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Letter Attributes
Surah: Al-Ikhlas (2)
Incidental Attributes — Itbaq, Infitah, Isti'la, and Istifal
اللَّهُ الصَّمَدُ
— الإخلاص الآية 2
Definition of Incidental Attributes:
These are qualities that arise from a letter's position or neighboring context, affecting whether it is pronounced with heaviness (tafkheem) or lightness (tarqeeq).
1. Itbaq (Occlusion):
The tongue rises toward the upper palate during articulation, causing heaviness. Its four letters are: ص ض ط ظ — the strongest heavy letters.
2. Infitah (Openness):
Opposite of Itbaq: the tongue opens away from the palate. All letters are infitah except the four Itbaq letters.
3. Isti'la (Elevation):
The back of the tongue rises toward the upper palate. Its seven letters: "Khuss Dhaghtun Qizh" (خ ص ض غ ط ق ظ).
4. Istifal (Depression):
Opposite of Isti'la: tongue lowers to the base of the mouth. All letters are Istifal except the seven elevated ones, making them inherently light.
Relationship Between the Two:
Both Itbaq and Isti'la cause heaviness (tafkheem), but Itbaq is stronger. All four Itbaq letters are also Isti'la, but not every Isti'la letter is Itbaq.
Examples:
• "Al-Samad" (Al-Ikhlas: 2) — Saad: Itbaq + Isti'la (strongest heaviness).
• "Taaloot" (Al-Baqarah: 247) — Taa: Itbaq + Isti'la.
These are qualities that arise from a letter's position or neighboring context, affecting whether it is pronounced with heaviness (tafkheem) or lightness (tarqeeq).
1. Itbaq (Occlusion):
The tongue rises toward the upper palate during articulation, causing heaviness. Its four letters are: ص ض ط ظ — the strongest heavy letters.
2. Infitah (Openness):
Opposite of Itbaq: the tongue opens away from the palate. All letters are infitah except the four Itbaq letters.
3. Isti'la (Elevation):
The back of the tongue rises toward the upper palate. Its seven letters: "Khuss Dhaghtun Qizh" (خ ص ض غ ط ق ظ).
4. Istifal (Depression):
Opposite of Isti'la: tongue lowers to the base of the mouth. All letters are Istifal except the seven elevated ones, making them inherently light.
Relationship Between the Two:
Both Itbaq and Isti'la cause heaviness (tafkheem), but Itbaq is stronger. All four Itbaq letters are also Isti'la, but not every Isti'la letter is Itbaq.
Examples:
• "Al-Samad" (Al-Ikhlas: 2) — Saad: Itbaq + Isti'la (strongest heaviness).
• "Taaloot" (Al-Baqarah: 247) — Taa: Itbaq + Isti'la.
Source: Matn Al-Jazariyya by Ibn Al-Jazari; Al-Tamheed by Ibn Al-Jazari; Hidayat Al-Qari by Al-Mursifi
Test Yourself
List the seven Isti'la letters in a mnemonic phrase, and identify which are also Itbaq.
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