Basic
Letter Attributes
Surah: Al-Nahl (90)
Al-Infitah — Opposite of Itbaq, Letters and Examples
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَأۡمُرُ بِٱلۡعَدۡلِ وَٱلۡإِحۡسَٰنِ
— النحل الآية 90
Definition of Infitah:
Infitah: the space between the tongue and the upper palate remains open when pronouncing the letter — the tongue does not press against the palate.
Infitah letters:
All Arabic letters except the four itbaq letters: (ص ض ط ظ). Thus infitah letters number twenty-seven.
Itbaq letters for comparison:
Itbaq: the tongue presses against the upper palate — giving these letters their inherent heaviness:
— Sad: "Al-Sirat" — Ta: "Tubi-a" — Dad: "Al-Dallin" — Dha: "Wa-dhillin"
Infitah and its effect on tafkheem and tarqeeq:
Infitah letters are naturally light unless a cause for heaviness arises (istila or proximity to itbaq letters). Example: "a" in "Tala" is affected by the heavy ta even though alif is naturally open.
Quranic example:
"Indeed Allah commands justice and good conduct" (16:90) — adl, ihsan, amr — all their letters are open (infitah) and light.
Infitah: the space between the tongue and the upper palate remains open when pronouncing the letter — the tongue does not press against the palate.
Infitah letters:
All Arabic letters except the four itbaq letters: (ص ض ط ظ). Thus infitah letters number twenty-seven.
Itbaq letters for comparison:
Itbaq: the tongue presses against the upper palate — giving these letters their inherent heaviness:
— Sad: "Al-Sirat" — Ta: "Tubi-a" — Dad: "Al-Dallin" — Dha: "Wa-dhillin"
Infitah and its effect on tafkheem and tarqeeq:
Infitah letters are naturally light unless a cause for heaviness arises (istila or proximity to itbaq letters). Example: "a" in "Tala" is affected by the heavy ta even though alif is naturally open.
Quranic example:
"Indeed Allah commands justice and good conduct" (16:90) — adl, ihsan, amr — all their letters are open (infitah) and light.
Source: Matn Al-Jazariyya; Hidayat Al-Qari (1/92); Al-Tamheed (p.94)
Test Yourself
What is the difference between infitah and itbaq? Name the four itbaq letters.
Show Answer