Pausing and lengthening (madd) in the wrong places

Question

Our imam, during the recitation, does not stop where there is the end of a verse, and stops where there is no verse-end. Where there is a madd or a “standing” (vertical) alif he does not dwell, and he dwells where there is neither madd nor alif. He does not draw out the alif, and where there is no alif he draws the sound out.

Answer

Where there is the end of a verse it is good to pause; where there is no verse-end it is good not to pause. If the breath runs out in the wrong place, one may pause. One should not pause out of place without reason. Let madd be recited where there is madd; where there is no madd, madd should not be made: there is a risk of the meaning being distorted.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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