As you recite the Quran, you must have noticed different symbols that are placed in various positions throughout the Quranic verses but do you know what these symbols mean?
In this blog post, we will decipher these Quran symbols and explain their meaning so that you know how to improve your fluency in quran recitation.
Symbols in Quran
Quran signs are placed in different positions to assist the reader in their recitation of the Quran because they tell you when it is necessary to pause or to continue your recitation. Other Quranic symbols denote a certain way of pronouncing specific letters or highlighting certain Tajweed rules.
Signs in the Quran and Their Meaning
First, we will address the first group of Quran signs which are the Stop Signs in the Quran, and their meanings. The significance of these signs lies in the fact that they prevent any alteration in the meanings of verses whether by delivering an incomplete meaning or giving a false one. Here’s a detailed account of these signs:
| Symbol | Name | Meaning |
| ۘ | Waqf Lazim | Refers to an obligatory stop |
| ۗ | Waqf Kafi | Means both pause and continuation are acceptable but stopping is much preferred |
| ۚ | Waqf Ja’iz | Means that both stopping and continuing are possible without one being preferred over the other |
| ۛ | Embracing Stop | Found at two places in the verse and denotes that you can pause at either one but not both |
| ۖ | Waqf Hassan | Both stopping and continuation are optional but it is preferred to continue reciting |
| ۙ | Waqf Mamnu’ | Prohibited Stop |
The second group of Quranic symbols are signs that obligate the reciter to pronounce letters in a certain way under the rules of Tajweed. Here are some examples:
| Symbol | Meaning |
| ۜ | If it is placed above the letter (ص), this means that it needs to be pronounced as (س) |
| ۣ | If it is placed under the letter (ص), then it must be pronounced as a normal (ص) |
| م | Different from the mandatory stop sign, this symbol means that you need to apply the rule of Iqlab; changing the Noon Sakin or Tanween into meem (م) accompanied by the nasal sound of Ghunnah since it is followed by the letter (ب) |
| ۫ | This is a sign of Ishmam which means that the reciter needs to purse their lips as if pronouncing a Dhammah but it does not affect the pronunciation. |
| ۤ | Madd sign to indicate the elongation of a vowel beyond the length of the natural Madd (مد طبيعي) |
The last group of Quran symbols points out certain places within the verses of the Quran such as:
| Symbol | Meaning |
| ۩ | This sign denotes a Sajdah; the reciter needs to pause their recitation and prostrate when they reach this sign in the verse |
| | This sign is found at the end of every verse in the Quran and it contains the number of the verse inside it |
| ۞ | Indicates the start of a quarter, half or three quarter of a Hizb and can also be found at the beginning of a Juz’ |
How to Practice Quranic Symbols During Recitation
This might seem confusing at the beginning but we’ll provide some tips to help you apply the meanings of these symbols during recitation:
1. Learn the symbols and their meaning
The first step is learning the form and meaning of each symbol by studying them in the previously mentioned groups. They are not so hard to grasp once you link the symbol with its meaning.
2. Listen and Imitate
It is handy to listen to the recitation of famous Qari’s while looking at the Mushaf. You can listen to the same verse multiple times and track when the Qari’ paused and when they continued their recitation. It also helps to track the manner of pronunciation they follow as they practice these Quran symbols.
3. Practice with a Tutor
Practicing your recitation with qualified Egyptian quran teachers can improve how you apply the meaning of the Quranic symbols because they can simply explain the meaning of each symbol, give you feedback, and correct any mistakes. A tutor can also assist you in recognizing these symbols easily in your online quran recitation course.
4. Regular Revision
Keep a table of the symbols and their meanings and revise the information in it regularly so you don’t forget them easily. At first, you will need to go back and forth to check the meaning of each symbol but as you continue reciting, it will get easier.
5. Use Stopping Signs for Reflection
If you come across a stopping sign during recitation, make use of this stop to ponder over the meaning of the verse and develop a strong connection with it.
Conclusion
If you still need help in understanding or practicing the Quran symbols, you can choose our online courses at Almuhammadi Academy to assist you on how to improve your Quranic recitation. We have a selection of professional tutors who can make this task much easier with their regular feedback and assessment. Check out our courses now!
