Sifaat Al- Huroof \ What is the meaning of Sifaat? \ Tajweed Rules

Sifaat Al-Huroof

Sifaat refers to the characteristic(s) of the letter to distinguish the letters that share the same makhaarij. Sifaat are divided into two types: 1- Sifaat Mutadaaddah :

• 10 Characteristics that have opposites.

2- Sifaat Ghayr Mutadaaddah

• 7 characteristics that have no opposites.

Sifaat Mutadaaddah The First Sifah: Hams Hams means the continuation of the breath when pronouncing these letters which are collected in the phrase as follows: فحثه شخص سكت These 10 letters are called: whispere Note (in the picture below) that the vocal cords are separated apart and a considerable amount of air flows through this opening of the throat. The second Sifah: Jahr Jahr means the discontinuation of the breath when pronouncing the letter. It has a clear vibration of the vocal cords. The quality of jahr is found in the remaining 19 letters which are called (مجهورة) or loud عظم وزن قارئ ذي غض جد طلب Note: (in the picture below that the imprisonment of the running of breath is a strong characteristic since the letter that does not have breath running with it, relies on the articulation point more than one that does. Letter Laam ل The Third Sifah: Shiddah Shiddah means the discontinuation of the sound while pronouncing the letter causing it to rely greatly on its makhraj in the letters which are collected in the phrase: أجد قط بكت These letters are further divided into: مهموسة -1(Mahmoosa): ك + ت مجهورة-2 (Majhoora) : قطب جد + أ Note: Shiddah: running of the sound is imprisoned, but with Jahr running of the breath is imprisoned. The Third Sifah: Shiddah Shiddah means the discontinuation of the sound while pronouncing the letter causing it to rely greatly on its makhraj in the letters which are collected in the phrase: أجد قط بكت These letters are further divided into: مهموسة -1(Mahmoosa): ك + ت مجهورة-2 (Majhoora) : قطب جد + أ Note: Shiddah: running of the sound is imprisoned, but with Jahr running of the breath is imprisoned. The Fifth Sifah: Rakhawah Rakhawah means the continuation of the sound while pronouncing the letter causing weakness in its reliance on its makhraj. The letters that have this characteristic are all the rest of the Arabic letters except the letters of shiddah (أجد قط بكت) and At-Tawassut لن عمر) Note: The letter sheen comes from the middle of the tongue and it’s مهموس (has Hams)because vocal cords do not vibrate. Timing of the letters : 1-when it is saakin: كتب 2- it is mutaharrik: يستبشرون Note: Timing of letter with kasra = Timing of letter with Dammah = Timing with letter Fatha The Sixth Sifah: Isti’la’ Isti’la’ means the elevation of the back tongue towards the roof of the mouth when pronouncing these letters that have this characteristic are those in the group 7 letters are: خ ص ض غ ط ق ظ

• These seven letters are also known as the letters of tafkheem (Heavy letters)

When pronouncing any of these seven letters. The mouth should be filled with an echo when these sounds are pronounced: خص ضغط قظ This is how the correct Arabic pronunciation for letter ق, as shown in the following diagram: The Seventh Sifah: Istifal Istifal means the absence of pressuring the letter to the roof of the mouth due to the lowering of the deepest part of the tongue when pronouncing a letter of istifaal .All letters except 7 letters of isti’laa’ are letters of Istifaal: س etc– ث – ب – ج – ي This is how the correct Arabic pronunciation for letter ك , as shown in the following diagram: The Eighth Sifah: Infetah Infetah means keeping the tongue separated from the roof of the mouth while pronouncing a letter. The letters of al-infetah are the remaining letters in the Arabic alphabet after the four letters. The Tenth Sifah: Itbaaq Itbaaq means the adhesion of the tongue to the roof of the mouth when pronouncing these letters that have the characteristic: ص ض ط ظ Notes: Letters have Isti’la’ and Infetah غ خ ق characteristics three letters.

• Letters have Isti’la’ and Itbaaq characteristics four letters: ظ ط ض ص So letters of Isti’la’ and Itbaaq are heavier than letters have Isti’la’ and Infetah.
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Letter Saad ص The Eleventh Sifah: Idhlaq Idhlaq means the articulation of the letters with utmost ease from the sides of the tongue or lips as if they are slipping away and its letters are collected in the phrase: فر من لب The Twelfth Sifah: Ismaat

Ismaat means desisting,

refusal The letter that has this characteristic is considered

heavier because it doesn’t rely on the tip of the tongue.

It’s letters is the remaining letters in the Arabic letters after the six letters of Idhlaq