Waqf: Where and How to Stop
2 rules
Stopping is cutting the voice at the end of a word to breathe. The signs of the Mushaf show where stopping is required, better, allowed or to be avoided. When stopping, the last letter loses its vowel, tā marbūṭah is said as hā, and tanween with fathah as “ā”. Hafs also makes four sakt: pauses without taking a breath.
The rules, one by one
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Waqf Signs
علامات الوقفStop signs are small markers above the line: they show where to stop, where to carry on and where to choose, to keep the meaning.
Six signs: the small mīm (stop required), qalā (stop better), jīm (stop allowed), ṣalā (joining better), the three dots in pairs (stop at one of the two places only) and lā (no stop).
4,359 times in the Quran -
Waqf (Stopping)
الوقفStopping is cutting the voice at the end of a word to take a breath, intending to carry on: the last letter loses its vowel.
At the end of a verse, at a stop sign that allows it, or when breath runs out; never in the middle of a word.
6,216 times in the Quran
One example per rule
Tap ▶ to hear the word in its verse, recited by al-Husary.
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عَنْهُمْ ۘ يَوْمَ
ʿanhum | yawma
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ٱلْأَبْتَرُ
l-abtar
Each rule in numbers
| Rule | In the Quran | Surahs |
|---|---|---|
| Waqf Signs | 4,359 | 84 |
| Waqf (Stopping) | 6,216 | 114 |
Counted on the text of the Madani Mushaf (Hafs reading).
Calculated by Tilawa on the text of the Madinah Mushaf (Hafs reading): every verse ending (without the verses made only of opening letters) and every stop sign written between two words.
Frequently asked questions
How many stop signs and verse endings are there?
4,359 stop signs written between two words, and 6,216 verse endings where one stops, counted on the text of the Madinah Mushaf.
Waqf Signs or Waqf (Stopping): what is the difference?
Waqf Signs: stop signs are small markers above the line: they show where to stop, where to carry on and where to choose, to keep the meaning. Waqf (Stopping): stopping is cutting the voice at the end of a word to take a breath, intending to carry on: the last letter loses its vowel.
Where is one allowed to stop?
At the end of every verse, and at the signs of the Mushaf that allow it. If breath runs out elsewhere, stop, then start again a little earlier, where the sentence holds together. Never stop in the middle of a word.
What is sakt?
A short pause, without taking a breath, before carrying on. By the way of the Shatibiyyah, that of the Madinah Mushaf, Hafs makes four, when joining: 18:1, 36:52, 75:27 and 83:14. At 69:28, two ways are transmitted.
How can I check my tajweed when I recite?
Tajweed is learned by ear: you need to hear yourself. Recite out loud in the Tilawa app, on iPhone or Android. It follows your recitation word by word and shows you the rules you missed or got wrong, with the correct recitation to replay.
Tilawa editorial team · Updated 2026-10-24 · Report an error