The huroof muqatta’at lesson in the Noorani Qaida teaches children to read the disjointed letters that open 29 surahs of the Quran, such as الم (Alif Lam Mim) and يس (Ya Sin). Unlike normal words, these letters are read by their names, not their sounds, and some names are stretched for 2 counts while others are stretched for 6. In most editions this is the third lesson of the Noorani Qaida, and in our Qaida lessons with a teacher it is where children first realize that the letters they have been learning appear exactly as they are in the mushaf.
This guide explains which letters are included, how each combination is read, the simple rule for counting the stretch, and how to teach the lesson to a young child without confusion.
Key takeaways
- Muqatta’at means “disjointed”: letters written together but read one by one by their names.
- Only 14 letters of the alphabet are used, in 14 different combinations, at the start of 29 surahs.
- Letters whose names have three letters with a madd in the middle (like Lam, Mim, Sin) stretch 6 counts; two letter names (like Ha, Ya) stretch 2 counts.
- Alif is read without any stretch, and ‘Ayn may be stretched 4 or 6 counts.
Where This Lesson Fits in the Noorani Qaida
The Noorani Qaida builds reading skills step by step. Lesson 1 teaches the single letters and their correct sounds, Lesson 2 teaches how letters change shape when they are joined, and the muqatta’at lesson brings both together. If your child has not yet finished the earlier steps, start with our guides to Noorani Qaida Lesson 1: the single letters and Lesson 2: joined letters.
This lesson matters for two reasons. First, it is a review: the child must recognize letters inside joined shapes like كهيعص. Second, it is the child’s first meeting with real Quranic text and with the idea of stretching a sound for a fixed number of counts, which prepares them for madd later in the Qaida.
The 14 Letters of the Muqatta’at
Out of the 28 letters of the Arabic alphabet, exactly half appear in the disjointed letters:
ا ل م ص ر ك ه ي ع ط س ح ق ن
Many teachers help students remember them with the Arabic phrase نَصٌّ حَكِيمٌ قَاطِعٌ لَهُ سِرٌّ, which contains all 14 letters. Before practicing the combinations, it helps to review each of these letters on its own, including how it looks at the start, middle and end of a word.
Arabic Letter Shapes Trainer
Tap any letter to see its name and its shapes at the start, middle and end
The 14 Combinations and the Surahs They Open
The 14 letters appear in 14 different combinations. Some open a single surah, while others open several:
| Combination | How it is read | Surahs |
|---|---|---|
| الم | Alif, Laaam, Miiim | Al-Baqarah, Al Imran, Al-‘Ankabut, Ar-Rum, Luqman, As-Sajdah |
| المص | Alif, Laaam, Miiim, Saaad | Al-A’raf |
| الر | Alif, Laaam, Ra | Yunus, Hud, Yusuf, Ibrahim, Al-Hijr |
| المر | Alif, Laaam, Miiim, Ra | Ar-Ra’d |
| كهيعص | Kaaaf, Ha, Ya, ‘Ayn, Saaad | Maryam |
| طه | Ta, Ha | Ta Ha |
| طسم | Ta, Siiin, Miiim | Ash-Shu’ara, Al-Qasas |
| طس | Ta, Siiin | An-Naml |
| يس | Ya, Siiin | Ya Sin |
| ص | Saaad | Sad |
| حم | Ha, Miiim | Ghafir, Fussilat, Ash-Shura, Az-Zukhruf, Ad-Dukhan, Al-Jathiyah, Al-Ahqaf |
| عسق | ‘Ayn, Siiin, Qaaaf | Ash-Shura (after حم) |
| ق | Qaaaf | Qaf |
| ن | Nuuun | Al-Qalam |
The long vowels in the table (aaa, iii, uuu) show where the reader stretches the sound. Count them: 6 + 1 + 5 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 2 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 7 + 1 + 1 = 29 surahs. Surah Ash-Shura is the only surah that opens with two sets, حم and then عسق on the next ayah.
How to Read the Muqatta’at: The Counting Rule
Every letter has a name. When you write the name out in Arabic, it has either two letters or three letters, and that decides how long you stretch it.
Six counts: three letter names with a madd in the middle
Eight letters have names made of three letters with a madd letter in the middle: ن ق ص ع س ل ك م. Teachers often group them in the phrase نَقَصَ عَسَلُكُمْ. For example, Mim is written ميم and Sin is written سين. These are stretched for 6 counts (madd lazim), so “Mim” becomes “Miiiiiim”. The one exception in this group is ‘Ayn, explained below.
Two counts: two letter names
Five letters have names of only two letters: ح ي ط ه ر, grouped in the phrase حَيٌّ طَهُرَ. Ha (حا), Ya (يا), Ta (طا), Ha (ها) and Ra (را) are stretched for 2 counts, the natural length of a long vowel (madd tabi’i).
No stretch: Alif
Alif is written ألف. Its name has three letters, but there is no madd letter in the middle, so it is simply read “Alif” with no stretching at all.
‘Ayn: 4 or 6 counts
‘Ayn is written عين. The middle letter is a ya with sukun after a fatha, which makes a softer madd called madd lin. In the riwayah of Hafs ‘an ‘Asim, it may be stretched 4 or 6 counts, and 6 is the more commonly taught choice. For young children, teachers usually pick one length and keep it consistent. You will study these lengths in more detail later, in the madd lessons of the Qaida.
Read the names, not the sounds. The most common mistake is reading الم as the word “alam” instead of “Alif Lam Mim.” Remind your child: if a surah begins with these letters, we say each letter’s name, the way we say A, B, C in English.
A Step-by-Step Way to Teach This Lesson
Children aged 4 to 7 usually need one to two weeks of short daily practice to read this lesson smoothly. Here is a simple sequence that works:
- Review the 14 letters alone. Point to each letter and ask for its name, not its sound.
- Sort them into groups. Make three piles of cards: “6 counts,” “2 counts,” and “Alif.” Children enjoy sorting, and it fixes the rule in their minds.
- Count on fingers. For six counts, the child raises one finger at a time while holding the sound. This keeps the length even.
- Read the short combinations first. Start with طه, يس, حم and ص before longer ones.
- Move to the long ones. Finish with المص, المر and كهيعص, splitting the joined shape into its letters before reading.
- Listen to a reciter. Play the opening of Surah Al-Baqarah or Ya Sin and let the child hear the stretch in real recitation.
- Find them in the mushaf. Open to the surahs in the table and let your child “discover” the letters at the top of each one.
Keep sessions to 10 or 15 minutes for young children. Our article on teaching Noorani Qaida to 3 to 6 year olds has more ideas for keeping little learners engaged.
A Note on Joined Sounds (for Older Learners)
When these letters are recited in the Quran, a few small tajweed rules apply between the names. In الم, for example, the mim at the end of “Lam” merges into the mim of “Mim,” so it is recited with a nasal sound (ghunnah): “Alif Laaam-Miiim.” A teacher will model these details by ear. Children do not need the rule names yet; they only need to copy the correct sound.
What Do the Muqatta’at Mean?
Parents and older children often ask this. Scholars have discussed the disjointed letters for centuries, and many hold that their exact meaning is known only to Allah. Others noted that they show the Quran is made of the same letters the Arabs used, yet no one could produce anything like it. With children, it is enough to say: “Allah put these letters here, and we read them the way the Prophet (peace be upon him) taught us.”
Learning the Lesson With a Teacher
The counting rule is simple on paper, but children often rush the 6 counts or stretch the 2 count letters too long. A teacher listening live catches this immediately, before it becomes a habit. Our online Noorani Qaida course for kids moves through each lesson at your child’s pace, and you can learn more about why this foundation matters in the benefits of learning Qaida Noorania.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are huroof muqatta’at in Noorani Qaida?
They are the disjointed letters found at the start of 29 surahs, such as الم and يس. The Noorani Qaida includes them as an early lesson so children practice reading letters by name and recognizing them inside joined shapes.
How many huroof muqatta’at are there?
There are 14 letters, used in 14 different combinations, at the beginning of 29 surahs. The 14 letters are ا ل م ص ر ك ه ي ع ط س ح ق ن.
Why is Alif not stretched in Alif Lam Mim?
The name Alif (ألف) has three letters, but its middle letter is not a madd letter, so there is nothing to stretch. Lam and Mim do have a madd letter in the middle of their names, so they are stretched 6 counts.
Which lesson of Noorani Qaida is the muqatta’at lesson?
In most common editions it is Lesson 3, after the single letters and the joined letters. Some printed versions number the lessons slightly differently, but the order of skills is the same.
Can my child learn this lesson online?
Yes. With live Noorani Qaida classes for kids, the teacher shows each combination on screen, counts the stretch with your child and corrects pronunciation instantly. You can book a free trial class to see how it works.
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