Madd Al-Silah Kubra and Sughra

If you’re dreaming of reciting the Quran beautifully and correctly, you need to really understand the Tajweed rules, especially Madd Al-Silah Kubra and Sughra. 

It’s not as complicated as people think, honestly! Once you get the difference between them and learn how to apply them, you’ll feel a big difference in your recitation. Let’s dive together into this rule and understand it step by step with easy examples from the Quran.

What Is Madd Al-Silah in Tajweed?

Look, while you’re reading the Quran, you’ve probably noticed that some letters get stretched a bit in a beautiful way, right? Well, one of these stretches is called Madd Al-Silah.

So, what’s the story?

Madd Al-Silah happens when the letter “haa” (which we call Haa’ Al-Kinayah) comes at the end of a word and has a dammah or a kasrah, and it's connected to the next word without a stop — as long as the next word starts with a moving letter, not a sukoon.

Here, we add a small stretch to the haa, and this stretch isn’t random, it depends on the vowel:

• When the letter "haa" carries a dammah, it produces a sound that softly resembles the letter "waaw”.

• If it has a kasrah, you’ll hear it like there’s a light yaa.

So we soften the sound and make it easier and more beautiful to hear — and that’s the point of elongation (madd) in general.

Example

Read this with me: "لهُ ما في السموات","lahu ma fi al-samawaat" 

The haa here has a dammah, and the next word starts with a vowel — so we pronounce it like: "lahooma"… See that little stretch? That’s Madd Al-Silah.

Read about: What Is Madd Badal

Types of Madd Al-Silah – What’s the Difference? 

As soon as you hear “Madd Al-Silah,” you need to know that it has two main types:

1. Madd Al-Silah As-Sughra (Small Silah Madd)

2. Madd Al-Silah Al-Kubra (Major Silah Madd)

Each one of them appears in specific cases and has its own way of being elongated. Let’s explain them one by one.

Madd Al-Silah As-Sughra

This type happens when:

• At the end of certain words, you’ll find the pronoun "haa," known as "Haa Al-Kinayah" in Tajweed.

• This “haa” is vowelled, meaning it has a dammah or kasrah.

• And the next word does not start with a hamzah.

Example to make it clearer:

"إِنَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ", "Innahu Ghafoorun Raheem"

In this verse, the haa in “Innahu” has a dammah, and the word after it “Ghafoor” doesn’t start with a hamzah, so we pronounce it like:
“Innahu-w Ghafoor”, Notice the light waaw sound that appeared.

Read about: Types of Madd

How Many Counts Is Madd Al-Silah As-Sughra?

So, what does “counts” mean? These counts measure the time we hold the sound while reading. It’s not a short or quick madd, but a reasonable length that helps clarify the recitation and makes the sound nicer and easier to pronounce

In this case, we add a small lengthening to the haa, just 2 counts, like a light natural madd that helps pronounce the haa more clearly and easily.

Madd Al-Silah Al-Kubra

Now for the second type, and this is called Kubra or Major Madd Al-Silah. It appears when:

• The haa is also vowelled.

•  The following word begins with a hamzah right after the haa.

Example to clarify:

"فِيهِ أَجْرٌ كَبِيرٌ", "Fihi Ajrun Kabeer"

The haa in “Fihi” has a kasrah, and the next word “Ajr” starts with a hamzah, so we pronounce it like: “Fihiiy Ajr”.

Did you hear the long yaa sound? That’s Madd Al-Silah Al-Kubra.

How Many Counts Is Madd Al-Silah Kubra?

When we talk about Madd Al-Silah Kubra, the most important thing you need to know is the number of counts we elongate the sound. Simply, Madd Al-Silah Kubra is a long madd, and usually, we elongate it from 4 to 5 counts.

The difference here from Madd Al-Silah Sughra is clear because the Sughra is a light madd (about 2 counts), while the Kubra takes longer in pronunciation to clarify the meaning and sound, especially when the pronoun "ha" (ه) is followed by a Hamza (ء) like in words such as:

• وَرَسُولَهُۥٓ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ

• مَعَهُۥٓ إِذْ

• وَحْدَهُۥٓ إِلَّا

Also, these counts are set to help the reader adhere to Tajweed rules and keep their pronunciation correct and beautiful—not shallow or fast.

So if you are a new Quran reader or training on Tajweed, focus well on the number of counts in Madd Al-Silah Kubra and try to keep it from 4 to 5 counts. This will definitely enhance your Quran recitation and give you a clearer grasp of madd rules.

So, how can you easily tell the difference?

Just look at the word that comes after the haa:

• If it starts with a hamzah, then it’s Kubra, and you elongate for 4 or 5 counts.

• If there’s no hamzah, then it’s Sughra and you elongate for 2 counts.

Visual Indicators of Madd Al-Silah in the Mushaf

When we read the Quran, we don’t just rely on the letters and words, but we also need to know how to notice the madds and pauses through the marks that appear in the Mushaf itself. 

And Madd Al-Silah has easy visual indicators that help us know when to lengthen the sound and how many counts we should hold it for.

1: the shape of the pronoun (ه) Ha (the "haa" pronoun)

In Madd Al-Silah, the most important thing to focus on is the letter (ه) Ha that acts as a pronoun (Haa Al-Kinayah). 

In the Mushaf, this Ha is clear in the words, and we must notice if it has a Dammah or Kasrah on it, because this affects how we pronounce the madd.

2: the presence of Hamza after it

If after the pronoun Ha, we find a Hamza (ء), this is a clear indicator of Madd Al-Silah Kubra. 

When the Hamza follows the (ه)  Ha, we have to lengthen the sound for 4 or 5 counts, and this shows in the Mushaf through the marks placed above the letters, like the diacritics.

3: If there is no Hamza after the Ha

If there is no Hamza after the (ه)  Ha, but the next word starts with a vowel (Fatha, Dammah, or Kasrah), here we are talking about Madd Al-Silah Sughra, which we lengthen about 2 counts only.

4: the mark that indicates madd in the Mushaf  

• A typical madd is shown with a short horizontal stroke above the letter, similar to the one used in Tanween or over madd letters.

• As for Madd Al-Silah, it is not always marked with a special clear sign, but we recognize it from the position of the Ha, the movement of the Hamza, or the vowel of the following word.

If you are learning Tajweed or trying to improve your quranic recitation, always stay focused on the Mushaf and try to notice the vowels and diacritics well. 

The indicators of Madd Al-Silah are not always written clearly like the regular madds, but once you know this rule, you will be able to figure it out easily from reading the words.

Learn more: How to Learn Quran with Tajweed at Home

Comparison Table Between Madd Al-Silah Kubra and Sughra

Here's a simple conclusion about the differences between types of Madd Al-Silah Kubra and Sughra: 

Common Mistakes in Applying Madd Al-Silah

When we read the Qur’an and learn Tajweed rules, Madd Al-Silah is one of the types of elongation that we might make mistakes in if we don’t understand it properly. 

That’s why it’s important to know the common errors so we can correct them and recite the Qur’an more clearly and accurately.

1. Overextending the Madd

Many people stretch the sound of Madd Al-Silah more than necessary, especially in Al-Silah Al-Kubra. 

The elongation should be between 4 to 5 counts, not more. If we stretch it too much, the recitation becomes incorrect and sounds linguistically wrong.

2. Shortening or skipping the Madd

On the other hand, some people shorten the Madd or even skip it entirely! This is particularly true for Al-Silah As-Sughra, where the elongation must be held for exactly two counts. This makes the pronunciation unclear and not aligned with Tajweed rules.

3. Incorrect pronunciation of “Haa Al-Kinayah”

It’s important to know that the Haa here should be pronounced as a pronoun with a Dammah or a Kasrah, and this determines the type of Madd. If we pronounce it without a vowel or like a regular Haa, the recitation will be wrong.

4. Improper connection between words

Madd Al-Silah happens when the Haa is at the end of a word and is directly connected to the next word without a pause or stop. If we separate the words or pause between them, the Madd won’t occur.

5. Mixing up Madd Al-Silah with other categories of madd is a common error

A common mistake is mixing up Madd Al-Silah with other types of elongation like natural Madd or Madd Al-‘Iwadh, and that affects correct pronunciation. 

It’s important to understand each type and how long it should be to avoid confusion.

6. Ignoring Tajweed symbols in the Mushaf

In the Mushaf, there are signs that help us know when to elongate and which Madd to use.

If we ignore them, we might apply the Madd incorrectly and recite the verse wrong.

You can also have a quick look on: What Is The Quran Tajweed Rules Mistakes!

Does Madd Al-Silah have exceptions? 

Look, just like there are basic rules for Madd Al-Silah, there are also a few situations where it doesn't follow the usual rule. 

Not every "ه" with a vowel is extended, and not every verse that contains a "ه" will apply Madd Al-Silah. Let’s understand it step by step.

1. Stopping at the Ha’

If you stop at the “ه”, like when you finish the verse or pause, then there's no Madd Al-Silah.

Why? Because at that moment the “ه” becomes silent, and one of the main conditions for Madd Al-Silah is that the “ه” must be vowelled and come between two vowelled letters.

Example:

In the verse: إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ تَوَّابًۭا

If you stop at the word "إِنَّهُ", you'll pronounce it "إنهْ" (with sukoon), and that means there's no Madd Al-Silah here.

2. If the next word starts with a silent letter

That is, if there's a Ha’ pronoun, and the next word begins with a silent letter, then again there will be no Madd Al-Silah, because the “ه” is not between two vowelled sounds.

Example:

In: فَأَقْبَرَهُۥ ثُمَّ

The word "أقبرهُ" ends with a “ه”, and the next word "ثمَّ" starts with a silent letter (a stressed ث = sukoon + vowel), so we don’t extend here.

3. If the Ha’ is not a pronoun

Not every “ه” in a word means it’s a Ha’ of pronoun. Sometimes you find a “ه”, but it’s not a pronoun, so you can’t apply Madd Al-Silah to it.

Example:

The word "وجهه" in some contexts, the “ه” is part of the word and not a pronoun, so it’s not subject to Madd Al-Silah.

4. In some Qira’at (recitations)

Depending on the style of recitation, the rules of madd can sometimes vary slightly in how they’re applied. For example, in the narration of Hafs from Asim, we see Madd Al-Silah in certain places, but in another recitation, it might not exist in the same place.

Special Cases to Pay Attention To:

• If Idgham occurs (merging of letters), the Madd may disappear, and it won’t be clearly heard.

• If the Ha’ appears in the middle of the word, not at the end, it’s not considered Madd Al-Silah. The rule says it happens when the “ه” is at the end of a word and connected to the next.

Read about: Idgham in Tajweed

Comparison between Madd Al-Silah and Other Types of Madd

If you’re still learning Tajweed, you’ve definitely come across many types of Madd, like Madd Tabee’i (natural elongation), Madd Badal (replacement elongation), Madd Wajib Muttasil (necessary connected elongation), and others. 

But sometimes people get confused and ask: is Madd Al-Silah just like the others? Or does it have a different nature? Let’s understand the difference in a simple and organized way.

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Conclusion: Mastering Madd Al-Silah in Quran Recitation

If you’ve reached this far with us, let me tell you that you’ve come a long way in understanding Madd Al-Silah, and that alone is a big achievement that deserves your excitement to keep going. 

Madd Al-Silah, whether it’s Sughra or Kubra, isn’t just a rule from Tajweed... it’s part of the beauty of pronunciation in the Quran, It helps deliver the recitation in a manner that reflects the beauty and dignity of Allah’s (Glorified and Exalted) words.

So let’s quickly review the most important points:

• Madd Al-Silah happens with the pronoun (ه) when it refers to a masculine noun and is between two vowelled letters.

• When the pronoun is directly followed by a hamzah, it becomes Madd Al-Silah Kubra, which is elongated for four to five counts.

• If there’s no hamzah, it’s Madd Al-Silah Sughra, and the length is just two counts.

• We usually see it in the Mushaf as a small waw or ya drawn after the ha, and that acts as a visual indicator.

So how can you master Madd Al-Silah?

By applying the following tips, you can master Madd AL-silah:

1. Listen a lot

Try listening to well-articulated reciters like Sheikh Al-Minshawi or Al-Husary and focus closely on their pronunciation of the pronoun "ha. Over time, you’ll begin to recognize the difference between Sughra and Kubra.

2. Practice it yourself

Try reading verses that contain these examples, record yourself, then listen again and compare your recitation with the reciter’s.

3. Learn from a teacher

If you can take lessons with a teacher or at an academy, it would be much better, because this kind of madd especially requires practice and live listening.

And in the end…

If you master Madd Al-Silah, you’re not just improving your pronunciation, you’re also earning great reward, because you’re trying to read the Qur’an the way it was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad.

Remember that every step you take toward correct recitation brings you closer to reflection and understanding... and the more you master, the more you enjoy the beauty of reciting the Qur’an

FAQs

How can I spot Madd Al-Silah in the Mushaf?

A tiny wāw (و) appears after the pronoun when it carries a ḍammah, and a small yā’ (ي) shows up if it has a kasra.

Can mistakes in Madd Al-Silah affect Tajweed?

Definitely, wrong Madd Al-Silah makes the recitation incorrect and less beautiful.

Is Madd Al-Silah found in all Quranic recitations?

No, it occurs only in specific instances where the active pronoun "ha" appears at the end of a word.

Is learning Madd Al-Silah difficult?

Not at all, with consistent practice and by listening to accurate Quranic recitations, it becomes much easier to master.