Basic
Letter Attributes
Surah: Al-Falaq (1)
Qalqala (Echoing Resonance) — Definition and Degrees (Major and Minor)
قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ الْفَلَقِ
— الفلق الآية 1
Definition:
Qalqala literally means vibration or agitation. Technically, it is the vibration of the articulation point when pronouncing a sukoon qalqala letter, producing a strong echo-like resonance after the stop.
Qalqala Letters (5):
"Qutub Jadd" — ق ط ب ج د.
All five are plosive (shidda) and voiced (jahr); this combination of stopped + voiced + sukoon causes qalqala.
Degrees of Qalqala:
Rule:
No qalqala on a voweled letter, and none on a sukoon letter that is not among the five. Major qalqala (kubra) is approximately twice as strong as minor (sughra).
Examples:
• "Yaqta'oona" (Al-Baqarah: 27) — Qaaf and Taa: minor qalqala.
• "Al-Falaq" (Al-Falaq: 1) — pausing on Qaaf: major qalqala.
Qalqala literally means vibration or agitation. Technically, it is the vibration of the articulation point when pronouncing a sukoon qalqala letter, producing a strong echo-like resonance after the stop.
Qalqala Letters (5):
"Qutub Jadd" — ق ط ب ج د.
All five are plosive (shidda) and voiced (jahr); this combination of stopped + voiced + sukoon causes qalqala.
Degrees of Qalqala:
- Minor Qalqala (Sughra): When the letter has sukoon in the middle of a word, or at the end during connection. E.g., "Yaqta'oona" — the qaaf is silenced in the middle.
- Major Qalqala (Kubra): When pausing on a qalqala letter at word's end — stronger and more pronounced. E.g., Pausing on "Al-Falaq" — the qaaf at the end receives major qalqala.
Rule:
No qalqala on a voweled letter, and none on a sukoon letter that is not among the five. Major qalqala (kubra) is approximately twice as strong as minor (sughra).
Examples:
• "Yaqta'oona" (Al-Baqarah: 27) — Qaaf and Taa: minor qalqala.
• "Al-Falaq" (Al-Falaq: 1) — pausing on Qaaf: major qalqala.
Source: Matn Al-Jazariyya by Ibn Al-Jazari; Al-Tamheed by Ibn Al-Jazari; Hidayat Al-Qari by Al-Mursifi
Test Yourself
List the five qalqala letters and explain the difference between major and minor qalqala.
Show Answer