Question

Assalamu alaykum wa rahmatullah

Our study circle has audio recording of Sheikh Muhammad Jibril, which seems to be the reading of Hafs an Asim but not of the Shaatibi, as per your previous explanation. Some of us like it, but we do not know for sure all the lengthening standards of this style. Apparently only the lengthening with an hamzat al-qat' (with about 4 counts) and the lengthening with a shaddah that follow a madd letter (with apparently 6 counts are followed). Could you please explain the major lengthening pattern and other features of this way of reading?

 Meanwhile, other members of our group want to simplify: every place where there is a sign of madd to be lengthened similarly, with 4 counts on average. Could this be acceptable and if yes, which way of reading is it among the recognized one?

Wassalamu alaykum wa rahmatullah

Answer

Wa alaikum assalaam wa rahmatu Allahi wa barakatuhu.

May Allah bless your study group and aid you all in learning the Qur’an and reciting it properly. 

Most probably Sheikh Jibril has more than one recording of the Qur’an.  We listened to one online and he was reading the required joined lengthening with around 6 counts and the allowed separated lengthening with two counts.  There is no way of knowing if this is the same recording you are listening to, but if the separated allowed lengthening 
( ) is two in the recording you are listening to, we suggest you change to another recording where the way of Ash-Shaatabiyy is used.  The reason for this is that there are requirements that go with each way as to how certain words are read.  There is a way of Hafs ‘an ‘Aasim that has 6 counts for the required attached medd and two for the allowed separated lengthening , but again there are certain changes in some words that go along with this, and you need to know them to read this way.  We cannot adopt a way that is not part of the revelation and has not been transmitted to us from the Prophet , which is what happens if someone attempts to read a certain way without understanding all that it entails.  Each word is part of the revelation and must be preserved exactly as it was recited in each individual way.    

When there is a medd letter followed by a shaddah, such as in , all readers including Hafs ‘an ‘Aasim, lengthen this medd 6 counts.  This is called a compulsory medd or .  It is not possible to lengthen these only 4 vowel counts.

Therefore, it is not acceptable to lengthen every medd sign 4 vowel counts.  Instead, if the medd letter is followed by a shaddah, then it should be lengthened 6 vowel counts, if it is followed by a hamzah qat’a, then lengthen it four counts.  There is one other word that has a medd letter followed by a sukoon that occurs twice in surah Yunus and has a six vowel count; it is the word  with the questioning hamzah qata’ at the beginning of the word.  Other than that, the rule we have given you should suffice for the lengthenings.  Please note though that the individual letters at the beginning of some surahs have lengthenings and these will be covered soon, insha’ Allah in the tidbit lessons, along with all the compulsory lengthenings.

Wa alaikum assalaam wa rahmatu Allah wa barakatuhu.