The Length of Madd in the Word “Allah”

Question

I had a debate here with a certain religious scholar about how long the madd (prolongation) should be in the word “Allah” — equal to [one] alif or less. Some say that madd is not permissible here at all, and that madd for glorification is specific only to [the words] “La ilaha illa Allah.” How does this matter stand in the science of qira’a (recitation)? What is the practice of the people of India and of the Arabs in this regard?

Answer

[ar]المد في اسم الجلالة (الله) مد طبعي في حالة الوصل مقدار الف، كما قال في خلاصة البيان، ص ۲۱: والمد الطبعي وهو اطالة المدة بحسب الطبع مع عدم السبب، ومقداره بقدر الف لا ازيد ولا انقص، سواء كانت المدة مرسومة نحو قال يقول قيل أم لا نحو رحمن الخ.[/ar] The madd in the word of majesty (“Allah”) in the state of wasl (joining with what follows) is a natural madd (madd tabi‘i)

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

Preview. The full text opens with JavaScript enabled.