Al-Infitah — Opposite of Itbaq, Letters and Examples

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.