Question

Assalamou Aleikum,

May Allah have mercy on you and may He facilitate this month of Ramadan for each and every Muslim inshallah.

I have few questions concerning the Hamzah al Wasl. I read lesson 3, but I still need your help in how to read when starting a Ayat with the Hamzah al-Wasl. For example:

1. In surat 17, verse 48  Since the third letter has a dhammah on it, should we read "Unthur kaifa.." or otherwise?

2. When starting a surat with a Hamzah al Wasl, should we pay attention to the third letter in order to know how the Hamzah al wasl will be read?

3. I do not understand the part C of lesson 3, when 2 Hamzah are next to each other. http://www.abouttajweed.com/hamzah_al-wasl_3.htm.  Would you please help me know what is the rule to adopt when two Hamzah are next to each other?

4. Since Ramadan has started, is it good to listen the recitation of the entire Qu'ran on audio cassette (for example, recitation by Sheikh Al Husary or Adbul Basit) and read along as they recite?

May Allah reward you and help you find the answers of those questions inshallah.

Ma Salam

Answer

Wa alaikum assalaam wa rahmatu Allahi wa barakatuh.  Jazakum Allahu khairan, and may Allah accept your fasting and righteous deeds and increase you in taqwaa.

1. Since the word in question is a verb , we then look at the vowel of the third letter.  In this case the vowel is a dhammah that is an intrinsic vowel of the third letter, we then start the hamzah wasl with a dhammah, as indicated in the question.

2.  The way we start a hamzah wasl, whether it is at the first word of a surah or any other place that we are starting, depends on the part of speech of the word beginning with a hamzah al-wasl.  If it is a noun, we start the word with a kasrah on the hamzah al-wasl.  If the word starts with the definite article , we start with a fat-hah on the hamzah al-wasl.  If the word  is a verb, we look at the vowel of the third letter. 

3. When there are two hamzahs next to each other, the first voweled, the second saakinah, we change the second hamzah to a medd letter.  To know which medd letter we should change it to, we look at the vowel on the first hamzah.  If it is a kasrah, then we change the second hamzah in to a lengthened .  If it is a dhammah, we then change the second hamzah in to a lengthened , etc.  When the first hamzah is a hamzah al-wasl, the first thing we need to do is to determine its vowel when starting the word.  Once we determine that, we can then see which medd letter the second hamzah -which is saakinah- will be (in pronunciation).   If we look at the word, we first have determine whether that it is a verb, a noun, or the definite article .  Looking at the meaning of the aayah, we can figure out that it is a command form verb.  When starting on this word, we would use the hamzah al-wasl, and knowing that it is a verb, we then look at vowel on the third letter.  The third letter is the letter  and it has a fat-hah.  When a verb starting with a hamzah al-wasl has a fat-hah or kasrah on the third letter, we put a kasrah on the hamzah al-wasl when starting the word.  We now have two hamzahs next to each other, the first with a kasrah, the second with a sukoon.  The rule, as stated before is that the saakinah second hamzah al-wasl will turn (in pronunciation) in to a medd letter that corresponds with the vowel on the hamzah before it.  We have determined that the first hamzah will have a kasrah on it, when starting on this word, so the second becomes a ya’ saakinah.  The word then will be read (when starting on it) , with a two vowel count lengthening on the  . 

If however we are reading this word in continuation with the preceding words, meaning we are not starting on this word, the hamzah al-wasl is not used in pronunciation and the second hamzah is read with a sukoon on it, and is not changed in to a  .  This is because there will no longer be two hamzahs next to each other in recitation.   

Just a reminder: this is only for when the first hamzah is voweled and the second saakinah.  If both hamzahs are voweled, then are both pronounced with their vowels and the second hamzah is not changed at all. 

4.  It is a good idea to practice your tilaawah with a recording of a known good reciter such as Sheikh Al-Husary.  If you find yourself reading differently than the sheikh, you should go back and practice the aayah, then read it again with the recording to be sure you are reading it correctly. 

Wa assalaam alaikum wa rahmatu Allah.