Prolongation and Shortening Rules

Definition of Prolongation

Definition of Shortening

Prolongation types

Definition of Prolongation

Meaning: increasing.

Explanation: it is to lengthen a sound of one of Prolongation letters or one of two light (Layen) letters.

Prolongation Letters:

Non-voweled "ا" following an "َ" /æ/ vowel

Non-voweled "" following an "ِ" /e/ vowel

Non-voweled "و" following "ُ" /ↄ/ vowel

Light (Layen) Letters:

Non-voweled "" following an " َ " / æ/ vowel, like: خوْف

Non-voweled "ی" following an "َ" / æ / vowel: صيْف

Definition of Shortening

Meaning: Opposite of Lengthening.

Explanation: There are two explanations:

- Limiting the prolongation to two counts of duration. Like the subordinate prolongation is shortened according to Hafs to two counts.

- Having no prolongation, while it is optional to choose to have a prolongation or not. Like the "ا" in the word (أناْ) that is prolonged in stop case and shortened in connection case.

Kinds of Prolongation

There are two kinds of it: Original (natural) and Subordinate.

1. Original Prolongation:

A prolongation that the letter cannot be perfect without it and there is no external cause for it.

It can be defined as a prolongation which there is no hamzah "ء" or non-voweled letter after it. It is stretched two counts.

It is known as natural prolongation because it naturally is stretched exactly two counts, not more not less. It is called original prolongation for its being the origin of all prolongations and it never can be non-voweled.

Some have declared the duration of it as being equal to pronouncing two consecutive letters " قَ قَ ".

Original prolongation also can be divided into several types:

a- Constant Natural prolongation in connection or stop situations.

b- Constant Natural Prolongation just in Connection situation.

c- Constant Natural Prolongation just in Connection case.

d- Literal Natural Prolongation in the alphabetic beginning verses of some chapters.

2. Subordinate Prolongation:

It is a prolongation that has an external cause for its duration, and is not an attribute of the letter.

There are two kinds of this prolongation:

a. Subordinate Prolongation caused by a Hamzah. There are three kind of them:

- Substitute Prolongation.

- Connected Necessary Prolongation.

- Separated Allowed Prolongation.

b. Subordinate Prolongation, due to a non-voweled letter. Two kinds:

- Necessary (a prolongation whose non-vowelness is original and unchangeable).

- Prolongation resulted by phenomenal (accidental) Non-vowelness (a prolongation whose non-vowelness is temporary; it exists in sopping case and disappears while connection).

Description of each kind will come in next chapters.

Note: Hamzah and non-vowelness are the verbal causes of subordinate prolongation. There is another meaning cause for prolongation, but it doesn't exist in Hafs-Asim-Shatibiyah relation. Meaning cause is a quest for exaggerating in negation. For example, prolongation for magnifying the meaning as in ﴿لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ﴾ or rejection prolongation in ﴿لاَ رَيْبَ فِيهِ﴾.