Use four stages. (1) Identify whether the consonant is vowelled, unvowelled, or doubled. (2) Inspect neighbouring consonants: the letter after the article lām, nūn or mīm, or a madd letter. (3) Decide whether you are linking or stopping. (4) Protect the meaning and avoid unnecessary pauses inside tightly connected expressions.
For example, the final mīm in الرَّحِيمِ retains kasrah when linked, but becomes unvowelled at a pause. That change matters for madd.
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A four-step diagnostic routine
Al-Fātiḥah: Integrated Tajwīd, Madd and Pausing Practice
Use four stages. (1) Identify whether the consonant is vowelled, unvowelled, or doubled. (2) Inspect neighbouring consonants: the letter after the article lām, nūn or mīm, or a madd letter. (3) Decide whether you are linking or stopping. (4) Protect the meaning and avoid unnecessary pauses inside tightly connected expressions.
For example, the final mīm in الرَّحِيمِ retains kasrah when linked, but becomes unvowelled at a pause. That change matters for madd.