The Treatise of Haj Sayyid Ali Sistani

Issue 1206: Observing Length in Recitation

The scholars of Tajwid have stated that if there is a “waw” in a word and the letter before it has a “dammah” (ـُ) and the letter after the “waw” is a hamzah, such as in the word “سُوْء,” the “waw” should be prolonged; that is, it should be stretched. Similarly, if there is an “alif” in a word and the letter before the “alif” has a “fathah” (ـَ) and the letter after the “alif” is a hamzah, such as in “جآء” or “مَلآئِکَة,” the “alif” should be stretched. Additionally, if there is a “ya” in a word and the letter before the “ya” has a “kasrah” (ـِ) and the letter after the “ya” is a hamzah, such as in “جیٖء,” the “ya” should be recited with length. If after these letters (“waw,” “alif,” and “ya”) there is a letter that is either silent or has a shaddah instead of a hamzah, the length should also be maintained for these three letters.

However, it seems that the correctness of the recitation in such cases does not necessarily require lengthening, and stretching or prolonging is not mandatory. Therefore, if one does not follow the aforementioned instruction, the prayer is still valid. However, in the case of “وَلَا الضّآلّینَ,” where a certain amount of length is needed for the accurate pronunciation of the shaddah and “alif,” one must prolong it to the extent that “alif” and the shaddah of “lam” are pronounced. If one reads it as “وَلَا الضَّلِّینَ” (without “alif”) or “وَلَا الضّٰالینَ” (without the shaddah on “lam”), it is not correct.