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Surah: Al-Baqarah (54)
Al-Imala — Definition, Types, and Who Performs It
وَإِذۡ قَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِقَوۡمِهِۦ
— البقرة الآية 54
Definition: Imala: inclining the fatha toward kasra, and the alif toward ya — pronouncing the alif with a lean toward ya without fully becoming it.
Types: (1) Imala kabra (major/full): strong lean toward ya — Al-Kisa'i and Hamza in many words. (2) Imala sughra / taqlil (minor): slight lean between fath and full imala — Warsh and Abu Amr. (3) Fath (open vowel): no imala — Hafs, Ibn Kathir, Ibn Amir predominantly.
Example: "Musa / Isa / Yahya" — in Al-Kisa'i's reading pronounced with clear lean toward "Musi." In Hafs: full open fatha "Musa."
Types: (1) Imala kabra (major/full): strong lean toward ya — Al-Kisa'i and Hamza in many words. (2) Imala sughra / taqlil (minor): slight lean between fath and full imala — Warsh and Abu Amr. (3) Fath (open vowel): no imala — Hafs, Ibn Kathir, Ibn Amir predominantly.
Example: "Musa / Isa / Yahya" — in Al-Kisa'i's reading pronounced with clear lean toward "Musi." In Hafs: full open fatha "Musa."
Source: Al-Nashr (2/36); Al-Dani (p.15); Al-Shatibiyya
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What is the difference between imala kabra (major) and taqlil (minor imala)?
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