Joining Group - ALEF MAQSURAH

ALEF MAQSURAH is a joining group that applies to the Arabic letter U+0649, often called "alef maqsurah" or "dotless yeh," which functions as a long vowel /aː/ word-finally. In script shaping, it behaves like a connector, taking initial, medial, and final forms, but its joining group determines how it links with neighboring letters: it connects on both sides when in the middle, yet at word end, it only joins to the preceding letter, never to a following one. This specific grouping distinguishes it from other Arabic letters, such as the regular alef (which does not join forward) or the true yeh (which has different contextual forms and joins differently in cursive text). Crucially, the value signifies that alef maqsurah always maintains a right‑joining behavior, meaning it never initiates a connective stroke to a following character, ensuring correct rendering in Persian, Urdu, and Arabic script systems.