We can recite the Quran with excellent pronunciation thanks to Sifatul Huroof. Sifaatul huroof refers to “letter qualities.” One must be familiar with Sifaat Tajweed in order to recite the Quran using Tajweed.
Scholars have disagreed about the number of sifats. Some of them have increased their total to 17 sifat. This is Imam Ibn Al Jazary’s viewpoint. 44 sifaat are now the number for some. Others counted the ghunna among them and eliminated some sifat (such as “idhlaq” and its opposite “ismat,” as well as “inhiraf” and “leen”), bringing their total to 14. We’ll continue to emphasis that there are 17 sifat that are required.
What is Sifaat al-Huroof
Sifaat al-Huroof (صفات الحروف) is the term used to describe the properties and traits of Arabic letters in the context of Tajweed, the science that controls Quranic pronunciation and recitation. Any learner of the Quran must understand these qualities since they impact the recitation’s accuracy, beauty, and clarity.
Sifat (صفة)
“Sifat” in Arabic describes the attributes or features of something. In the context of Tajweed, it applies primarily to the properties of the Arabic letters and their proper pronunciation during recitation.
Huroof (حروف)
In Arabic, “Huroof” means “letters”. The Arabic language is based on 28 letters found in the Quran, which are necessary for precise recitation.
The Arabic Letter Sifaat
Arabic letter Sifaat can be broadly divided into two categories: Required Sifaat (صفات جبرية) and Optional Sifaat (صفات زائدة).
Basic Sifaat
These are natural features that need to be followed when pronouncing words. Among them are:
Al-Jahr (الجهريّة): This attribute identifies voiced and unvoiced characters. Unvoiced letters are silent, whereas voiced letters make noise. For example, the letter “ب” (b) is voiced, whereas “ت” (t) is unvoiced.
Al-Hams (الهمس): This characteristic describes the breathy sound that some letters, such “ف” (f) and “ه” (h), generate. Air moves continually throughout the pronunciation of these letters, producing a gentle sound.
Al-Isthalaq (الإستعلاق): Retraction is the quality where the tongue retracts when pronouncing certain letters. This characteristic is especially important for letters like “خ” (kh) and “غ” (gh)..
The Al-Qalqalah (القلقلة): When certain characters are pronounced, such as ق” (q), “ط” (t), “ب” (b), “ج” (j), and “د” (d) a bouncing sound is produced. These letters create a characteristic echoing sound when used with a Sukoon (حرف ساكن).
Note: Enroll in Mishkah Academy online tajweed course to learn to read quran by knowing quran reading rules properly.
Sifaat Optional
While not required, these qualities improve recitation. Among them are:
Al-Ibham (الإبهام): This quality relates to producing a soft, indistinct sound, which might enhance the recitation.
Al-Rikhawah (٧لرخاوة): The attribute of softness refers to the possibility of pronouncing some letters with greater care, which might result in a more beautiful recital.
Al-Tashdid (التشديد): This is the practice of stressing doubled characters, which calls for the reciter to exert more effort when pronouncing them.
Al-Jahr (الجُهْرُ) vs. Al-Hams (الْهَممْسُ)
The Whisper, Al-Hams: This is the flow of air that is produced when a certain letter is pronounced. These ten letters are: : ف, ح, ث, ه, ش, خ, ص, س, ك, تA gentle airflow persists after articulation when pronouncing these characters, particularly when the letter has a sukoon (vowel absence).
For instance:
الرَّحْمَنِ
بِاسْمِ
Conversely, Al-Jahr, also known as “The Loud Voice,” denotes a stop in airflow. This category contains the following letters:ا, ب, ج, د, ذ, ز, ض, ط, ظ, ع, غ, ق, ل, م, ن, و, ء, ي. These letters immediately stop the breath upon articulation when spoken.
For instance:
الحَمْدُ,يُؤْمِنُونْ
Al-Baynya (البَينية), Ar-Rakhawa (الرَّخَاوَةُ), and Ash-Shidda (الشِّدَّةُ)
The Intensity, or Ash-Shidda: This feature describes how the sound stops when the letter is uttered. It pertains to letters with abrupt sound stops, such as ت, ك, ب, ط, ق, د, ج, أ.
For instance:
انشَقَّتِ Al-Baynya (Intermediate Sound): This group includes letters like ر, م, ع, ن, and ل, where the sound is neither entirely continuous nor interrupted.
For instance:
In contrast, these letters (و, ·و, ه, ف, غ, ظ, ض, ص, ش, س, ز, ذ, خ, ح, ث, ا) allow the sound to continue smoothly and gently during pronunciation of Ar-Rakhawa (The Flexibility).
For instance:
يُغْنِيكُمُ
Comparing Al-Istifal (الاسْتِفَالُ) and Al-Istiala (الاِسْتِعَلاءُ)
These letters are known as emphatic letters because they press upward on the palate. They provide a high, hefty sound.
Al-Istifal (Lowering): The remaining letters fall into this category. In this case, the sound is lighter since the tongue presses downward. ظ, خ, ص, ض, غ, ط, ق
Al-Infitah (الإِنْفِتَاح) vs Al-Itbaq (الإِطْبَاق)
Al-Itbaq describes the act of pressing the tongue against the palate when pronouncing a word. This property can be seen by letters like ظ, ط, ض, ص.
Al-Infitah, on the other hand, produces a lighter sound by separating the tongue and palate.
Al-Ismat (الإِصْمات) vs Al-Idhlaq (الإِذْلاقُ)
Al-Ismat refers to the remaining heavier letters, which need more effort to speak, whereas Al-Idhlaq refers to letters pronounced easily and smoothly (ب, ل, م, ن, ر, ف
As-Safeer (الصَفِير)
This characteristic is typified by a whistling sound used when pronouncing letters like ص, ز, and س, imitating sounds found in the natural world, such bees buzzing or cicadas chirping.
Al-Qalqalah, القَلْقَلَة
When ق, ط, ب, ج, and د are articulated while carrying a sukoon, there is a tiny echo or bounce that is referred to as Qalqalah. The loudness of the sound produced changes according to where a letter falls in a word or sentence.
For instance:
تَبَّتْ يَدَا أَبِي لَهَبٍ
Al-Leen (اللِّيْن)
Finally, Al-Leen is a soft sound feature that is applicable to φ and ϊ when they are followed by a fatha (ـَ) and have a sukoon. Pronouncing the word is made easier by its smooth, gentle tone.
Every one of these qualities is necessary for Tajweed, which provides accurate pronunciation and preserves the class of the Arabic language.
Sifaat Al Huroof Chart
| Sifaat | Linguistic meaning | Description | Letters | |||
| Al Hams
الْهَمْسُ |
an Arabic word that means “the whisper.” | Once the letter is spoken, the air keeps coming out. When the letter is sakeena (bear a sukoon), it is easier to see the airflow. | ف – ح – ث – ه – ش – خ – ص – س – ك – ت | |||
| al Jahr
الجَهْر |
“the booming voice” in Arabic. | The airflow is cut off while the remaining letters are being pronounced. | ا – ب – ج – د – ذ – – ز- ض
ط – ظ – ع -غ -ق – ل – م – ن – و -ء – ي |
|||
| Ash-shidda الشِّدَّة | An Arabic word that signifies “the intensity.” | Al-shadda is an Arabic word that signifies “the intensity.” By pronouncing the eight letters, the sound flow is interrupted. | ت – ك -ب – ط -ق – د – ج –أ | |||
| ArRakhawa الرَّخَاوَةُ | Signifies “flexibility.” | Al-rakhawa is an Arabic word that signifies “flexibility.” The sound flow as you say the final 15 cents is as follows. | و – ه – ف – غ – ظ – ض -ص
ش -س-ز – ذ – خ – ح – ث – ا
|
|||
| Al-istiala الاِسْتِعَلاءُ | Al-istiala is an Arabic word that means “elevation.” | The palate is pressed upward by the letter’s pronunciation. Seven letters are being pressured. | ظ – خ – ص – ض -غ – ط – ق | |||
| Al-istifal الاسْتِفَالُ | Al-istifal is an Arabic word that means “lowering.” | When a letter is spoken, it puts pressure on the palate and does the same for the following letters (22 letters). | ا – ب – ت – ث – ج – ح – د – ذ – ر -ز -س
ش – ع – ف – ك – ل – م – ن – ه – و -ء – ي |
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| Al-itbaq الإِطْبَاق | Al-itbaq is derived from the Arabic verb that means “to stick.” | When pronouncing the following four letters, there is a pressure of a portion of the tongue on the palate: | ظ – ط – ض -ص | |||
| Al infitah الإِنْفِتَاح | Al-infitah is the Arabic word for separation. | When pronouncing the remaining 25 letters, the act of separating the tongue from the palate is known as separation. | ا – ب – ت – ث – ج – ح – خ – د – ذ -ر -ز – س
ش – ع – غ – ف – ق – ك – ل – م – ن – ه – و – ء – ي |
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| Al-idhlaq الإِذْلاقُ | Means “easy” in Arabic | These letters are spoken smoothly and easily. | ب – ل – م – ن – ر – ف | |||
| Al ismat الإِصْمَات | Means “heaviness” | The pronunciation of the letters in al ismat is affected by a heaviness. The letters In question are the final 23 letters. | ا – ت – ث – ج – ح – خ – د – ذ – ز – س – ش – ص
ض – ط – ظ – ع -غ – ق – ك – ه – و -ء – ي |
|||
| As Safeer الصَفِير | As-safîr is the Arabic word for whistling. | The whistle that comes with the letter is this. | ص – ز – س | |||
| Al baynya البَينية | Its other name is at-tawasut. | The sound is neither fully absent (sound stop) as in nor prolonged (sound flow) as in. | ر – م – ع – ن – ل | |||
| Al Qalqala القَلْقَلَة | Al qalqala is an Arabic word that signifies unease, instability, and disturbance. | As a result of the pronunciation of a Sakeena letter and the abrupt separation of two pronunciation organs without any mouth opening, lip rounding, or inferior jaw lowering, there is a powerful effect. Sifat is a trait that belongs to Tajweed as well. This is a powerful quality. | ق – ط – ب – ج – د | |||
| Al inhiraf الإِنْحِراف | Al-inhirâf is the Arabic word for deviance | The sound of the letters is being diverted away from their initial point of articulation in this way. This is a powerful quality. This relates to the2 letters | ل – ر | |||
| At-takreer التَّكْرِير | At-takrîr is the Arabic word for repetition | It is the sound of the tongue’s tip moving while the letter is spoken.
|
ر | |||
| At tafashee التَّفَشِي | 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. | ش | |||
| Al istitala الإِسْتِطَالَة | Al Istitala is the Arabic word for elongation | This is a lacking quality. The sound lengthens in this way when pronouncing the letter. | ض |
The Importance of Al-Huroof Sifaat
It is necessary to understand the Arabic letter Sifaat for a number of reasons.
Proper Pronunciation: Every letter has distinct qualities that impact the appropriate way to pronounce it. It is crucial to acquire these skills since mispronouncing a letter can completely alter its meaning.
Beautiful Recitation: The usage of Tajweed guidelines and proper letter pronunciation are what make Quranic recitation beautiful. Understanding Sifaat makes for a beautiful and enjoyable recitation.
Understanding Tajweed principles: Applying Tajweed principles correctly and adhering to the proper recitation techniques are made easier with a firm understanding of Sifaat.
Benefits of Understanding Sifaat al-Huroof
Improved Recitation: Mastering Sifaat allows reciters to achieve accurate pronunciation, resulting in a more authentic Quranic recitation.
Enhanced Understanding: Understanding the qualities of letters deepens one’s knowledge of Tajweed rules, enabling reciters to apply these rules effectively.
Spiritual Connection: Proper recitation enhances the spiritual experience of reading the Quran, fostering a deeper connection to the text.
Avoidance of Mistakes: Knowledge of Sifaat helps prevent common pronunciation mistakes, which could alter meanings and lead to misinterpretation of the text.
Confidence in Recitation: When reciters understand the Sifaat, they gain confidence in their abilities, encouraging consistent practice and improvement
Conclusion
A vital part of Tajweed that has a big influence on how the Quran is recited is sifaat al-huroof. Understanding the features of Arabic characters improves the recitation’s clarity and class, ensuring that the Quran is understood accurately. In addition to helping with pronunciation, regular Sifaat study and practice improves one’s spiritual bond with the Quran. To guarantee a courteous and clear recital of the sacred text, aspiring reciters are urged to give their time to studying and perfecting Sifaat al-Huroof. Enrolling in an online Quran recitation course with trusted institutions like Mishkah Academy can help learners refine their recitation skills while deepening their connection to the Quran.
Important FAQs
What is the significance of Sifaat in Tajweed?
Sifaat are crucial for proper pronunciation and contributes to the beauty of Quranic recitation. They guide the application of Tajweed rules and ensure accurate recitation.
Are all Sifaat mandatory?
Necessary Sifaat are mandatory for correct pronunciation. Optional Sifaat enhances recitation but is not required.
How can I learn about Sifaat al-Huroof
You can learn about Sifaat through Quranic classes, online courses, and by practicing with qualified teachers. Resources like Tajweed textbooks and instructional videos can also be beneficial
