Question

Assalamu alaykum 

Jazakallahu khayran for your site.  May it continue to benefit the recitors of the book of Allah.

I have three questions regarding beginning the recitation from the MIDDLE of a surah (eg verse 8 of Baqarah). We know that we must recite the taawuz, and that the recitation of basmalah is optional.

(1) If we decide to recite BOTH the taawuz and basmalah then there are 4 possible ways - qif wa qif, sil wa qif, qif wa sil, and sil wa sil.  I have read two different books that say two different things. One book (and the view I learnt a few years ago) says that ALL 4 ways are allowed. The other book I read recently states that only qif wa sil, and sil wa qif are allowed (qif wa sil, and sil wa sil are not allowed). I am confused. Could you provide the correct opinion and if there is a difference of opinion please state so.

 (2) If we decide to recite ONLY the taawuz are two ways allowed i.e waqf after taawuz, or wasl after taawuz; or is only waqf allowed? 

(3) What about beginning the recitation from the MIDDLE of surah tawbah? What is the ruling regarding the basmalah here? If there is a difference of opinion please state so. 

Wa jazakumullahu khayran.

 

Answer

Wa alaikum assalaam wa rahmatu Allahi wa barakatuh.  Wa iyyakum and ameen to your dua', and may Allah make you of those that teach and learn the Qur'an.

1.  The rules for starting in the middle of a surah with the , the optional basmalah, and the first aayah one intends to read is the same as when starting ones recitation at the beginning of a surah.  When starting recitation there are four allowable ways of reciting the isti'aathah, the basmalah, and beginning the recitation of the Qur'an. 

       The four allowed possible ways are:

a)  (separating all) meaning saying  () , stopping taking a breath, then saying the basmalah (), stopping and taking a breath, then starting the aayah.   

b) (joining all), which is saying with its kasrah on the end of the last word  (), then going directly on to the basmalah with its kasrah on the last word, (),   then starting the aayah, all in one breath with no stopping in between.

c) (joining the isti'aathah with the basmalah), meaning reading  with its kasrah on the last word and joining it with the basmalah, stopping and taking a breath then reciting the aayah. 

d) ( joining the basmalah with the surah), which is reading  and stopping on the last letter with a presented sukoon and taking a breath, then reading the basmalah with its kasrah on the  last word (), then joining it with the first aayah that one intends to read without taking a breath. 
We researched tajweed books and asked scholars of tajweed and found no difference of opinion in this matter; Allah knows best.  We assume that you are aware that there is a  different ruling for joining the end of a surah with the basmalah and the beginning of another surah; in which joining the end of the surah with the basmalah and stopping is not allowed. 

2.   If you recite  without the optional basmalah when starting in the middle of a surah, you can either join the two in one breath or stop and take a breath after , then read the intended aayah.

3.   The majority of scholars say it is allowed to recite the basmalah after  and before starting anywhere in the middle of surah At-Tawbah (but not at the beginning), but there are a minority that do not allow it.  Imam Ash-Shatibiyy his poem on the seven qira'aat,  said:

And no matter how much you join it [the basmalah] or you started baraa'ah [At-Tawbah]

Because it was revealed with the sword it does not have a basmalah

And it [the basmalah] is a must at the beginning of a surah

Other than it [at-tawbah] and in the parts [middle of surah] it is a choice for he who reads.

The explanation of the above lines states that the middle parts of at-Tawbah and all other surahs is what was being referred to in the choice of reciting the basmalah or not. 

We apologize greatly for the delay in answering your question. May Allah reward you for your patience.  Wa alaikum assalaam wa rahmatu Allahi wa barakatuh.