Question

Assalamu'alaykum,

Kaifa haalukum? I pray that this email reaches you in Iman and Islam.
I have a quick question.
1) What is the name of the hamzah that is seen on top of the letters waw and ya?
2) Why is this hamzah written this way?
3) What is the significance that the word "rahmat" is written with a normal "ta" instead of "ta" marbutah? (surah Maryam).
4) Out of curiosity, how does one make waqf on this word (rahmat with a ta, instead of ta marbutah).

JazakAllahu khairan.

Answer

Wa alaikum assalaam wa rahamatu Allahi wa barakatuh. Jazakum Allahu khairan, al-hamdu lillah we are fine. May Allah grant you the best of eemaan and Islam and increase you in all khair in this world and the Hereafter.

1. The hamzah is stilled called a hamzah, even when it uses another to “sit” on.  Just as the hamzah sometimes uses the alif to “sit” on, other times it uses the  and , other times it uses just a tooth in the writing, and still other times, it does not have anything to “sit” on and is written in the air.

2. The reasons for the various shapes of the hamzah have to do with Arabic spelling rules.  You will notice that when the hamzah is written on a  a dhammah precedes the hamzah, and when it is written on a ,  a kasrah precedes it. 

3.  There are several times that  with any of the three vowels, is written with a , as in: .  This is one of the miracles of the Qur’an and shows the extreme care that was taken in preserving the writing of the copies of the Qur’an exactly as it was written by the scribes under the supervision of our Prophet, . 

4.  This is an excellent question, masha’ Allah.  In the recitation of Hafs, we stop as the word is written, so we stop on the word   with a , not a  saakinah.

Please also see the lessons on the female , located here and the lessons on stopping on the end of a word here.

Wa iyyaakum wal-muslimeen.

Wa assalaam.