What is the correct way to pause between the verses of the Holy Quran, and do the places of pausing differ among reciters?

Stopping and starting (waqf and ibtida’) in the recitation of the Holy Qur’an is considered one of the most precise sciences that demonstrates the reciter's understanding of Allah's Book and reveals the secrets of its meanings. The Companion Ibn 'Umar, may Allah be pleased with them both, lamented those reciters who did not pay attention to this science, pointing out that the Companions used to learn faith before the Qur'an and where one should stop, while some now recite the Qur'an without understanding its verses or the correct places to stop.

Incorrect stopping carries extreme danger in distorting and altering the meaning, such as stopping at "qālū" (they said) in the verse: (لَقَدْ سَمِعَ اللَّهُ قَوْلَ الَّذِينَ قَالُوا إِنَّ اللَّهَ فَقِيرٌ وَنَحْنُ أَغْنِيَاءُ) [Indeed, Allah has heard the saying of those who said, "Indeed, Allah is poor, and we are rich"] or incorrect stopping in the verse: (لِلَّذِينَ اسْتَجَابُوا لِرَبِّهِمُ الْحُسْنَى وَالَّذِينَ لَمْ يَسْتَجِيبُوا لَهُ) [For those who responded to their Lord is the best [reward], and for those who did not respond to Him]. Therefore, understanding stopping and starting requires a sound understanding of Allah's Book and careful consideration of the meanings of the verses.

Scholars have placed stop signs in the Qur'ans to facilitate matters for Muslims, clarifying the good stop (waqf hasan), the obligatory stop (waqf lāzim), and the prohibited stop (waqf mamnū'). Imam 'Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, emphasized that tartīl (measured recitation) includes perfecting the letters and knowing the stops.

Muslims in general are advised to follow the stop signs found in the Qur'ans, listen to recitations by renowned reciters who pay attention to tajwīd and stopping, and consult specialized books in this science.