Length of Adhan and Iqama Prolongations: The Limit of Madd in the Words of Adhan and Kalima Taw

In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful and Compassionate

Shaykh Muhammad Makki Nasr Jarrisi; a great Shafi scholar and Sufi of the Shadhili order writes in his colossus Nihaya al-Qawlu’l-Mufid fi’ Ilm al-Tajwid (The Extreme Beneficial Words in the Science of Tajwid) as follows:

As for the reasons of madd- and they are also called ‘muji’baat‘ (reasons that necessitate something) they are two; one of them is ‘lafdhi‘ (pertaining to the word) and the other is ‘ma’nawi’ (pertaining to the meaning).

As for lafdhi (pertaining to the word) there are the following madds:

Madd Tabi’i

Madd Muttasil

Madd Munfasil

Madd Lazim

Madd A’ridh

Madd Kalmi Muthaqqal

Madd Kalmi MuKhaffaf

Madd Harfi Muthaqqal

Madd Harfi Mukhaffaf

The original madd is Madd Tabi’i which only through it can the essence of the letter be established and is not dependent on any particular agent i.e. there is neither a hamza or sakin following the letter. It is sufficient that one of the three letters of madd (Alif preceding a fatha (zabar) e.g.Qala, Waw preceding a dhamma (pesh) e.g. Nuhan and Ya preceding a kasra (zer) e.g.Qila is present.

This madd is called Tabi’i because a person who has a sound disposition will not decrease or increase its limit.

Its limit of lengthening and prolonging the sound of the letter is one alif i.e. as long it takes to open or close a finger. It is haram (forbidden) in sharia to decrease it to less that an alif. One who decreases Madd Tabi’i to less than an alif will be reproached of doing wrongly and rewarded if it is done correctly. Thus, what many of the imams and mu’adhins of the masajid do by increasing the length of madd to more than its known limit to the Qu’rra (Master Reciters of the Qur’an) is one of the reprehensible innovations and severer detestations, especially when the ignorant of the Qur’ra (Master Reciters of the Qur’an) follow them.

As for the Ma’nawi (pertaining to the meaning) reason for the Madd is the intending of magnifying and emphasizing the negation of other than Allah. This is a very strong reason with the Arabs, even though it is a weak reason with the Qur’ra (Master Reciters of the Qur’an).

This madd is of two types; Madd Tadhim (Madd of respect) which is in the negative particle in Kalima Tawhid (Words pertaining to the Unity and Oneness of Allah) e.g. La ilaha Illallahu, La ilaha illa Anta, La ilaha Illa Huwa.

Ibn Al-Jazari says this type of madd is known to the followers of the opinion of Qasr in Madd Munfasil and it is called ‘Madd of Emphasis and Magnifying’ because it is to seek emphasis in negating other deities other than Allah. This is a well known school of thought with the Arabs, as they make madd (lengthen the sound of a letter) in words which has no reason for madd, as in the words of dua, istigatha (seeking help) and during the negation of something, so if there is a reason for madd, (as in the case of La ilaha illallahu, La Ilaha Illa Anta etc, then it is more commendable and appropriate.

Imam Nawawi says in his ‘Adhkar‘ (Selected Supplications from Words of the Master of the Righteous) this is why it is a correct and preferred school of thought for the Dhakir (person doing the dhikr of Allah) to lengthen the madd when doing the dhikr of La Ilaha Ilallahu, as one is contemplating and pondering in the words and meaning. The opinions of the Imams of the latter and former are well known. The following two hadith indicate this, the first which is reported by Ibn Umar from the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) that whoever says, La Ilaha Illallahu and lengthens his voice, Allah will make him reside in the House of Majesty which He (Allah) has called himself, the Mighty and Majestic. The second hadith is reported by Anas (Allah be pleased with him) that whoever says, La Ilaha Illallahu and lengthens his voice, four thousand sins will be forgiven.

Ibn al-Jazari says in ‘Al-Nashr fi’l Qiratil’Ashr’ that these two hadith are weak, but they can be acted upon because of the relation to virtues of actions.

The second type of Madd is called Madd Tab’ria (Madd of Freeing oneself from other things) as in La Rayb, La Shiyata, La Qibal lahum, La Ikraha and La Ithma alai’h. This madd is narrated by Hamza (one of the Masters of the Science of Tajwid).

(Nihaya al-Qawlu’l-Mufid fi’ Ilm al-Tajwid, S. Muhammad Makki Nasr Jarrisi pg 166, 167, 168)

And Allah Knows Best

– Ilyas Patel.