Question

Could you please explain what a "good" start is ("ibtidaa hasan")?  Does it necessarily come after a "kaafi" stop or "taam" stop? or at the beginning of an aayah?  or is it the start we chose when stopping on a "hasan" stop?  All the stops are on a complete meaning whether taam or kaafi or hasan; this is clear enough.  But there is only one kind of "good" start i.e. "hasan"; what does it entail?  May Allah reward you for all the time you spend on answering our questions!

Answer

A “good” start or ( ) is a start after a waqf hasan ( ), which is stopping on a phrase that gives a complete meaning, but it is linked to that which comes after it in grammar and meaning.  We are allowed to stop on a waqf hasan( ) , but are not allowed to start with that which comes next because of the strong link the phrase stopped on has with the next phrase.  Instead, we must go back a few words, after stopping and taking a breath, to convey the correct meaning and link the first phrase with what comes next.  The only time we can start on that which comes after a waqf hasan  ( ) is when the waqf hasan is at the end of an aayah.  We can start with the next aayah without repeating any of the previous aayah since stopping on the end of an aayah and starting with the next aayah is sunnah.  This is why there is only one kind of “good” start, or allowed ibtidaa' hasan(  ) .  And Allah knows best. 

May Allah reward you for asking beneficial questions.