Ra — Introduction: Heavy or Light?
tajweed
Level: intermediate
raa-rules
tj-029
Ra (ر) is one of the most nuanced letters in tajweed — it alternates between Tafkhim (heavy) and Tarqeeq (light) based on context.
Three states: Obligatory Tafkhim (7 cases) | Obligatory Tarqeeq (3 cases) | Both permitted (disputed cases)
Basic rule: Ra with fathah or dammah = heavy. Ra with kasrah = light (usually).
Source: Matn Al-Jazariyyah by Ibn Al-Jazari
Question: How many states does Ra have regarding Tafkhim and Tarqeeq?
Answer: Three: obligatory Tafkhim, obligatory Tarqeeq, and both permitted