Stopping (Waqf)
Waqf Mamnu
A prohibited stop, marked لا, where pausing would break the sense.
وقف ممنوع
Scope
When it applies
- لا
Method
How to pronounce it
Do not stop here. If you run out of breath, go back to an earlier permissible stop and resume from there.
Examples
Worked examples
Each is cited so you can find it in the mushaf and check it yourself.
| Reference | Example | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 2:12 | أَلَا إِنَّهُمْ | Stopping here severs the sentence. |
Honestly
Common mistakes
- Stopping anyway when breath runs short instead of going back.
- Reading لا as part of the text rather than as a mark.
Related
Other rules in this group
Rules are learned by ear, not by list
A tutor hears the sound you are making and corrects it. That is the part a written rule cannot do.
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Questions about this rule
What is Waqf Mamnu?
A prohibited stop, marked لا, where pausing would break the sense.
Which letters does Waqf Mamnu apply to?
لا — 1 letter in total.
How is Waqf Mamnu applied?
Do not stop here. If you run out of breath, go back to an earlier permissible stop and resume from there.
What mistakes are common with Waqf Mamnu?
Stopping anyway when breath runs short instead of going back. and Reading لا as part of the text rather than as a mark.. These are the reason the rule is learned with a tutor listening rather than from a written description.
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