِلْماً is read as عِلْماَ
3. If the last letter of the word is a taa or round taa ت َor ‘ة ,then no matter which Harakah it has on it, pronounce it as a haa saakinah ھْ when doing Waqf. For e.g,. raqabatin is read as raqabah.
4. When doing Waqf, vertical Fatahah, the Letters of Maddah and Saakin letter are not changed.
5. In the case of Waqf on a Mushaddadah letter, the Tashdeed will remain i.e,. read with emphasis but the Harakah will not be made apparent in the recitation. For e,g,. bilhaqqi بِالْحَقِّ is read as bilhaqq بِالْحَقّ.

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