Question

There is a required “sakt” at the end of the first aayah of surat Al-Kahf; normally it is said that it is sunnah to stop on the end of all aayaat; does this rule not apply in the case of this aayah?

Answer

A sakt ( ) is defined as the cutting off of sound for a time shorter than that of a regular stop, without taking a breath.

There are four required saktaat that Hafs ‘an ‘Aasim by the way of Ash-Shaatibiyyah  (the most commonly way used of recitation in the world) has in the Qur’an; one being  between the first and second aayah of surah Al-Kahf. The other three are in Ya-Seen aayah 52, Al-Qiyaamah 27, and Al-Mutaffifeen 14.

It is sunnah to stop at the end of an aayah, but that does not mean that it is forbidden or even disliked to join one aayah with another. Stopping at the end of an aayah is preferred. If one is reciting and joins the first and second aayaat of surah Al-Kahf, , and is reciting in the recitation of Hafs ‘an ‘Aasim by the way of Ash-Shatibiyyah, he would cut off the sound at the end of the word , stop for a brief period without taking a breath, then continue with the next word ,  There is a small letter above the end of the word  , this is the indicator for a sakt.