Intermediate
Letter Attributes
Surah: Al-Mu'minoon (1)
Inherent Letter Attributes — Jahr, Hams, Shidda, and Rakhawa
قَدْ أَفْلَحَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ
— المؤمنون الآية 1
Definition of Inherent Attributes:
These are the intrinsic, permanent qualities of each letter that remain constant in all conditions — whether connecting or pausing.
1. Jahr (Voiced):
Jahr: the vocal cords vibrate during articulation. All Arabic letters are voiced except the whispered (hams) letters.
Hams letters (10): "FaHaththahu Shakhsun Sakata" (ف ح ث هـ ش خ ص س ك ت).
2. Hams (Whispered/Unvoiced):
Hams: air flows during articulation because the vocal cords do not fully engage. The 10 hams letters are listed above.
3. Shidda (Plosive/Stopped):
Sound is blocked during articulation. Its letters (8): "Ajid Qatan Bakat" (أ ج د ق ط ب ك ت).
4. Rakhawa (Fricative/Flowing):
Sound flows during articulation. Most letters are rakhwa. Between shidda and rakhawa are the middle letters (Bayniyya): "Lin 'Umar" (ل ن ع م ر).
Examples:
• "Qad aflaha" — Qaaf is plosive-voiced; Faa is fricative-whispered.
• "Al-Shams" — Sheen is fricative-whispered.
These are the intrinsic, permanent qualities of each letter that remain constant in all conditions — whether connecting or pausing.
1. Jahr (Voiced):
Jahr: the vocal cords vibrate during articulation. All Arabic letters are voiced except the whispered (hams) letters.
Hams letters (10): "FaHaththahu Shakhsun Sakata" (ف ح ث هـ ش خ ص س ك ت).
2. Hams (Whispered/Unvoiced):
Hams: air flows during articulation because the vocal cords do not fully engage. The 10 hams letters are listed above.
3. Shidda (Plosive/Stopped):
Sound is blocked during articulation. Its letters (8): "Ajid Qatan Bakat" (أ ج د ق ط ب ك ت).
4. Rakhawa (Fricative/Flowing):
Sound flows during articulation. Most letters are rakhwa. Between shidda and rakhawa are the middle letters (Bayniyya): "Lin 'Umar" (ل ن ع م ر).
Examples:
• "Qad aflaha" — Qaaf is plosive-voiced; Faa is fricative-whispered.
• "Al-Shams" — Sheen is fricative-whispered.
Source: Matn Al-Jazariyya by Ibn Al-Jazari; Al-Tamheed fi Ilm Al-Tajweed by Ibn Al-Jazari
Test Yourself
List the whispered (hams) letters using the mnemonic phrase.
Show Answer