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Posted on 10/03/2021 | By al-dirassa | In Tajweed rules onlinecourses | 6 comments

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Introduction
We have studied the exit points of the letters (Makharij) previously. Now, it is fundamental to know
their different characteristics.
We call characteristic of a letter (sifaat ‫) ِﺻ َﻔﺎت‬, the state of this letter when pronounced. Previously,
we saw that several letters could leave the same exit point. Thus, their characteristics make it
possible to distinguish between letters when they are pronounced.
Some letters will sound soft. Some will sound hard. Some will need breathing, some will not, etc.
Why study the characteristics of letters – Sifat al Huruf?
We can derive 3 great benefits from learning these attributes:
This makes it possible to distinguish between several letters coming out of the same exit point
(makharij)
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T
 It allows you to differentiate between thin letters (muraqaqa) and emphatic letters
(mufakhama), which is useful when applying the rule of “assimilations” (al idgham).
It allows us to perfect our pronunciation.

Indeed, one can notice that for the letters with the same exit point (for example, the ‫ د‬and the ‫)ت‬,
it is enough to confuse a single characteristic so that one of these letters resembles the other. If a
little air is allowed to be blown out when pronouncing the ‫د‬, it will look like ‫ت‬.
By learning these characteristics – Sifaat, we will learn to respect all the elements that make up
these letters to give them all their purity until they are no longer confused with each other.
How many characteristics – Sifaat are we going to study?
Scholars have differed on the number of sifat. Among them, some have brought their number to 17
sifat. This is the opinion of Imam Ibn Al Jazary. Some have increased their number to 44 sifaat.
Others excluded certain characteristics – sifat (such as “idhlaq” and its opposite “ismat“, as well as
“inhiraf” and “leen“) and counted the ghunna among them, bringing their number to 14.
We will stay at the teaching that there are 17 compulsory sifat.
Each letter has its own distinctive features, qualities or characteristics that allow it to be
differentiated from another letter.
Thus we distinguish two main categories:
Letters with opposing distinctive characteristics
Letters with distinctive characteristics having no opposites.

Letters with opposing distinctive characteristics –

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The first classes of characteristics – Sifat are therefore composed of characteristics opposed to
each other. Each of these classes is defined by an attribute that makes up one of the letter’s nature.
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In each of these attributes, we can say whether the letter is rewarded or not, which necessarily
to help you
places it in a category for these attributes. begin your
5 attributes journeyeach
characterize to letter of the alphabet:
The breath (or not) during the pronunciation of a letter
The continuity of sound (or being fluent
not) when in Arabica and
pronouncing letterlearning
The distance of the tongue (or the approximation)
the Quran.with the palate when pronouncing a letter
The letter is stuck to the palate (or not)
The letter is spelt with the tip of the lips or the tip of the tongue (or not).
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1. Al Hams - ‫ ْاﻟ َﻬﻤْ ُﺲ‬Your al Jahr - ُ‫اﻟﺠَ ْﻬﺮ‬

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Al Hams – ‫ْاﻟﻬَ ْﻤ ُﺲ‬

In the Arabic language, al-hams means “the whisper”. It is a flow of air accompanying the following
10 letters:

‫ف–ح–ث–ه–ش–خ–ص–س–ك–ت‬
These letters are compelled in this sentence:

‫َﻓ َﺤﺜ ُﻪ َﺷ ْﺨﺺ َﺳﻜَﺖ‬

Technically, the air continues to come out after the letter is pronounced. The airflow is more evident
when the letter is sakeena (bear a sukoon).

Examples:

‫ﺎس ِم‬
ْ ‫اﻟﺮ ْحﻣﻦ – ِﺑ‬
Notes:
Concerning the letters ‫ ت‬and ‫ك‬, the airflow is clearly done if the letter is sâkina: ‫ ت‬and ‫ ك‬and
the air hardly flows when they bear vowels marks (mutaharika), these are the two exceptions at
 the sifat al-hams.
Avoid exaggerating too much in the pronunciation of the letter ‫ت‬ as it becomes close to the
letter ‫س‬.

Examples:
‫ُت ْتﻟَﻰ – ُﺳﻴ َﺮ ْت – ﻛُﻮ َر ْت‬

al Jahr – ‫اﻟﺠﻬْ ُﺮ‬

َ
In the Arabic language, al-Jahr means “the loud voice”.

It is a stopping of the airflow during the pronunciation of the remaining letters (19 letters):

‫ ض‬-‫ا – ب – ج – د – ذ – – ز‬
‫ء – ي‬- ‫ق – ل – م – ن – و‬- ‫غ‬- ‫ط – ظ – ع‬
These letters are compelled in this sentence:

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Technically, the breath stops coming out after the letter is spoken. Examples:

ْ ‫الح ْمدُ – ي ْؤ ِﻣﻨ‬

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2. Ash-shidda - ‫اﻟﺸﺪ ُة‬, al baynya - ‫اﻟ َﺒﻴﻨﻴﺔ‬, ar Rakhawa -

‫اﻟﺮ َﺧﺎوَ ُة‬

Ash-shidda – ‫اﻟﺸﺪ ُة‬

In the Arabic language, al-shadda means “the intensity”. It is a stop of the sound flow during the
pronunciation of the 8 letters:

‫ق – د – ج – أ‬- ‫ب – ط‬- ‫ت – ك‬
These letters are compelled in this sentence:

‫ا ِﺟﺪْ َﻗ ٍﻂ َﺑﻜ َ ْﺖ‬

Technically, the sound stops because it leans on its makhraj. Examples:

‫ت ِﺑﻲ‬ َ ‫انﺷﻘ ِﺖ – ُت ْبﻟَﻰ – َرﻛ‬

َ ‫ﺐ َك – ﻳَ ْﺞ‬ َ

al baynya – ‫اﻟ َﺒﻴﻨﻴﺔ‬

It is also called at-tawasut – ‫اﻟﺘ َﻮ ُﺳﻂ‬

The sound is neither completely cut off (sound stop) as for َ ‫اﻟﺮ َﺧ‬.
‫ اﻟﺸﺪة‬nor long (sound flow) as for ‫ﺎوة‬
Intermediate characteristic of the following 5 letters:

‫ر–م–ع–ن–ل‬
These letters are compelled in this sentence:

‫ِﻟ ْﻦ ﻋُ َﻤﺮ‬

Technically, the sound does not stop clearly, but it does not continue too much. It is a category
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between al-shidda and al-rakhawa.

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َ – ُ‫اﻷر ِض – اﻟﺪ ْي ِن – َن ْعﺑُﺪ‬
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ar Rakhawa – ‫ﺎو ُة‬
َ ‫اﻟﺮ َﺧ‬ the Quran.

In the Arabic language, al-rakhawa means “flexibility”. This is the sound flow as you pronounce the
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remaining 15 letters:

‫ز – ذ – خ – ح – ث – ا‬- ‫س‬- Your

‫ص ش‬- name ‫و – ه – ف – غ – ظ – ض‬

Your
Technically, the sound of the letter country Examples:
continues.

‫ا ْظﻟَ َﻢ – َن ْس َﺗ ِﻌ ْﻴ ُﻦ – ُي ْغ ِﻧﻴﻜُ ُﻢ – اﻟﺮ ْح َﻣ ِﻦ‬SEND MY FREE-BOOK

Note: The sound of the letter is, therefore, longer for ar-rakhawa – َ ‫اﻟﺮ َﺧ‬, shorter for al baynya –
‫ﺎوة‬
‫ اﻟ َﺒﻴﻨﻴﺔ‬and cut for shadda – ‫اﻟﺸﺪة‬.
.

ُ ‫اﻻ ْﺳ ِﺘ َﻌ‬
3. Al-istiala - ‫ﻼء‬ ُ ‫اﻻﺳ ِﺘ َﻔ‬
ِ vs al-istifal - ‫ﺎل‬ ْ

Al-istiala – ‫ﻼء‬
ُ َ‫اﻻ ْﺳ ِﺘﻌ‬
ِ
In the Arabic language, al-istiala means: “elevation”. The pronunciation of the letter causes upward
pressure on the palate. 7 letters are undergoing this pressure:

‫غ – ط – ق‬- ‫ظ – خ – ص – ض‬
These letters are compelled in this sentence:
‫ُﺧﺺ َﺿ ْﻐ ٍﻂ ِﻗﻂ‬
Technically, the tongue is close to the palate, and the mouth is filled by pronouncing the letters, which
are those of the emphasis(al-tafkheem – ‫ﺨﻴﻢ‬ ِ ‫)اﻟﺘ ْﻔ‬. This characteristic, therefore, implies that all letters
are emphatic.
There are different degrees of tafkheem, the former being more emphatic than the latter.
1. When the letter of isti’ala bears a fatha, followed by an alif
2. When the letter of isti’ala bears a fatha but not followed by Alif
3. When the letter of isti’ala bears a damma
4. When the letter of isti’ala bears a sukoon
5. When the letter of isti’ala bears a kasra

ُ ‫اﻻﺳ ِﺘ َﻔ‬
al-istifal – ‫ﺎل‬ ْ

In the Arabic language, al-istifal means: “lowering”. Pronunciation of the letter causing pressure to go
down the palate, and this for the remaining letters (22 letters).

‫س‬- ‫ز‬- ‫ا – ب – ت – ث – ج – ح – د – ذ – ر‬
‫ء – ي‬- ‫ش – ع – ف – ك – ل – م – ن – ه – و‬
Technically, the tongue moves away from the palate.
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This characteristic implies that all of these letters are lightened out. It is the equivalent of al-tarqeeq –
‫اﻟﺘ ْﺮ ِﻗﻴﻖ‬. GET NOW YOUR EBOOK FOR FREE
In this case, it is important to provide some clarification:
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have a special status because they are sometimes emphatic and sometimes thinned out:
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‫ ا‬the
– ‫ل‬Quran.
–‫ر‬

Al-itbaq – ‫ اﻻ ْﻃ َﺒﺎق‬vs AlYour

infitah
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‫اﻻ ْﻧ ِﻔﺘَ ﺎح‬
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In the Arabic language, al-itbaq comes from theMY FREE-BOOK
verb, which means: to stick.

It is a pressure of part of the tongue on the palate when pronouncing the following 4 letters:

‫ص‬- ‫ظ – ط – ض‬
Technically, the tongue is glued to the palate.

Al infitah ‫اﻻ ْﻧ ِﻔﺘَ ﺎح‬

In the Arabic language, al-infitah means separation.

It is the act of leaving an opening between the tongue and the palate (separation) when pronouncing
the other 25 remaining letters:

‫ز – س‬- ‫ر‬- ‫ا – ب – ت – ث – ج – ح – خ – د – ذ‬
‫ش–ع–غ–ف–ق–ك–ل–م–ن–ه –و–ء–ي‬
Technically, there is an interval between the tongue and the palate.
 ُ ‫ اﻻ ْذ‬vs Al ismat – ‫اﻻ ْﺻ َﻤﺎت‬
Al-idhlaq – ‫ﻻق‬

This category of characteristic – sifat is not important. Some scholars have not counted them as
characteristic – sifat.

ُ ‫اﻻ ْذ‬
Al-idhlaq – ‫ﻻق‬

These letters are pronounced with ease and fluidity. There are 6 letters:

‫ب–ل–م–ن –ر–ف‬
These letters are compelled in this sentence:

‫َﻓﺮ ِﻣ ْﻦ ُﻟﺐ‬
Technically, the letter is pronounced with the tip of the tongue or the tip of the lips.

Al ismat – ‫اﻻ ْﺻ َﻤﺎت‬ Arabic For Beginners for FREE

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It is a heaviness that affects the letters of al ismat by their pronunciation. The letters concerned are
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‫ – ش – ص‬to
‫س‬help
– ‫– ز‬you
‫– ذ‬begin
‫خ – د‬your
– ‫ح‬journey
–‫ث–ج‬ to – ‫ا – ت‬
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‫–ي‬ ‫ء‬- ‫– ك – ه – و‬the
‫– ق‬Quran.
‫غ‬- ‫– ط – ظ – ع‬ ‫ض‬

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Technically, the letter does not press Email the tip of the tongue or the tip of the lip.

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Letters with distinctive characteristics having no
َ ‫اﻟﺼ َﻔﺎت َﻏ ْﻴﺮ اﻟﻤُ َﺘ‬
opposites - ‫ﻀﺎدة‬
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As Safeer – ‫اﻟﺼ ِﻔﻴﺮ‬

َ
In the Arabic language, as-safîr means: whistling. This is the whistle that accompanies the letters:
‫ص–ز–س‬
This is a strong characteristic. The ‫ص‬ sounds like of the goose, the ‫ ز‬sounds like of the bee, the
sound of ‫ س‬the cicada.

Technically, it’s an added sound that comes out from between the lips. These letters are also called
“the whistling letters”.

Al Qalqala – ‫اﻟﻘ ْﻠ َﻘﻠَﺔ‬

َ
In the Arabic language, al qalqala means restlessness, instability, disturbance.

It is a strong impact resulting from the pronunciation of a Sakeena letter and due to the fact of the
sudden separation of 2 organs of pronunciation without any opening of the mouth or rounding of the
lips or lowering of the jaw inferior. This characteristic – sifat is also a rule of Tajweed. This is a strong
characteristic. These letters are
:
 ‫ق–ط–ب–ج–د‬
These letters are compelled in this sentence:

ٌ ‫ُﻗ ُﻄ‬
‫ﺐ َﺟ ٍﺪ‬
Technically, it’s a strong bounce of the letter when bearing a sukoon. The qalqala has a different
degree depending on the letter:

the highest degree is the qalqala of ‫ط‬

the intermediate degree is the qalqala of ‫ج‬
the lowest degree is the qalqala of ‫د – ب – ق‬
When this letter is located in the middle of a word or a sentence, we will make a small qalqala We
call it qalqala sughra

Example:

ْ‫ﻟَ ْﻢ ﻳَ ِﻞدْ َوﻟَ ْﻢ ﻳُ ﻮﻟَﺪ‬

00:00 00:00

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He neither Beginners
begets for(112:3)
nor is born FREE
Note: When this letter is locatedGET NOW
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and we FREE
stop on it, we will make a large qalqala.
We call it qalqala kubra.
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being fluent in Arabic and learning
00:00 00:00 the Quran.

He neither begets nor is born (112:3)

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Note: The impact of the letter is even stronger when the letter at the end of the reading is duplicated.
We call it al qalqala akbar. Your name

َ ‫َﺗﺒ ْﺖ ﻳَ ﺪَ ا ا ِﺑﻲ ﻟَﻬَ ٍﺐ َو‬

Your country
‫تب‬
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00:00 00:00

May the hands of Abu Lahab be ruined, and ruined is he. (111:1)

Al-leen – ‫اﻟﻠ ْﻴﻦ‬

In the Arabic language, al-leen means gentleness. It is a gentle and effortless pronunciation. This is a
weak characteristic.

The letters concerned are the waw and ya having a sukoon and preceded by a fatha.

Example:

‫آﻣﻨ َُﻬﻢ ﻣ ْﻦ َخ ْو ٍف‬ ٍ ‫اﻟ ِﺬي ا ْﻃﻌَ َﻤ ُﻬﻢ ﻣﻦ ُﺟ‬

َ ‫ﻮع َو‬
00:00 00:00

Who has fed them, [saving them] from hunger and made them safe, [saving them] from fear. (106:4)
 ‫َو ْي ٌل ﻟﻜُﻞ ُﻫ َﻤ َﺰ ٍة ﻟ َﻤ َﺰ ٍة‬
00:00 00:00

Woe to every scorner and mocker (104:1)

Al inhiraf – ‫اﻻ ْﻧ ِﺤﺮاف‬

In the Arabic language, al-inhirâf means deviation. This is the deflection of the sound of the letters
from their original point of articulation. This is a strong characteristic. This concerns the 2 letters:

‫ل–ر‬

Technically speaking, when pronouncing these letters, one tends to deviate from their makharij and
spill over into the makharij of the next letter.

For the letter ‫ل‬, the sound is deflected

Arabictowards
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the sides offor tongue and for the letter ‫ ر‬the sound
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is deflected from the end of the tongue towards the back of the latter (the part between the end and
the middle of the language).
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At-takreer – ‫اﻟﺘﻜْ ِﺮﻳﺮ‬

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In the Arabic language, at-takrîr means repetition. It is the vibration of the tip of the tongue as the
letter is pronounced:

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‫ر‬
This is a strong characteristic. Your name

Technically, it is making the tip of the tongue vibrate during the pronunciation of the letter, due to the
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rolling of the tongue.

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Note: This characteristic – sifat is learned MY FREE-BOOK
in order not to be applied with exaggeration as this is a
mispronunciation.

As soon as we are going to pronounce the ‫ر‬, this letter will have to be struck only once on the palate.
When the letter is mushadada ّ‫ر‬, the lengthening of the takreer must be reduced by blocking the
tongue.

At tafashee – ‫اﻟﺘ َﻔ ِﺸﻲ‬

In the Arabic language, at-tafashee means propagation. It is the spread of air in the mouth when the
letter is spoken. This is a strong characteristic.

This concerns the letter:

‫ش‬
Technically, it is propagation or diffusion of the breath in the mouth during the pronunciation of the
letter ‫ش‬.
 Al istitala – ‫اﻻ ْﺳ ِﺘ َﻄﺎﻟَﺔ‬
In the Arabic language, al istitala means elongation. This is a weak characteristic. This is the
lengthening of the sound when pronouncing the letter:

‫ض‬

Technically, it is an extension of the letter dad which extends to the makharij of the letter lâm ‫ل‬.

This tajweed rules lesson is now finished. The next one will be insha’Allah about the definite article “al”
‫ال‬.
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characteristics of the letters sifat al huruf tajweed rules

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6 Comments
The points of articulation of Arabic letters | Tajweed rules - Al-dirassa Pingback
10/03/2021 at 14:58

[…] This tajweed rules lesson is now finished. The next one will be insha’Allah about the characteristics of
the letters of Arabic letters. […]
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The Ghunna with the letters Noon and Meen - Al-dirassa Pingback
15/03/2021 at 08:05

[…] nasalization – ghunna is an obligatory characteristic – Sifat for the letter Noon ‫ ن‬and Meen ‫م‬. Regardless
Arabic
of their state (whether they are vocalized, For Beginners for FREE
[…]
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The rules of the letter Ra ‫ | ر‬Cours de Tajwid - Al-dirassa Pingback
28/03/2021 at 11:54 Al-dirassa Institute offers you a gift
[…] – Tafkheem because the letter ‫ ق‬is
toa help
letteryou
of albegin your journey
isti’la (always […] to
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the Quran.
Khalid
06/07/2022 at 19:03

What are the tight letters in Arabic? Your Email

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May Mohammad
18/02/2023 at 16:00 Your country
Assalam Alikum
may Allah bless your deeds SEND MY FREE-BOOK
kindly most of the Translations needs to be revised. especially what concerns the definitions of the
characteristics.
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Khan
22/02/2023 at 01:16

is there any book (in English hopefully) that describes the characteristics of the letters?
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