Stopping Signs
Introduction:
The scholars of Qur’anic script have placed symbols and signs to help the reader know where to stop on Qur’anic sentences and words, without disrupting the coherence of their meanings. They also clarified the meanings of these symbols to make it easier for beginners, to apply the rules of stopping. ¹
There are five main stopping signs, explained as follows:
First: Mandatory Stop Sign
It is represented by a small mīm above the word like this: (ۘ). It indicates that it is mandatory to stop at that point, to separate between two meanings that should not be joined.
Example: stopping at the word ﴿قَوۡلُهُمۡۘ﴾ in the verse: ﴿وَلَا يَحۡزُنكَ قَوۡلُهُمۡۘ إِنَّ ٱلۡعِزَّةَ لِلَّهِ جَمِيعًا﴾ [Yūnus: 65]. If the reader continues, it will imply—incorrectly—that the disbelievers’ statement(that is causing sadness to the prophet peace be upon him): ﴿إِنَّ ٱلۡعِزَّةَ لِلَّهِ جَمِيعًا﴾, whereas that is actually Allah’s reply to them.²
Second: Permissible Stop Sign (Equal Either Way)
It is represented by a small jīm above the word like this: (ۚ). It indicates that both stopping and continuing are equally valid, and the reader may choose either, as both give a correct meaning.
Example: stopping at the word ﴿عَمَلٗاۚ﴾ in the verse: ﴿ٱلَّذِي خَلَقَ ٱلۡمَوۡتَ وَٱلۡحَيَوٰةَ لِيَبۡلُوَكُمۡ أَيُّكُمۡ أَحۡسَنُ عَمَلٗاۚ وَهُوَ ٱلۡعَزِيزُ ٱلۡغَفُورُ﴾ [Al-Mulk: 2]. ³
Third: Preferable Stop Sign (but continuation is allowed)
It is represented by the word (قلى) above the word like this: (ۗ). It means that stopping is preferred,so it is permissible for the reciter to continue but stopping is preferred.
Example: stopping at the word ﴿فَٱقۡتُلُوهُمۡۗ﴾ in the verse: ﴿فَإِن قَٰتَلُوكُمۡ فَٱقۡتُلُوهُمۡۗ كَذَٰلِكَ جَزَآءُ ٱلۡكَٰفِرِينَ﴾ [Al-Baqarah: 191]. It is permissible to connect both sentences because they are connected by meaning, but stopping is preferred. ⁴
Fourth: Preferable Continuation Sign (but stopping is allowed)
It is represented by the word (صلى) above the word like this: (ۖ). It means that continuing is preferred, but stopping is allowed.
Example: connecting the word ﴿تَفَٰوُتٖۖ﴾ to the word after it in this verse: ﴿مَّا تَرَىٰ فِي خَلۡقِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ مِن تَفَٰوُتٖۖ فَٱرۡجِعِ ٱلۡبَصَرَ هَلۡ تَرَىٰ مِن فُطُورٖ﴾ [Al-Mulk: 3] due to the connection in meaning. ⁵
Fifth: Embracing Stop Sign:
It is represented by three dots in a triangle formation above two words like this: (ۛ ... ۛ). It means the reader can stop at either one of the two, but not both, so if the reciter stops at the first word it is not allowed to stop at the other. It is also permissible to continue without stopping at either.
Example: ﴿ذَٰلِكَ ٱلۡكِتَٰبُ لَا رَيۡبَۛ فِيهِۛ هُدٗى لِّلۡمُتَّقِينَ﴾ [Al-Baqarah: 2] — The reader may stop at either “rayba” or “fīhi,” and he can also read both word without stopping.
1. Al-Tajweed al-Musawwar (p. 196), Al-Muneer (p. 269).
2. Al-Tajweed al-Musawwar (p. 197), Al-Muneer (p. 270).
4. Al-Tajweed al-Musawwar (p. 198), Al-Muneer (p. 270).