Stopping on the Ends of Words      

There are several possible ways to stop on a word ending with a vowel however in this work we will focus on three of these ways only.

السكون المحض   ( the pure, unmixed sukoon): If the end of a word has a sukoon, the reciter may only stop as such. For example: ( وَانْحَرْ  ). If the end of a word is vowelized, an incidental sukoon is placed on the last letter to facilitate the stop. For example: ٱلْأَبْتَرُ is said as ٱلْأَبْتَرْ when stopping.

الرَّوم  (Rawm): The linguistic definition is “the request”. Technically, it is weakening of the sound when stopping on a dhammah or a kasrah so that most of the sound disappears.

When weakening the sound of rawm, the sound is diminished until it reaches only one third of the full vowel count.  The reciter slightly lowers his or her volume such that only the one listening closely will be able to distinuish it.  Stopping with Rawm can be done with a dhammah (ُ  ) or dhammataan (ُُ  ); or Kasrah (ِ  ) or kasrataan ( ٍ  ). Rawm is not done with fatha or fathataan however due to its weakness; If a little of it is emitted, then all of it would be emitted.

Things to consider when stopping with rawm:

1. The conditional lengthening due to sukoon– when stopping with rawm on a letter preceded by a letter of madd, the Madd is only given two counts, as when continuing. For example: دِينِ 
2. Rawm follows the rule of Takfeem or Tarqeeq for the letter Raa as when continuing. For example: If the raa has a kasrah, the ruling would be tarqeeq (as would be applied if one were to continue with a full vowel sound).  وَالفَجْرِ
3. If the last letter is originally pronounced with qalqalah when stopping, this will not be apparent when applying rawm. For example:  أَحَدٌ

الاشمام  (Ishmam): is circling of the two lips, similar to when pronouncing a dhammah, without sound. The gesture should occur directly after saying the letter with sukoon to indicate that the original vowel was a dhammah.

Things to consider when stopping with ishmaam:

1. A space should be left between the two lips when executing Ishmam
2. It is important that the gesture occur directly after saying the letter. If relaxation occurs then this is a pure sukoon only and not Ishmam.
3. Ishmam is seen and not heard thus the blind cannot perceive it.
4. Ishmam is allowed with a dhammah only.

There are several other ways to stop that aids one in obtaining precision in the recitation; Thus it is important to always increase in study and implementation to achieve this noble goal, beithnillaah.

Wa billaahit Tawfeeq

-Level 3 Student