Sifaat refers to the characteristic(s) of the letter
Definition
:the way in which a letter is articulated that differentiates it from others. The purpose of these characteristics is to distinguish the letters that share the same articulation points (makhaarij).
But why do we need sifaat when we already know the origin of the letter (makhraj)?
Makhaarij only provides information as to where the sound of the
letter comes from, whereas sifaat provides extra information with
regards to the characteristics of the letter in order to produce the
correct sound.
The whispering is also present when the letter has a harakaat (other than sukoon), but it is not as strong (it is more of a natural hems whereas when it carries a sukoon you have to emphasize the hems more)
E.g
فُفِفَ
()
E.g
ثُثِثَ
()
However, the letters
and
ONLY have hems when they carry a sukoon (as they carry another characteristic, shiddah)
E.g
تُتِتَ
()
E.g
كُكِكَ
()
ALWAYS has strong hems, whatever the harakaat
E.g
سُسِسَ
( )
Click 'here' to
view practice exercises for the rules of Hems
This category has an in-between as well as an opposite
Definition: strong stoppage of the sound upon pronunciation of the letter when it carries a SAKOON
This is achieved by relying strongly on the makhraj or by constricting it
The quality of shiddah is found in the following letters which are called shadiidah
(ﺷَﺪِﻳْﺪَة)
the quality of shiddah is to pronounce forcefully, that when
pronounced, the sound of the letter will be HARD, and the
sound of the letter will end off in the makhraj
Definition:contact between the back of the tongue and the upper palate of the mouth.
This characteristic is necessary no matter what harakaat (not just when it carries a sakoon)
The quality of itbaaq is to pronounce in a closed and covered manner. That is, during pronunciation, the tongue is elevated to such an extent that it covers the palate and the mouth remains nearly closed
The quality of itbaaq is found in the following letters which are called mutbaqah
(ﻣُﻄْﺒَﻘّﺔ)
Definition: separation of the tongue from the upper palate, thus pronouncing in an opened manner.
The quality of infitaah is to pronounce in an opened manner. That is, during pronunciation, the tongue does not cover the palate and the mouth remains open
The quality of infitaah are found in the remaining letters and are called munfatihah
(ﻣُﻨْﻔَﺘِﺤَﺔ)
E.g
بُبِبَ
( )
E.g
نُنِنَ
()
for some of these letters, the tongue may be raised, but actual
contact will not occur (refer to
ista'ala)
Definition: the speed of which the letters are pronounced because of the ease of the makhraj.
The quality of ithlaaq is to pronounce in a smooth and easy manner
The quality of ithlaaq is found in the following letters which are called mudhlaqah
(ﻣُﺬْﻟَﻘَﺔ)
The area of pronunciation of these letters, that is, the edge of the tongue or the edge of the mouth namely the lips, can be considered as factors contributing to the smooth and easy manner of pronunciation
The qalqalah is necessary for these letters because they have the attributes of
jahr (stoppage of the flow of breath) and
shiddah (stoppage of the flow of sound), so without qalqalah, there would be no sound!
There are 2 types :
Sughrah (minor)
Kubrah (major)
Sughrah (minor)
The qalqalah letter will appear either in the middle or end of a word, but the reader will continue the recitation and will not stop on it
If the qalaqalah letter appears at the end of a word and the reader stops on it (for whatever reason), the qalqalah sound is at its clearest / strongest
Definition: A manner of articulation that seeks an easy pronunciation.
The quality of leen is found in the following 2 letters when they carry a sakoon and the letter before it carries a Fattah. They are called layyinah
(ﻟﻴِّﻨَﺔ)
'Ay' sound
'Ow' sound
The pronunciation has to be for the duration of 2 counts
Definition: the quality of takreer is to pronounce in a repeated manner
The quality of takreer is found in one letter
and it is called mukarrarah
(ﻣُﻜَﺮّرَة)
Therefore, while the
is being pronounced from its makhraj, naturally the tongue makes a slight vibration producing a repeated sound (i.e. rolling of the tongue). Care must be taken to avoid exaggeration of the vibration, otherwise instead of a single
there may be 2
or instead of a double (mushaddad
),there may be many
This is more of a caution than a rule - takreer should be
avoided
Definition: to pronounce a letter with the filling of the mouth with air allowing the sound to spread greatly over the mouth.
The quality o tafash-shee is found in the letter
and it is called mutafash-shiyah
(ﻣُﺘَﻔَﺸِّﻴَﺔ)
This is actually a natural characteristic of the
, and the filling of the mouth with air applies whatever the harakaat.
However, it is stronger when it carries a sukoon
Definition: the quality of istitaalah is to pronounce a letter in a slow and elongated manner.
When pronounced, the sound of the letter will remain from the beginning
of the makhraj till the end (the extension of the sound covers the
entire sound of the tongue)
This quality is found in the letter
Elongating
the
applies only if it carries a sukoon
or shaddah
Care must be taken not to exceed the required elongation
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letter should not sound doubled (mushaddad)
or vowelled (mutaharrik)
