Madd badal and madd ‘iwad are two short madds that both last two counts in the recitation of Hafs ‘an ‘Asim. Madd badal happens when a hamzah comes before a madd letter, as in ءَامَنُوا (aamanoo). Madd ‘iwad happens when you stop on a word ending in tanween fath, as in عَلِيمًا, which becomes “‘aleemaa” at the stop. They are easy to learn but easy to stretch too much or too little, which is why teachers in our one-to-one Tajweed lessons check them from the first week.
This guide explains where each madd comes from, how to recognize it in the mushaf, the cases where it changes into a different madd, and how to practice both until they feel natural.
Key takeaways
- Madd badal: hamzah first, then a madd letter, with no hamzah or sukun after it. Two counts in Hafs.
- Madd ‘iwad: stopping on tanween fath replaces the tanween with an alif held for two counts.
- Words ending in ta marbuta with tanween fath do not get madd ‘iwad; you stop on a soft “h”.
- If a hamzah or a sukun follows the badal letter, the stronger madd wins and the count changes.
Where These Two Madds Fit
Every madd begins with one of the three madd letters: alif after a fathah, waw sakinah after a dammah, or ya sakinah after a kasrah. When nothing special surrounds the madd letter, you have madd tabi’i, the natural two-count madd. When a hamzah or a sukun comes after the madd letter, you get the longer madds such as muttasil, munfasil, lazim and ‘arid lissukun.
Madd badal and madd ‘iwad sit in between. Each has a special cause (a hamzah before the letter, or a stop on tanween), yet in Hafs both keep the natural length of two counts. Many textbooks group them with madd tabi’i for this reason. If you want the full family tree, our overview of the types of madd in Tajweed shows how they all connect.
Madd Badal: The Hamzah Comes First
Why It Is Called “Badal”
Badal means substitution. In many of these words, the original form had two hamzahs in a row, the second one with a sukun. Arabic replaces that second, silent hamzah with a madd letter that matches the vowel before it:
| Original form | How it is read | Madd letter |
|---|---|---|
| أَأْمَنُوا | ءَامَنُوا (aamanoo) | alif |
| إِئْمَانًا | إِيمَانًا (eemaanan) | ya |
| أُؤْتُوا | أُوتُوا (ootoo) | waw |
So the madd letter literally stands in place of a hamzah. Scholars also include words where a hamzah is followed by a madd letter without any replaced hamzah, such as جَاءُوا (jaa’oo), رَءُوفٌ (ra’oofun) and مُتَّكِـِٔينَ (muttaki’een). These are sometimes called “resembling badal,” and in Hafs they are read exactly the same way: two counts.
How to Spot It in the Mushaf
Look for this order of letters: hamzah, then a madd letter, then a normal voweled letter. In many Uthmani mushafs, the alif after the hamzah appears as a small vertical alif or as an alif with a madd-like mark, so train your eye to see the hamzah first.
Common examples you will meet constantly:
- ءَادَمَ (Aadama), the name of the Prophet Adam
- ءَاتَى (aataa), “he gave”
- إِيمَٰنِهِمْ (eemaanihim)
- أُوتِىَ (ootiya), “was given”
- ٱلْأُولَىٰ (al-oolaa), “the first”
How Long Is Madd Badal in Hafs?
In the riwayah of Hafs ‘an ‘Asim via al-Shatibiyyah, madd badal is always two counts, the same length as madd tabi’i. Some other riwayat, such as Warsh, allow it to be lengthened further, which is why you may hear a longer badal in recordings from North and West Africa. If you are learning Hafs, keep it to a steady two.
When Badal Turns Into Another Madd
A badal letter can be followed by something that triggers a stronger madd. When that happens, the stronger rule takes over:
- A hamzah follows in the same word or the next word. The madd becomes muttasil or munfasil and gets their longer count. For example, in جَآءُوٓ أَبَاهُمْ (Surah Yusuf, 12:16), the waw comes after a hamzah but is followed by another hamzah, so it is read as madd munfasil.
- You stop on a word where the badal letter is followed by the last letter. In حُسْنَ مَـَٔابٍ, stopping on مَـَٔابْ puts a temporary sukun after the alif. It is now treated as madd ‘arid lissukun, with two, four or six counts. Our guide to madd ‘arid lissukun explains how to choose a length and keep it consistent.
There is also a badal that only appears when you start reading at certain words. In Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:283, the word ٱؤْتُمِنَ joins the previous word in continuous reading. If you begin at it, you pronounce a starting hamzah with a dammah, and the silent hamzah becomes a waw: “ootumina,” with a two-count badal.
Use the finder below to test yourself: choose what comes before or after the madd letter and check the type and count you should give it.
Madd Type and Count Finder
Choose what comes before or after the madd letter to see its type and length
Madd ‘Iwad: The Stop on Tanween Fath
Why It Is Called “‘Iwad”
‘Iwad means compensation. When you stop on a word that ends in tanween fath, you cannot pronounce the tanween (the final “n” sound) at a stop. Instead, you drop the “n” and hold the fathah as an alif for two counts. The alif compensates for the tanween you removed.
| Written | Read when continuing | Read when stopping |
|---|---|---|
| عَلِيمًا | ‘aleeman | ‘aleemaa |
| بَصِيرًا | baseeran | baseeraa |
| أَبَدًا | abadan | abadaa |
| مَآءً | maa’an | maa’aa |
Notice the last row. In مَآءً the alif before the hamzah is a madd muttasil, and when you stop, a second, separate two-count alif appears after the hamzah as madd ‘iwad. Many Uthmani mushafs do not write an alif after the hamzah in this word, yet you still pronounce one at the stop.
The Big Exception: Ta Marbuta
Words that end in ta marbuta with tanween fath never take madd ‘iwad. You stop on the ta marbuta as a soft ha with sukun:
- رَحْمَةً becomes “rahmah,” not “rahmataa”
- جَنَّةً becomes “jannah”
This is one of the most common beginner mistakes. If you see ة or ـة with two fathahs, think “h,” not “aa.”
Words That Sound Similar but Follow a Different Rule
A few words in Surah Al-Ahzab end with a written alif that is read at a stop and dropped in continuous reading, such as ٱلظُّنُونَا۠ (33:10), ٱلرَّسُولَا۠ (33:66) and ٱلسَّبِيلَا۠ (33:67). They sound like madd ‘iwad at the stop, but they have no tanween at all. Words ending in alif maqsurah with tanween, such as هُدًى, also end on a two-count “aa” at the stop. A teacher will point these out as you meet them so they do not confuse your rules.
Keep the two counts honest. At the end of an ayah, many students either cut madd ‘iwad short because they are rushing to breathe, or stretch it to four or six counts as if it were madd ‘arid lissukun. Madd ‘iwad is two counts, no more and no less, in Hafs.
Comparing Madd Badal and Madd ‘Iwad
| Madd badal | Madd ‘iwad | |
|---|---|---|
| Cause | Hamzah before the madd letter | Stopping on tanween fath |
| Length in Hafs | 2 counts | 2 counts |
| When it applies | Continuing and stopping | Only when stopping |
| Example | ءَامَنُوا | عَلِيمًا at a stop |
| Main trap | Turning into muttasil, munfasil or ‘arid | Applying it to ta marbuta |
How to Practice Both Madds
- Collect examples from short surahs. Juz Amma has many stops on tanween fath, which makes it ideal for madd ‘iwad practice.
- Tap your counts. Tap a finger for each count while you recite until two counts feel automatic.
- Read the same ayah twice. Read once while continuing and once while stopping, so you hear the tanween become an alif.
- Mark ta marbuta stops in pencil. A small mark reminds you to stop on “h” instead of “aa.”
- Record and compare. Listen to a trusted reciter, then compare your recording with theirs.
Once these two madds feel steady, the longer madds become easier, because you can hear the difference between two counts and four or six. Our article on madd lazim and its six-count rule is a good next step, and our practical guide to reading the Quran with Tajweed shows how to bring all the rules together. For live correction on every stop and every madd, you can join a personal Tajweed course at a time that suits you.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many counts is madd badal in Hafs?
Madd badal is two counts in the riwayah of Hafs ‘an ‘Asim via al-Shatibiyyah. It is the same length as madd tabi’i. Longer lengths for badal belong to other riwayat, such as Warsh.
Does madd ‘iwad apply when I continue reading?
No. Madd ‘iwad only happens when you stop on a word ending in tanween fath. When you continue, you pronounce the tanween as an “n” sound and apply the noon sakinah and tanween rules to the next letter.
Why don’t I stop with an alif on words like rahmatan?
Because the word ends in ta marbuta. At a stop, ta marbuta always becomes a ha sakinah, so رَحْمَةً is read “rahmah.” Madd ‘iwad only applies to tanween fath on other letters.
Is madd badal a natural madd or a secondary madd?
Technically it is caused by a hamzah, so many scholars class it as a secondary madd. Because its length in Hafs is two counts, textbooks often group it with madd tabi’i.
Can a teacher help me hear the difference online?
Yes. Small differences in length are much easier for a trained ear to catch than for you to notice yourself. In our online Tajweed rules course, your teacher listens to each stop and madd and corrects it on the spot.
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