Intermediate
Tafkheem & Tarqeeq
Surah: Al-Fatiha (6)
Emphasis of the Elevated Letters (Huroof Al-Isti'la) — Degrees of Tafkhim
اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ
— الفاتحة الآية 6
Definition:
Letters of elevation (Huroof Al-Isti'la): seven letters pronounced with heaviness because the tongue rises toward the upper palate. Collected in: "Khuss Daghtin Qiz" (خُصَّ ضَغْطٍ قِظْ).
Rule — Degrees of Tafkhim (highest to lowest):
1. Highest: Elevated letter with Fatha followed by Alif Madd — e.g., "Taal", "Qaala", "Zaahir"
2. Second: Elevated letter with Fatha, no Alif — e.g., "Talaba", "Qadha"
3. Third: Elevated letter with Dhamma — e.g., "Tuliba", "Qul"
4. Lowest: Elevated letter with Kasra — e.g., "Tina", "Qeela"
Quranic Example:
"The Straight Path" [Al-Fatiha: 6] — Sad with Kasra (degree 4), Ta with Fatha (degree 2), Qaf with Fatha (degree 2).
Note:
The letter Dhad (ض) is the most difficult of the elevated letters in articulation and has its own dedicated study in Tajweed science.
Letters of elevation (Huroof Al-Isti'la): seven letters pronounced with heaviness because the tongue rises toward the upper palate. Collected in: "Khuss Daghtin Qiz" (خُصَّ ضَغْطٍ قِظْ).
Rule — Degrees of Tafkhim (highest to lowest):
1. Highest: Elevated letter with Fatha followed by Alif Madd — e.g., "Taal", "Qaala", "Zaahir"
2. Second: Elevated letter with Fatha, no Alif — e.g., "Talaba", "Qadha"
3. Third: Elevated letter with Dhamma — e.g., "Tuliba", "Qul"
4. Lowest: Elevated letter with Kasra — e.g., "Tina", "Qeela"
Quranic Example:
"The Straight Path" [Al-Fatiha: 6] — Sad with Kasra (degree 4), Ta with Fatha (degree 2), Qaf with Fatha (degree 2).
Note:
The letter Dhad (ض) is the most difficult of the elevated letters in articulation and has its own dedicated study in Tajweed science.
Source: Matn Al-Jazariyya by Ibn Al-Jazari; Hidayat Al-Qari by Al-Mursifi; Al-Tuhfa by Al-Jamzuri
Test Yourself
What is the highest degree of Tafkhim? Give a Quranic example.
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