Question

I have a question about your archived tidbit lesson on lengthenings (part 1). There is mention of the “leen” letters - Are they part of the medd letters and their lengthening is 2 counts? I don't notice them given as examples at the bottom in the explanation for the natural lengthening.

Answer

We should have explained the leen instead of leaving it in the air like that, our apologies.  The leen letters, when continuing, receive a little lengthening of less than two counts, but more than one.  Their lengthening is called in Arabic “ ", or some lengthening.  If there is a “leen” letter ( ’ or  saakinah preceded by a fat-h) followed by only one letter in the same word, and we are stopping on that word, the medd then becomes a medd leen and it is lengthened 2, 4, or 6 counts.  An example is when stopping on the last word in the phrase: .  This medd, or lengthening will be covered in more detail insha’ Allah soon in the tidbit lessons. 

One note, the word “leen” is a transliterated Arabic word which means soft, gentle.