The importance of teaching symbols in the Holy Quran by specialized teachers from Al-Azhar University.
The Significance of Symbols in the Quran: A Perspective
Introduction
Ready to master Quranic recitation? Learn the meanings of Tajweed symbols in the Quran with expert guidance at Tag Al-Qur’an Academy.
Start your journey today! Have you ever explored the meaning of Tajweed symbols in the Quran?
These important recitation marks help Muslims read the Quran with accuracy, flow, and reflection.
In this article, we’ll explore the most common Quranic symbols and their roles in Tajweed, with examples for practical understanding.
The Importance of Quranic Symbols in Tajweed
Tajweed symbols are not just visual elements; they are essential guides to help reciters pause, continue, or stretch sounds correctly.
These signs preserve the rhythm, meaning, and beauty of Quranic recitation as passed down through generations.
What is Basic Tajweed?
Basic Tajweed includes:
Types of Tajweed Symbols in the Quran
Common Symbols in the Quran and Their Significance
-17 Quranic Tajweed Symbols
1. The Verse’s Conclusion (Waqf al-Kalim)
- Presented as a tiny circle at the end of the poem, the symbol , Indicates that you have reached the end of that particular notion.
- It is comparable to the English full stop (.) at the end of a sentence.
- You should now naturally pause to take a deep breath and consider the meaning of what you have just read.
- This pause lets the verse’s meaning sink in before continuing. Consider it as a brief respite to enjoy the beauty of a poem in between stanzas.
Example:
- قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ ٱلنَّاسِ
- Here, the symbol appears at the end of each sentence, signifying a complete thought and a natural stopping point for reflection.
- Get started with learning Tajweed online today.
2. مـ: Waqf Laazim, or The Compulsory Stop
- Similar to a red light, this indicator, represented by the letter( مـ ), requires a stop.
- It is important to pause at this point because reciting the verse without stopping could completely alter its meaning.
- Think of it as a significant pause between two crucial concepts.
- The comma here is a better way to interpret it: Stand not, sit!
Example:
- وَلَا تَدْعُ مَعَ اللَّهِ إِلَٰهًا آخَرَ ۘ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ۚ
- Here, the ( مـ ) symbol appears after the first sentence, after which the sovereignty of Allah that He is the only worthy of worship, not the other deities that disbelievers claim to be worthy of worship, is proclaimed.
3. ط: Waqf Qati, or The Absolute Pause
- This symbol (ط) represents a strong pause, similar to (مـ) but with greater intensity.
- At this point, you must not only pause but also slightly lower your voice.
- It is used when the writer intends to create a dramatic effect or when there is a significant shift in the theme.
- However, it is not related to the rules of Meem Sakinah.
For instance:
- وَاَقِيۡمُوا الصَّلٰوةَ وَاٰتُوا الزَّكٰوةَ ط وَارۡكَعُوۡا مَعَ الرّٰكِعِيۡنَ
- The ط symbol appears after Azzakaat and it is a natural pause where a sentence ends.
4. ج : Waqf Jaiz, The Permissible Stop
- Although it’s not required, this symbol (ج) denotes an area where you can pause.
- Depending on how you breathe or how you want to highlight specific verse words, you can stop here.
- It permits a certain amount of recitation flexibility.
- It’s also best to become familiar with Idghaam rules for Tajweed.
Example:
- إِنَّمَا ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنُونَ إِخۡوَةٞ فَأَصۡلِحُواْ بَيۡنَ أَخَوَيۡكُمۡۚ وَٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تُرۡحَمُونَ
- Here, the ج symbol appears after the completion of a single thought.
- “The believers are but brothers, so make a settlement between your brothers.”
- ” Then the next thought begins: “And fear Allah that you may receive mercy.”
5. ز – Continue Reading (Waqf Wasl)
- This symbol (ز) indicates that you should continue reading without pausing.
- Depending on how you breathe or how you want to highlight specific verse words, you can stop here.
- It is used when the meaning flows naturally between words or phrases, and stopping might disrupt the recitation’s coherence.
- Pausing here could break the rhythm and potentially alter the intended meaning.
Example:
- Here, in the 2nd verse of Surah Al-Fatiha, the absence of a pause symbol (ز) indicates Waqf Wasl.
- The meaning flows naturally from the Names of Allah ( الرحمن and رحيم) to their attribute, ملك يوم الدين (Maliki yawmid-din), which translates to
“Ruler of the Day of Judgement.” - Pausing after the Names would disrupt the connection between these ideas.
6. ص – The Licensed Pause (Waqf Murakhkhas)
- The symbol (ص) indicates a place where you are allowed to pause, but like Waqf Jaiz (ج), it is not mandatory.
- Think of it as a yellow traffic light with more flexibility.
- You may pause here to catch your breath or for emphasis, but it is not essential for the meaning.
- This pause provides some adaptability in the recitation style.
Key points about Waqf Murakhkhas:
Example:
- إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ (ص) وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ
- Here, the ص symbol appears after the first sentence.
- You can pause briefly here to breathe before continuing with the next phrase, “You alone we worship, and You alone we seek help from,”
However, continuing without a pause is also acceptable.
7. ص – صلي – Preference for Continuation (Wasl Awlaa)
- The symbol (صلي) is less common than others but indicates that continuing the recitation is preferable to stopping.
- While a short pause may be possible, it is generally discouraged, as it could disrupt the flow of the verse.
Key Points About Wasl Awlaa:
Example:
- وَٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَۖ وَيُعَلِّلَّهُۗ وَٱلمُكُمُ ٱللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَيۡءٍ عَلِيمٞ
8. ق – Better not to Stop (Qeela ‘Alayhil-Waqf)
- This symbol { ق } advises against stopping, but it’s not a strict prohibition like the Waqf Laazim { مـ }.
- While technically you could pause here, it’s generally discouraged due to potential disruption of the meaning.
Key points about Qeela ‘Alayhil-Waqf:
Example:
- فَإِن قَـٰتَلُوكُمْ فَٱقْتُلُوهُمْ ۗ كَذَٰلِكَ جَزَآءُ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ
9. صل – The Permissible Pause (Waqf Qabli)
- The symbol صل (Waqf Qabli) might seem familiar after learning about Waqf Murakhkhas (ص).
- They both indicate places where pausing is allowed but with a subtle difference.
- While Waqf Murakhkhas allows a pause for breath control, Waqf Qabli offers a slightly longer permissible pause for emphasis or artistic effect.
Example:
- وَقَـٰتِلُوهُمْ حَتَّىٰ لَا تَكُونَ فِتْنَةٌۭ وَيَكُونَ ٱلدِّينُ لِلَّهِ ۖ فَإِنِ ٱنتَهَوْا۟ فَلَا عُدْوَٰنَ إِلَّا عَلَى ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ
- Understand the Madd and its types for Tajweed for beautiful Quran recitation.
10. { قف } – The Anticipation Mark (Waqf Qif)
- The symbol قف (Waqf Waqf) acts like a pause button to create anticipation.
- It indicates a place to stop, but unlike the Waqf Laazim (مـ), stopping here doesn’t mark the end of a complete thought.
- Instead, it creates a dramatic pause before continuing with a related idea.
Example:
- أَوْ زِدْ عَلَيْهِ وَرَتِّلِ ٱلْقُرْءَانَ قف تَرْتِيلًا
11. { س } – The Silence Symbol (Saktah)
- We’ve already encountered a symbol for stopping at the end of a verse ().
- The symbol س (Saktah) is similar but indicates a shorter pause within a verse.
- It functions like a comma in English, marking a brief break for breath or to separate ideas within a sentence.
Example:
- كَلَّا ۖ بَلْ ۜ رَانَ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمْ مَا كَانُوا يَكْسِبُونَ
- Here, the س symbol appears in the red sign where you will stop for a short while like a comma sign, and then continue the recitation.
12. { لا } – No Need to Stop (Laa)
- This symbol (لا) might surprise you—it indicates that you should not pause!
- It is used in situations where stopping could disrupt the flow of the verse or change its intended meaning.
Example:
- الَّذِينَ تَتَوَفَّاهُمُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ طَيِّبِينَ ۙ يَقُولُونَ سَلَامٌ عَلَيْكُمُ ادْخُلُوا الْجَنَّةَ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ
- The meaning flows naturally from worshiping Allah to seeking help from Him.
- Pausing in between might break the connection between these two acts of devotion.
13. { ك } – Similar Meaning as Previous Sign
- The symbol (ك) might seem repetitive after learning about (لا), which indicates no stopping.
- Both suggest that pausing is not recommended.
However, there is a subtle difference:
- (لا) is a more general symbol used throughout the Quran, while (ك) appears less frequently and often emphasizes the importance of continuing
the recitation for grammatical reasons.
Example:
- الَّذِينَ تَتَوَفَّاهُمُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ طَيِّبِينَ ۙ يَقُولُونَ سَلَامٌ عَلَيْكُمُ ادْخُلُوا الْجَنَّةَ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ
- The meaning flows naturally from worshiping Allah to seeking help from Him.
- Pausing in between might break the connection between these two acts of devotion.
14. ( ∴ ) The Embracing Stop (Waqf al-Ikhtiyari)
- The symbol ∴ (Waqf al-Ikhtiyari), also known as the “embracing stop,” marks a point where pausing is optional.
- However, taking a brief pause enhances the reader’s understanding and appreciation of the verse’s meaning and beauty.
Example:
- وَأَنفِقُوا۟ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَلَا تُلْقُوا۟ بِأَيْدِيكُمْ إِلَى ٱلتَّهْلُكَةِ ۛ وَأَحْسِنُوٓا۟ ∴ ۛ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ
- Here, the ∴ symbol could appear after the question, “Then which of your Lord’s favors can you deny?” Pausing here allows the listener to reflect on the vastness of Allah’s blessings mentioned throughout the Surah.
- The pause adds weight to the question, urging contemplation.
15. [ وقف النبی ]– The Pause of Prophet PBUH (Waqf al-Sunnah)
- This unique symbol (وقف النبی) signifies places where Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) himself is reported to have paused during his recitation.
- These pauses are not mandatory but hold historical significance and add depth to the recitation.
Example:
- The specific location of Waqf al-Sunnah (وقف النبی) might vary depending on the narration.
However, a common example is reported to be in:
- الَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالْغَيْبِ وقف النبی وَيقِيمُونَ الصَّلاةَ وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ
- Here, the symbol (وقف النبی) might appear after the first part, “Those who believe in the unseen.”
- According to some narrations, the Prophet (PBUH) would pause here, possibly to emphasize the importance of faith in the unseen before continuing with the following acts of worship.
16. [ وقف غفران ] – The Sign of Supplication (Waqf Ghafiran)
- The term “وقف غفران” (Waqf Ghafiran) is not commonly found in classical Tajwid texts.
- However, some traditions mention it as a point where one may pause for supplication (dua).
- It is worth noting that scholarly opinions on the authenticity and application of this concept vary.
Example:
- رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ
- “Our Lord, grant us good in this world and good in the Hereafter and save us from the torment of the Fire.” (2:128)
17. [ وقف منزل ] – The Pause Sign of Jibrael (Waqf Manzil)
- Similar to Waqf Ghafiran, the term “وقف منزل” (Waqf Manzil) isn’t found in classical Tajwid texts.
- It refers to places where Angel Jibril is narrated to have paused while teaching the Quran to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
Example:
- وَإِن تُطِعۡ أَڪۡثَرَ مَن فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ يُضِلُّوكَ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّه
- “Our Lord, grant us good in this world and good in the Hereafter and save us from the torment of the Fire.” (2:128)