Sifaat ‫صفات‬

Characteristics of pronunciation
 A sifah
• A Sifah is an abstract characteristic
• Sifaat aide in differentiating the letters that
share a makhraj
• So allows correct pronunciation per how
Arabic was spoken at the time of the Prophet
• It also adds beauty in one’s reading
• Sifat determine the strength of a letter, when
it comes to idghaam

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 2 types of characteristics
1. Permanent (‫)الزمة‬
2. Temporary (‫)عارضة‬

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 Permanent • If missed out when reading a letter, it will result in
Characteristics
the letter changing into another letter
• There are 17 – [Al-Jazari]
• 2 types
1. Mutadhaadda (Have Opposites) ‫متضادة‬
2. Ghayr Mutadhaadda (Does not have an opposite)
‫غير متضادة‬

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 Permanent characteristics that
have an opposite

‫صفات الزمة متضادة‬

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 Permanent
characteristics that
have an opposite
• 11 in total. 5 pairs

1. Jahr & Hams

2. Shiddah & Rikhawah (Tawassut)
3. Isti’la & Istifal
4. Itlaq & Infitah
5. Ismat & Idhlaq

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 Sound of the chest
= vibration in the
vocal cords

‫صوت الصدر‬

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 In terms of the vocal
cords vibrating the letters
of the Arabic alphabet can
be split into two groups

1. Jahr
2. Hams

Most prominent in sakin

letters. But exists in
mutahrrik also

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1. Jahr - ‫جهر‬

• Lit. “to appear”

• Less air, more sound
• Breath stops in makhraj
• Strong letter

• ‫ظلقوربضاذغزاجندمطيع‬
• ‫َظَّل ُقَّوُر ِبٍّض إْذ َغَزا ُج ْنٌد ُمِط ْيع‬
2. Hams - ‫همس‬

• Lit. “to whisper”

• Air and breath continues after makhraj
• No vibration in the vocal cords
• Weak letter

• ‫فحثهشخصسكت‬
• ‫َفَح َّثُه َش ْخ ٌص َس َك ت‬
 In terms of the sound of a
letter prolonging when it is
pronounced the letters of the
Arabic alphabet can be split
into three groups

1. Shiddah
2. Rakhawah
3. Tawassut/Bayniyyah

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3. Shiddah - ‫شدة‬

• Sound stops in makhraj

• Strong letter
• The makhraj closes

•‫أجدقطبكت‬
• ‫َأِج ُد َقٍط َبَك ْت‬
• Also have Jahr ‫أ ق ط ب ج د‬
• Also have Hams ‫ك ت‬
4. Rakhawah - ‫رخاوة‬

• Sound continues
• Weak letter

•‫شخصساحفهوزثيذضظغ‬
• ‫َش ْخ ٌص َس اِح ٌف َه َّوْز َثَّيْذ َض َّظْغ‬
• Also have Jahr ‫ا و ز ي ذ ض ظ غ‬
• Also have Hams ‫ش ج ص س ح ف ه ث‬
5. Tawassut/Bayniyyah – ‫بينية‬/‫توسط‬

• Don’t completely kill the sound nor continue

•‫لنعمر‬
• ‫ِلْن ُعَم ر‬
• All are Jahr
Regarding time taken to articulate the letter

1. Aani - no delay - ‫ت‬ ‫أجدقطبك‬

2. Zamaani - stretch and delay - huroof madda

3. Qareeb Aani - little time - ‫ض‬

4. Qareeb Zamaani - a bit more time - ‫ي‬ ‫ثحخذرزسشصظعغفلمنعه‬

 In terms of the sound of a letter rising
in the mouth the letters of the Arabic
alphabet can be split into two groups

1. Isti’laa
2. Istifaal

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6. Isti’laa - ‫استعالء‬

• Raise the back of the tongue

• The air passes over the upper palate ‫حنك‬
• Push the sound upwards in the mouth

•‫خصضغطقظ‬
• ‫ُخ َّص َض ْغٍط ِقْظ‬
7. Istifaal - ‫استفال‬

• Back of the tongue stays flat and air stays flat in the mouth

•‫ثبتعزمنيجودحرفهءذسلشكا‬
• ‫َثَبَت ِعُّز َمْن َجُيِّوُد َح ْرَفُه إْذ َس َّل َش َك ا‬
 In terms of the sound of a letter being
restricted in the mouth the letters of
the Arabic alphabet can be split into
two groups

1. Itbaaq
2. Infitaah

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8. Itbaaq - ‫اطباق‬

• To keep the sound restricted in between the tongue and the upper palate while raising the middle of
the tongue
• Middle of the tongue is pushed upwards
• All of these also have the quality of isti’laa

•‫صضطظ‬
9. Infitaah - ‫انفتاح‬

• Do not restrict the sound and do not raise the middle of the tongue

•‫مناخذوجدسعتفزكاحقلهشربغيث‬
• ‫َمْن أَخ َذ َوَج َد َس َعًة َفَزَّك ا َح ُّق َلُه ُش ْرُب َغْيٍث‬
10/11. Ismaat & Idhlaq

• Not related to tajweed, related to sarf. Maybe to make it 17 like makhaarij

• As ‫ ذلق‬is ‫طرف‬, and these letters are derived from the edge of the tongue or lips
• Pronounced quickly
• Any Arabic word which is formed from four or five root-letters cannot be made up solely from the
letters of Musmitah. The reason being that in the Arabic language it is difficult and strenuous on the
tongue to articulate the four or five root-lettered words made up from Musmitah only.
• At least one letter from the letters of Muzhliqah should appear in the formation of the four or five
root-lettered words for it to be articulated easily on the tongue.
 Permanent qualities that are singular
‫صفات الزمة غري متضادة‬
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Permanent qualities that are singular

• 8 in total