Separated prolongation

When a word ends in a long vowel and the next word begins with a hamzah, the two are 'separated' — the cause of lengthening sits in a different word from the vowel itself. Because the cause is external, readers disagree sharply about whether to lengthen at all. This is the most conspicuous difference between the readings to an ordinary listener: it is why Warsh and Ḥamzah sound unhurried and Ibn Kathīr and Abū Jaʿfar sound brisk.