The Repulsive Stop

Its Definition:  It is the stop on what does not give a correct meaning, and that is due to its strong attachment to what follows in grammar, and in meaning.

It would be  if one stopped on the adjective without the noun, such as stopping on the word meaning 'mention'  in:

[This is] a mention* of the mercy of your Lord to His servant Zechariah.

Stopping on  in:

It would also be  if one stopped on the verb without the subject, as in stopping onin:

Allah said *, Indeed, I will send it down to you

There are many examples of these.  The repulsive stop ( ) is not limited to just these categories.  Any time the phrase is incomplete in grammar and meaning it is, or repulsive.  Some other examples follow.  Stopping on the red asterisks on the following examples of aayaat would have an incomplete and incomprehensible meaning:

[All] praise* is to Allah, Lord of the worlds.

The Day when We will fold * the heaven like the folding of a [written] sheet for the records.

They said, "How* can we speak to one who is in the cradle a child?"

The Arbitrary Stop

This stop follows.  Some reciters stop on their own whims without following the meaning and grammatical make-up of the aayah and this is called the arbitrary stop:

There are degrees of repulsiveness in , where one stop can be more  than another :

1.    Stopping on a phrase no meaning, as in stopping on the following words after only reading the one word:

2.    Stopping on a word signifying a meaning other than what Allah, the Perfect wants, such as stopping on the word "and the dead", and not stopping on the compulsory stop on the word before,  "those who hear".

The aayah can be interpreted in English as:

"Only those who hear will respond.  And the dead*-Allah will resurrect them; then to Him they will be returned."

The incorrect stop would then have a different meaning than is actually wanted, indicating incorrectly that the dead hear too.

3.    Stopping on a word signifying the opposite of what Allah, subhaanah, wants:

The explanation of the meaning in English is:

"O you who have believed, do not approach prayer * while you are intoxicated until you know what you are saying."

Stopping on the word "prayer" would indicate that Allah, far exalted be He from such a statement, was saying 'do not approach prayer', when in fact He is stating not to approach prayer when intoxicated.

The explanation of the meaning in English:

"But if they turn away-then We have not sent you *,
[O Muhammad] over them as a guardian."

Stopping on the phrase "We have not sent you" would indeed alter the intended meaning of Allah, Glory be to Him, and not allowed.   

These stops obvious corrupt the meaning.  All effort must be made not to stop at such places, unless compelled due to reasons beyond ones control; if that happens, then the reciter must go back a few words when starting again to convey the correct meaning.

4.   Stopping on a place that signifies that which is not a suitable description of The Exalted, or that which contradicts our creed. The explanation of the translation of the meaning of the aayaat follow each aayah:

"Indeed, Allah is not timid * to present an example-that of a mosquito or what is smaller than it"

Stopping then on the word "timid" would indicate a very unsuitable description of Allah, the Exalted.

"So the disbeliever was overwhelmed, and Allah* does not guide the wrongdoing people."

One not stopping at the indicated stop at the word and instead stopping on the Glorious name of Allah would falsely claim that Allah, far is He above this, of being overwhelmed, subhanahu wa ta'aalaa.   

"For those who do not believe in the Hereafter is the description of evil; and for Allah* is the highest attribute."

Joining the Glorious name of Allah with the description of evil would again put forth a meaning not at all appropriate for Allah, ta'alaa.

5.  Stopping on a negative and the exception to it follows, the English explanation of the meaning will follow the aayah:

"So know [O Muhammad], that there is no deity* except Allah"

Stopping on the word "deity" then would be a contradiction to our faith and creed.

"Similarly, there came not to those before them any messenger* except that they said, "A magician or a madman."

Also stopping on the word 'messenger' without the word 'except' would be also be in contradiction to our faith and creed. 

Anyone who stops on these last two categories without repeating the last one or two words has sinned, transgressed, and is ignorant..  If someone stops on these types of stops purposely, he has disbelieved!! May Allah protect from disbelieve after having faith. Ameen 

The rule for the repulsive stop: These stops and those similar to them are not allowed intentionally.  They are only allowed when compelled in such as a situation as unexpected shortness of breath, sneezing, or forgetting.  After the state that compelled the stop has past, the reader then must repeat one, two, or more words, as necessary to convey the correct and sound meaning.  Sheikh Ibn Al-Jazaree pointed this out in his work:

Meaning:
And other than that which is complete [in meaning] is repulsive and of it

The compelled stop, and start [after it] with that before it.

In the next tidbit lesson, insha' Allah, we will discuss the start, or .