The shaddah is one of the most important marks in the Noorani Qaida, and it appears in the very first verse of the Quran.
What it looks like
ـّ
A small mark like a “w” above the letter. The vowel sign sits with it: above for fatha and damma, and often just below the shaddah for kasra.
What it does
It doubles the letter. Read it in two parts:
- the letter with a sukoon (stopped),
- then the letter again with its vowel.
رَبَّ → رَبْ + بَ → “rab-ba”.
English helps
Words like “rabbit”, “summer” and “happy” have doubled sounds. Ask your child to clap once on each half: “rab-bit”, “rab-ba”.
Shaddah in Al-Fatihah
- الرَّحْمٰنِ (ar-rahman): the ر is doubled after the sun-letter “al”.
- إِيَّاكَ (iyyaka): a double ي.
- الضَّالِّينَ (ad-dallin): two shaddahs in one word.
Why it matters
If the shaddah is skipped, the word can change. إِيَّاكَ (“You alone”) said without the doubling sounds like a different word altogether. Getting the shaddah right protects the meaning.
Shaddah on noon and meem
On نّ and مّ, the shaddah also brings a humming sound (ghunnah) held for two counts. See what is ghunnah?
Teacher’s tip: ask your child to tap the table twice for every shaddah they read. It slows them down just enough to say the letter twice.
