Obligatory letter prolongation, heavy

The mechanic

Among the disjointed letters that open some surahs, a letter whose spelled-out name is three letters long and whose final sakin letter merges into the letter named next. In الٓمٓ the lam carries the madd sign and its closing meem folds into the meem that follows.

Where it occurs

Its condition, and how the mushaf marks it

• ٓU+0653

Length, as reported

Six harakat is reported; a minority report four for the harfi type.

A place in the text

الٓمٓ

The marked spot was located in this ayah's own text at build time — Al-Baqarah 2:1.