Madd Farq

The differentiating madd (مَدُّ الْفَرْقِ) occurs if a questioning hamzah أ is followed by a connecting hamzah ا in the word اللَّهُ or in other names with the definite article اَلْ, so, in this case the connecting hamzah is substituted to alif أ.

It is called differentiating because it differentiates a questioning hamzah from a connecting hamzah. It is also called «the necessary stretch in a word» (al-madd al-laazim al-qalimiy الْمَدُّ اللَّازِم الْكَلِمِيُّ).

For example:

It should be extended for 6 counts. The differentiating madd is found in only 6 places in the Quran:

1. Surah 6 al-An’am, ayahs 143 and 144

2. Surah 10 Yunus, ayahs 51, 59, 91

3. Surah 27 an-Naml, ayah 59

Exercise:

Find the rule of differentiating madd in 142-143 ayahs of the surah al-An’am.

Questions:

1. What is the differentiating madd? 2. How many counts is it extended for? 3. In how many places in the Qur’an is it found?