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Hamzat al-Qat'

همزة قطع

The cutting hamzah

Lesson 7.5 · Module 7 · The article and the hamza

Hamzat al-Qat' (همزة قطع): a hamzah that is always said: when you start reading and when you join from the word before. Any written hamzah (أ إ ء ؤ ئ), at the start, middle or end of a word. The alif topped with a small sign (ٱ) is not one: it is hamzat al-wasl.

What does Hamzat al-Qat' mean?

Hamzat al-Qat' (همزة قطع): the cutting hamzah

A hamzah that is always said: when recitation begins on its word, and when it is joined to the word before. It is written أ, إ, ء, ؤ or ئ, never ٱ.

Hamzat al-Qat': when does it apply?

Any written hamzah (أ إ ء ؤ ئ), at the start, middle or end of a word. The alif topped with a small sign (ٱ) is not one: it is hamzat al-wasl.

How to pronounce Hamzat al-Qat'

Say the hamzah clearly, with a small catch of the voice deep in the throat, even when you come from the word before.

The gesture
The voice is shut off for an instant deep in the throat, then released on the vowel that follows.
Avoid
Do not drop it when joining as with hamzat al-wasl, and do not turn it into a ʿayn or a mere breath.
The condition
It is said everywhere. Only hamzat al-wasl (ٱ) drops when you come from the word before. One exception in Hafs: in 41:44, the second of two hamzahs in a row is softened (tas-hīl), without being dropped.

Where the letters come from

Each point is shown on the mouth map, and each letter has its own page.

12 examples of Hamzat al-Qat' in the Quran

Short surahs first. Each hamzah starts its word and is shown with the word before: it is said even when joining. Tap ▶ to hear Hamzat al-Qat' in its verse, recited by al-Husary.

Hamzat al-Qat': common mistakes

What is often heard, and how to fix it. The ▶ plays the right model, recited by al-Husary.

  1. Dropping it when joining, as with hamzat al-wasl: the voice runs on without marking it.

    The right model · An-Nasr 110:2

  2. Saying it like a ʿayn, too tight in the middle of the throat.

    The right model · Al-Ikhlas 112:1

  3. Replacing it with a mere breath or blending it into the nearby vowel.

    The right model · Al-Ikhlas 112:4

Hamzat al-Qat' and neighbouring rules

RuleWhenWhat happens
Hamzat al-Qat' Any written hamzah (أ إ ء ؤ ئ), at the start, middle or end of a word. The alif topped with a small sign (ٱ) is not one: it is hamzat al-wasl. A hamzah that is always said: when you start reading and when you join from the word before.
Hamzat al-Wasl At the start of a word, on the alif topped with a small sign (ٱ), as in “al”. The joining hamzah (ٱ), at the start of some words: said if you begin on that word, not if you read on.
Lam Qamariyyah When “al” is followed by one of these letters: ء ب غ ح ج ك و خ ف ع ق ي م ه. In “al”, before one of the 14 moon letters, the lām is said clearly, with its sukūn.

By ear: two words that sound alike

Two words that sound alike: one is read with Hamzat al-Qat', the other with Hamzat al-Wasl. Listen for the difference.

Your turn: which rule?

By eye

The highlighted letters carry a rule. Which one?

  1. أَعْطَيْنَـٰكَ

    'aʿṭaynāka

    Al-Kawthar 108:1

  2. وَٱلْعَصْرِ

    wal-ʿaṣr

    Al-'Asr 103:1

  3. إِنَّهُۥ

    innahū

    An-Nasr 110:3

  4. ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ

    l-insāna

    Al-'Asr 103:2

By ear

Listen, then choose the rule you hear. The word appears after you answer.

Practise: tajweed exercises with answers

Hamzat al-Qat' in numbers

19,170times in the Quran

114surahs

Where to practise: the surahs of 20 verses or fewer with the most Hamzat al-Qat'
SurahVersesHamzat al-Qat'
49. Al-Hujurat 18 109
60. Al-Mumtahanah 13 105
65. At-Talaq 12 73
66. At-Tahrim 12 59
64. At-Taghabun 18 57

Computed by Tilawa on the text of the Madani Mushaf (Hafs reading), from the letter that follows.

Frequently asked questions

What is Hamzat al-Qat' in tajweed?

Hamzat al-qatʿ is always said, when starting and when joining: that is what sets it apart from hamzat al-wasl.

When does Hamzat al-Qat' apply?

Any written hamzah (أ إ ء ؤ ئ), at the start, middle or end of a word. The alif topped with a small sign (ٱ) is not one: it is hamzat al-wasl. It is said everywhere. Only hamzat al-wasl (ٱ) drops when you come from the word before. One exception in Hafs: in 41:44, the second of two hamzahs in a row is softened (tas-hīl), without being dropped.

How many times does Hamzat al-Qat' occur in the Quran?

19,170 times, in 114 surahs, as computed by Tilawa on the text of the Madani Mushaf (Hafs reading). Among the surahs of 20 verses or fewer, Al-Hujurat has the most: 109 in 18 verses.

Hamzat al-Qat' or Hamzat al-Wasl: what is the difference?

Hamzat al-Qat': a hamzah that is always said: when you start reading and when you join from the word before. Hamzat al-Wasl: the joining hamzah (ٱ), at the start of some words: said if you begin on that word, not if you read on.

Hamzat al-Qat': how do I know I apply it correctly?

A rule is learned by ear: recite a surah out loud in the Tilawa app, which follows your recitation word by word and shows you where Hamzat al-Qat' was missed or done wrong, with the word to replay in its verse.

Tilawa editorial team · Updated 2026-10-24 · Report an error