Question

Assalamualaikum wbt, 

I would like to clarify my understanding on Mad Lazim Harfi Muthaqqal and Mukhaffaf.

In the phrase alif, lam mim, sad,  () is it correct if I say the letter mim is a mad harfi mukhaffaf because the last letter (mim with a fixed sukoon) does not merge with the letter Sad? And the letter lam also a mad lazim harfi muthaqqal because the last letter (mim) is merged into the next mim? 

Is the term 'merge' here has the same meaning as in idgham and ikhfa' which requires ghunnah? Is it correct if I say that in the phrase 'ain, siin, qaf the letters 'ain will be leen and the letter siin is a mad lazim harfi muthaqqal because the last letter (nun) is merged with the letter qaf? 

Jazaakumullah khoir. 

Answer

Wa alaikum assalaam wa rahmatu Allahi wa barakatuh.

Your first questions were answered correctly be yourself, masha' Allah.  Yes, the letter  in the opening of surah Al-'Araaf,  is medd laazim mukhaffaf harfi because the last meem of the written out and read letter  has a fixed sukoon and does not merge into the first letter of the written out and read letter.  The letter  in the same combination of letters, , is medd laazim muthaqqal harfi  because the last letter of the written out and pronounced letter  is a fixed meem saakinah and it merges into the first letter of the next written out letter, which is the letter .  There is then a meem saakinah meeting a meem with a vowel, which is the reason for the idghaam.  

The term "merge" means idghaam.  The linguistic meaning of the word idghaam is: merge, or insert.  This is what happens when we make idghaam; one letter merges or inserts into another.  The term ikhfa' though, means hide, and does not mean merge.  The opening letters of surah Ash-Shooraa,
   has no medd laazim muthaqqal harfi in it.  The letters  , , and  , all are medd laazim mukhaffaf harfi, all getting six vowel counts, but none merging.  The letter  is  a follower of  medd al-leen, as you stated, and can either be read with four or six vowel counts, by the way of Hafs 'an 'Aasim min Tareeq Ash-Shaatibiyyah, .  The last two letters at the beginning of surah Ashooraa, of the individually read letters are:, and , and are read with an ikhfa', but that does not affect the medd name. 

Wa iyyakum wa-l-muslimeen.