Basic
Basic
Surah: Al-Fatiha (2)
Stopping and Starting with "Al" — Solar and Lunar Letters
ٱلۡحَمۡدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلۡعَٰلَمِينَ
— الفاتحة الآية 2
Definition of "Al":
"Al" is the definite article in Arabic and the Quran. It consists of a connecting alif + laam.
Solar Letters (14 letters):
ت ث د ذ ر ز س ش ص ض ط ظ ل ن — when a word begins with one of them after "al," the laam merges into it: "al-shams" = "ash-shams."
Lunar Letters (14 letters):
أ ب ج ح خ ع غ ف ق ك م و ه ي — the laam appears clearly and does not merge: "al-qamar."
Stopping on a word beginning with "Al":
When stopping, the solar/lunar distinction does not appear — both are stopped on by giving sukoon to the final letter.
Starting with "Al":
Starting begins with a connecting hamza: "al-hamdu" starts with "a" after a stop. If following a voweled letter (continuing), the hamza drops and solar merging or lunar clarity applies.
Mnemonic:
The mnemonic "Tib thumma sil rahiman tafuz dhif dha niam da suu-a thannin zur sharifan lil-karam" — its initial letters are the solar letters.
"Al" is the definite article in Arabic and the Quran. It consists of a connecting alif + laam.
Solar Letters (14 letters):
ت ث د ذ ر ز س ش ص ض ط ظ ل ن — when a word begins with one of them after "al," the laam merges into it: "al-shams" = "ash-shams."
Lunar Letters (14 letters):
أ ب ج ح خ ع غ ف ق ك م و ه ي — the laam appears clearly and does not merge: "al-qamar."
Stopping on a word beginning with "Al":
When stopping, the solar/lunar distinction does not appear — both are stopped on by giving sukoon to the final letter.
Starting with "Al":
Starting begins with a connecting hamza: "al-hamdu" starts with "a" after a stop. If following a voweled letter (continuing), the hamza drops and solar merging or lunar clarity applies.
Mnemonic:
The mnemonic "Tib thumma sil rahiman tafuz dhif dha niam da suu-a thannin zur sharifan lil-karam" — its initial letters are the solar letters.
Source: Matn Al-Jazariyya by Ibn Al-Jazari; Hidayat Al-Qari by Al-Mursifi (1/165); Al-Tamheed by Ibn Al-Jazari
Test Yourself
What is the difference between solar and lunar letters? Name three from each.
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