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Waqf (وقف, “stop”) signs tell the reciter where to pause for breath while intending to continue. They appear slightly smaller and raised above the line. Follow them to avoid changing the meaning. Where two signs appear one above the other, give preference to the one on top.

◯

waqf tām — وقف تامّ — “Perfect stop” — the end of a verse. The meaning is complete; stop and take a breath before continuing. Shown by the verse circle.

مـ

waqf lāzim — وقف لازم — “Required stop” — it is absolutely necessary to stop; not stopping can change the meaning (like “Stand! not Sit!” vs “Stand not! Sit!”).

ط

waqf muṭlaq — وقف مطلق — “Absolute stop” — break the breath and voice before continuing. The sentence is not yet complete but more follows before the meaning finishes.

ج

waqf jāʾiz — وقف جائز — “Permissible stop” — better to stop here, but if you do not, that is fine.

ز

waqf mujawwaz — وقف مجوّز — It is better not to stop here.

ص

waqf murakhkhaṣ — وقف مرخّص — “Licensed pause” — continue reading; but if you are tired you may pause for a breath. More desirable to continue than at ز.

صلے

al-waṣl awlā — الوصل أولى — “Continuing is preferable” — it is better to carry on reciting here.

ق

qīla ʿalayhil-waqf — قيل عليه الوقف — It has been said that it is better not to stop here — the sign marks a difference of opinion on whether to stop.

قﻲ

qad yūṣal — قد يوصل — It is better to stop here, but continuing is permissible.

قف

qif — قِف — “Stop!” — used where the reciter might otherwise continue instead of stopping.

س

saktah — سكتة — “Silence” — stop reciting but do not break the breath before continuing. Obligatory in four places (Sūrah al-Kahf, Yāsīn, al-Qiyāmah and al-Muṭaffifīn).

وقفة

waqfah — وقفة — Pause here longer than at a saktah, again without breaking the breath.

لا

lā — لا — “No!” — do not stop here, as it would affect the meaning. If it falls at a verse-end it is still better not to stop, but if you do the meaning is alright.

ك

kadhālik — كذلك — “Like that” — apply the previous waqf sign at this position as well.

∴ ∴

muʿānaqah — معانقة — “Embracing stop” — triple dots appearing in pairs: stopping at the first forbids stopping at the second (and vice versa), or the meaning becomes incomplete. Stop at one or the other, not both.

∴

— — Marks a point where there is a difference of opinion as to whether it is the end of an āyah.

waqf an-nabī ﷺ — وقف النبي ﷺ — Indicates places where the Prophet ﷺ paused.

waqf ghufrān — وقف غفران — It is said that if the reciter and listener make duʿāʾ when pausing here, it will be answered.

waqf manzil — وقف منزل — Also waqf jibrāʾīl — where Jibrīl (peace be upon him) paused at the time of revelation.

Qurʾanic punctuation in the Arabic script uses several symbols indicating variations in methods of qirāʾah (recitation). These symbols, known as the ʿAlāmāt al-Waqf (signs for stops), are briefly described below.

◯

Shows the end of a verse — a pause is a must.

مـ

Waqf Lāzim — The stop at which the word and meaning give a complete sense (a “complete stop”): the utterance is complete and separated from what follows.

ط

Waqf Jāʾiz, al-Waqf Awlā — May or may not stop, but the first preference is to stop. (The “sufficient stop”: stopping or continuing is permissible, yet stopping is preferable, since the phrase can stand by itself.)

ج

Waqf Jāʾiz — May or may not stop at the place indicated (no preference either way).

ز

It is better not to stop here.

ﺱ

Breaking the voice at a Qurʾanic word for a brief moment without taking a breath — at two counts (nearly two seconds).

صلے

Waqf Jāʾiz, al-Waṣl Awlā — May or may not stop at the place indicated, but the first preference is not to stop.

ق

It is better not to stop here.

صل

Better to stop.

قف

It is better to take a pause.

س

Stop the vocal sound for a moment without breaking the breath.

وقفة

Vocal-sound stoppage for more than a moment, without breaking the breath.

لا

Waqf Mamnūʿ — Must not stop at the place indicated.

ك

Ramz-e-Waqf — The same waqf sign as the one that has previously passed applies here.

∴ ∴

Taʿānuq al-Waqf — May stop at either place indicated, but not at both.