Question

Assalamualaikum,

 I would like to ask here about the sifaatul huruf. I know the meaning of them in my language but am unable to practice correctly (because my teacher always said I left 'zaman' when I read the hams and the letters with syaddah. Do I need to give zaman to all of the letters of hams and letters with syaddah on them? When I read, I feel that I already pause for a moment but my teacher keeps correcting me, so is it a sinful if I didn't read very well. Alhamdulillah I know all the hukums (noon saakinah, lam saakinah, mad, idgham, ghunnah) but my biggest trouble is this sifaatul huruf.  

Jazakamullah for your help, may Allah reward you. 

Answer

Wa alaikum assalaam wa rahmatu Allahi wa barakatuh.  The zaman, or timing of a particular letter, is only noted when it is saakin.  A letter with a harakah gets the same timing or zaman as any other letter with a harakah, no matter what the characteristics of each letter.  Saakin letters though, have minute differences in their timings depending on whether they have the characteristic of rakhaawah , tawassit , or shaddah .  The letters of rakhaawah get the longest timing when saakinah, the letters of tawassit next, and the letters of shiddah the shortest amount of timing when they have a sukoon on them. The characteristic of hams () does not effect the timing of a letter, but most of the letters of hams also have rakhaawah (except the   and ), so that may explain the terminology difference.    Applying the correct timing to the saakin letters is part of beautifying the recitation, and those that do not do this properly are not considered to be sinful in their reading.

We are unsure whether you meant letters with the characteristic of shiddah () on them or letters that are doubled, i.e., have a shaddah mark on them.  It is very important that letters with a shaddah mark are read as two letters; the first one with a sukoon, the other with whatever harakah or vowel is written on it.  The first letter of a shaddah then is produced with collision of the two parts of articulation for the letter, and the second letter with separation of the two parts of articulation. 

May Allah make easy for you the application of all the characteristics in your recitation.  May Allah reward you for your efforts to learn the Qur'an correctly.