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Madd Badal

مدّ البدل

“badal”: replacement; in most of these words, the long vowel replaces a second hamzah

Lesson 5.6 · Module 5 · Madd

Madd Badal (مدّ البدل): madd badal is a long vowel that comes right after a hamzah: first the hamzah, then the lengthening. A hamzah, then a long-vowel letter (ا و ي). If a hamzah follows the long vowel, or a sukoon, even the one of a stop, the stronger madd applies: lazim, muttasil, ʿarid or munfasil.

What does Madd Badal mean?

Madd Badal (مدّ البدل): “badal”: replacement; in most of these words, the long vowel replaces a second hamzah

A long vowel that comes right after a hamzah, in the same word. In Hafs it is held for two counts, like a natural madd; when a hamzah or a sukoon follows the long vowel, the stronger madd takes over.

Madd Badal: when does it apply?

A hamzah, then a long-vowel letter (ا و ي). If a hamzah follows the long vowel, or a sukoon, even the one of a stop, the stronger madd applies: lazim, muttasil, ʿarid or munfasil.

The three madd letters

How to pronounce Madd Badal

Say the hamzah clearly, then hold the long vowel for two counts, like a natural madd.

The gesture
A clean stop deep in the throat for the hamzah, then the voice held for two counts on the long vowel.
Avoid
Stretching it to four or six counts: in Hafs, madd badal stays short, two counts. The longer lengths belong to other readings.
The condition
The stronger madd wins: lazim, then muttasil, then ʿarid, then munfasil, then badal. So badal only counts where nothing else lengthens the vowel.

The length, by ear

Two counts: no more, no less: the time of two short vowels.

ءَامَنُوا۟ Al-'Asr 103:3

One count is the length of a short vowel.

Where the letters come from

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

12 examples of Madd Badal in the Quran

Short surahs first. Tap ▶ to hear Madd Badal in its verse, recited by al-Husary.

Madd Badal: common mistakes

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

  1. Lengthening it to four or six counts: in Hafs, it is held for two counts.

    The right model · Quraysh 106:1

  2. Swallowing the hamzah: it is said clearly, before the long vowel.

    The right model · Quraysh 106:2

  3. Confusing it with madd muttasil: in badal the hamzah comes before the long vowel; in muttasil it comes after, and it lasts four or five counts.

    The right model · Quraysh 106:4

  4. Cutting the long vowel down to a short one: it keeps its two counts.

    The right model · Al-Bayyinah 98:4

Madd Badal and neighbouring rules

RuleWhenWhat happens
Madd Badal A hamzah, then a long-vowel letter (ا و ي). If a hamzah follows the long vowel, or a sukoon, even the one of a stop, the stronger madd applies: lazim, muttasil, ʿarid or munfasil. Madd badal is a long vowel that comes right after a hamzah: first the hamzah, then the lengthening.
Madd Muttasil When the long vowel and the hamzah are in the same word. Inside one word, a long vowel followed by a hamzah is held four or five counts.
Madd Tabee'ee An alif, wāw or yā extending the vowel before it, and no hamzah or vowelless letter after. A long vowel with no hamzah or sukoon after it is held two counts.

By ear: two words that sound alike

Two words that sound alike: one is read with Madd Badal, the other with Madd Muttasil. Listen for the difference.

Your turn: which rule?

By eye

The highlighted letters carry a rule. Which one?

  1. ءَامَنُوا۟

    'āmanū

    At-Tin 95:6

  2. جَآءَ

    jā'a

    An-Nasr 110:1

  3. ءَامَنُوا۟

    'āmanū

    Al-Bayyinah 98:7

  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

Madd Badal in numbers

1,853times in the Quran

91surahs

Where to practise: the surahs of 20 verses or fewer with the most Madd Badal
SurahVersesMadd Badal
49. Al-Hujurat 18 11
65. At-Talaq 12 10
60. Al-Mumtahanah 13 9
61. As-Saf 14 8
73. Al-Muzzammil 20 7

Calculated by Tilawa on the text of the Madinah Mushaf (Hafs reading), each verse read in one go and stopped at its end: every long vowel right after a hamzah, except where a stronger madd wins (a hamzah or a sukoon after it, the stop at the end of a verse).

Frequently asked questions

What is Madd Badal in tajweed?

A hamzah, then a long vowel: two counts in Hafs, unless a stronger madd applies.

When does Madd Badal apply?

A hamzah, then a long-vowel letter (ا و ي). If a hamzah follows the long vowel, or a sukoon, even the one of a stop, the stronger madd applies: lazim, muttasil, ʿarid or munfasil. The stronger madd wins: lazim, then muttasil, then ʿarid, then munfasil, then badal. So badal only counts where nothing else lengthens the vowel.

How many times does Madd Badal occur in the Quran?

1,853 times, in 91 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: 11 in 18 verses.

Madd Badal or Madd Muttasil: what is the difference?

Madd Badal: madd badal is a long vowel that comes right after a hamzah: first the hamzah, then the lengthening. Madd Muttasil: inside one word, a long vowel followed by a hamzah is held four or five counts.

Madd Badal: 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 Madd Badal was missed or done wrong, with the word to replay in its verse.

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