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Question

When reciting an ayaat in a surah, and some stop because they are unable to finish reciting the ayaat. I've noticed that some may go back a few words and follow through with finishing the ayaat. Is this a rule and what would it be called? Could you also give your best example? May Allah (swt) reward you!

Answer

And may Allah, the Exalted reward you.

In tajweed, there are three types of allowed voluntary stops.  The first is called “the complete stop” , the second “the sufficient stop” and the third “the good stop” . 

The complete stop is when we stop on a phrase complete in meaning and it is not attached to what follows in grammar or meaning.  An example of this would be the end of a story, or the end of any of the surahs in the Qur’an.  With the complete stop it is preferred to stop on the phrase, take a breath, then start with what comes next.  There is therefore no need to go back a few words.  Stopping on the end of aayah 5 of surah Al-Baqarah, is a complete stop.  .  The first five aayaat of this surah describe the believers.  At the end of this aayah, which is: , the meaning stops in this description.  The next aayah in this surah starts out with a new subject, that of the disbelievers: .  The subject is new, and there is no link in grammar, so it is preferred to stop on the end of aayah 5, take a breath, and start then with aayah 6.

The sufficient stop is when we stop on a phrase complete in meaning and it is attached in meaning to what comes next, but not in grammar.  As in the complete stop, it is preferred to stop on the phrase, take a breath, then start with what comes next.  In surah Al-Baqarah, again aayah 5, there are two phrases, both describing the believers.  The first phrase is:  “Those are upon [right] guidance from their Lord,” stands by itself in meaning and grammar, but the next phrase, which is the end of the aayah , “and it are those who are the successful” is linked in meaning to the previous phrase.  To stop on the end of the first phrase is a sufficient stop.  The second phrase, as already discussed, is a complete stop. 

The good stop is when we stop on a phrase complete in meaning but it is attached to what comes next in grammar and in meaning.  We are allowed to stop on this phrase, but we are not allowed to start with what comes next.  This kind of stop then, is the kind you are referring to.  The reader can stop on the word, but must go back a few words, making sure there is a continuum in meaning,  when starting back up after taking a breath.  If we look at the second aayah of Al-Faatihah, , we find a complete phrase.  If we were to stop on the second word, meaning if we read  then stopped, it would be a “good stop”, or .  The phrase “[All] praise to Allah” is complete in meaning, but linked in meaning and in grammar to the next two words of the aayah “Lord of the worlds”.  We can stop, as said on , but cannot take a breath then continue with the rest of the phrase.  Instead, we would take a breath, and start the aayah again, and complete it saying: ”[All] Praise to Allah, Lord of the worlds” in one breath.  

In aayah  5 of surah Al-Bayyinah, there are several places that the reader could stop on as a “good” stop.  The words in red are such places. If we stop on the word in red, it would be a good stop, meaning it is complete in meaning, but it is liked in meaning and grammar to that which comes next.  We then would be required to go back a few words, according to the meaning, after stopping and taking a breath.