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The difference between hamzat al-wasl and hamzat al-qat‘: hamzat al-wasl (the connecting hamza) is pronounced when you start reading from its word but is dropped in the middle of speech, while hamzat al-qat‘ (the cutting hamza) is always pronounced, whether you start with it or continue. In the Mushaf, hamzat al-qat‘ is written with a small ‘ayn head (ء) above or below the alif, and hamzat al-wasl is marked with a small ṣād above the alif in many Mushafs.
| Hamzat al-wasl | Hamzat al-qat‘ | |
|---|---|---|
| When starting | Pronounced | Pronounced |
| In the middle of speech | Dropped, not pronounced | Pronounced |
| Examples | الْحَمْدُ، اهْدِنَا، اسْمُ | أَنْعَمْتَ، إِنَّ، أُولَئِكَ |
Where hamzat al-wasl occurs
- In the definite article (al-): e.g. الْكِتَابُ, الشَّمْسُ.
- In a fixed list of nouns; those found in the Quran are: ibn, ibnat, imri’, imra’ah, ithnayn, ithnatayn, ism.
- In verbs: the past tense of five- and six-letter verbs, their imperative and verbal noun, e.g. انْطَلَقَ, اسْتَغْفِرْ, and the imperative of three-letter verbs, e.g. اذْهَبْ.
Which vowel do you start hamzat al-wasl with?
| Case | Vowel when starting | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Definite article | Fatha | الْحَمْدُ |
| Nouns | Kasra | اِبْنَ، اِسْمُ |
| Verb whose third letter has an original damma | Damma | اُنْظُرْ، اُخْرُجْ |
| Verb whose third letter has fatha or kasra | Kasra | اِذْهَبْ، اِضْرِبْ |
Exception: when the damma is only incidental, as in امْشُوا, ائْتُوا, اقْضُوا and ابْنُوا, you start with kasra, because the damma on the third letter is not original.
Why this chapter matters
- Stopping and then starting again from a word with hamzat al-wasl requires knowing the correct vowel.
- Pronouncing hamzat al-wasl in the middle of speech is a common mistake that breaks the flow of recitation.
- Dropping hamzat al-qat‘ is a bigger mistake that can change the meaning.
To know where to stop and how to start again, read stopping signs in the Quran. For an overview of all rules, see the tajweed rules chart.
Learn it in practice with a teacher
Tajweed is learned by listening and reciting to a teacher; reading about the rules is not enough. At Al-Azhar Message Academy you recite to a male or female Al-Azhar graduate who holds an ijazah with a connected sanad, and who listens and corrects you in one-to-one lessons on Zoom or Google Meet. The subscription starts at $40 per month for 8 lessons, and the first trial lesson is free. See our online tajweed course.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
How do I tell hamzat al-wasl from hamzat al-qat‘ in the Mushaf?
Hamzat al-qat‘ carries a small ‘ayn head (ء); hamzat al-wasl is marked with a small ṣād in many Mushafs and is not pronounced when you continue reading.
Which vowel do I start اهدنا with?
With kasra: “ihdinā”, because the third letter of the verb has kasra.
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Why do we start امشوا with kasra although its third letter has damma?
Because the damma on the shīn is incidental (it comes from the following wāw); the original vowel is kasra.
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