Stopping in the wrong place can change the meaning. These small signs help children stop correctly.
Signs in the Madinah Mushaf
| Sign | Meaning |
|---|---|
| مـ | Must stop (continuing could change the meaning) |
| لا | Don’t stop here |
| ج | Stopping or continuing are equal |
| صلى | Continuing is better |
| قلى | Stopping is better |
| ∴ … ∴ | Stop at one of the two places, not both |
The end of a verse
The circle () marks the end of a verse; pausing there is Sunnah. See verse numbers.
Other Mushafs
South Asian (Indo-Pak) Mushafs use some different symbols, such as ط and ز. Check the key at the back of your Mushaf. See Mushaf styles.
How to stop and restart
- Stopping changes the ending. See stopping on endings.
- If you run out of breath mid-verse, go back a few words and restart from a sensible place.
Teaching order
- The verse-end circle.
- م and لا.
- ج, صلى and قلى.
- The paired dots.
Teacher’s tip: ask your child to circle the stopping signs on one page in pencil and say what each means. Two pages and they’ll know them.
Related: Adding vowels when stopping.
