Introduction
The second study pertaining to pronunciation is
that of ṣifaat (singular: ṣifah, meaning description, characteristic, attribute
or quality). The word ṣifaat (or ṣifah) refers to the special characteristics
or qualities found in each letter.
The purpose of defining ṣifaat is first, to make
sure they are present during pronunciation and second, to differentiate between
letters whose origin is in the same makhraj, such as (ت)
and (ط), (ذ)
and (ظ), or (س) and (ص). When a letter
emerges from the correct makhraj and all its ṣifaat (qualities) are observed,
then accurate pronunciation is obtained.
Ṣifaat are of two types: permanent (الصفات اللازمة) and temporary (الصفات العارضة). The latter will be
described under the sections dealing with the rules of tajweed. Permanent
qualities, however, are those inherent in the letter, without which correct
pronunciation will not be realized.
Scholars have differed on the number of sifaat.
Among them, some have brought their number to 17 sifaat. This is the
opinion of Imam Ibn Al Jazary. Some have increased their number to
44 sifaat. Others excluded certain characteristics – sifat (such
as “idhlaq” and its opposite “ismat“, as well as “inhiraf” and “leen“) and
counted the ghunna among them, bringing their number to 14.
We will stay at the teaching that there are 17
compulsory sifaat. Thus we distinguish two main categories:
●
The Permanent Qualities With Opposites
●
The Permanent Qualities Without Opposites
 |
| Sifaat al Huroof |
A. Ṣifaat Without Opposites (الصِفَاتُ الْمُتَضادَة).
▪
Al Hams (الْهَمْسُ) vs Al Jahr (الجَهْرُ)
1. Al-Hams
Al-hams means “the whisper”. Technically
means the continuation of the breath when pronouncing the letter due to
weakness in its origin, causing weakness in its reliance on its makhraj. The
following letters have this quality:
ف
– ح – ث – ه – ش – خ – ص – س – ك – ت
These letters are compelled in this sentence:
فَحَثَّهُ
شَخْص سَكَت
2. Al-Jahr
Al-Jahr means “the loud voice”. Technically
means the discontinuation of the breath when pronouncing the letter due to strength
in its origin, causing it to rely greatly on its makhraj. The following letters
have this quality:
ا
– ب – ج – د – ذ – – ز- ض - ط
– ظ – ع -غ - ق – ل – م – ن – و - ء – ي
▪
Ash-Shidda (الشِّدَّةُ) vs Ar-Rakhawa (الرَّخَاوَةُ)
3. Ash-Shidda
Ash-shidda means “strength or force”. It is a stop
of the sound flow during the pronunciation of the 8 letters:
أ
– ج – د – ق – ط – ب – ك - ت
These letters are compelled in this sentence:
أَجِدْ قَطٍ بَكَتْ
4. Ar-Rakhawa
Ar-rakhawa means “flexibility”. This is the
sound flow as you pronounce the remaining 15 letters:
و
– ه – ف – غ – ظ – ض -ص ش -س -ز – ذ – خ – ح – ث – ا
Note:
There is sifat Al-Bayna i.e between shidda and
rakhawa. It is also called at-tawasut (التَّوَسُط).
The sound is neither completely cut off (sound stop) as for ash-Shidda nor
long (sound flow) as for ar-Rakhawa. Intermediate characteristic of the
following 5 letters:
ل
– ن – ع – م - ر
These letters are compelled in this sentence:
لِنْ عُمَر
▪
Al-Istila (الاِسْتِعَلاءُ) vs Al-Istifal (الاسْتِفَالُ)
5. Al-Istila
Al-istiala means “elevation”. The
pronunciation of the letter causes upward pressure on the palate. 7 letters are
undergoing this pressure:
خ – ص – ض -غ – ط – ق - ظ
These letters are compelled in this sentence:
خُصَّ
ضَغْطٍ قِط
6. Al-Istifal
Al-istifal means “lowering”. Pronunciation of
the letter causing pressure to go down the palate, and this for the remaining
letters (22 letters).
ا – ب – ت – ث – ج – ح – د – ذ – ر - ز –
س - ش – ع – ف – ك – ل – م – ن – ه – و -ء – ي
▪
Al-Itbaq (الإِطْبَاق) vs Al-Infitah
(الإِنْفِتَاح)
7. Al-Itbaq
Ithbaq means “closing”. The meeting of the tongue
and what is opposite it from the roof of the mouth – Its letters are four:
ص
– ض – ط - ظ
8. Al-Infitah
Al-infitah means “opening”. The separation of the
tongue from the roof of the mouth when pronouncing the other 25 remaining
letters:
ا – ب – ت – ث – ج – ح – خ – د – ذ -ر
-ز – س - ش – ع – غ – ف – ق – ك – ل – م – ن – ه – و – ء – ي
▪
Al-Idhlaq (الإِذْلاقُ ) vs Al-Ismat
(الإِصْمَات)
9. Al-Idhlaq
Literally means “fluency, purity in speech”.
Technically means the articulation of the letters with utmost ease from the sides
of the tongue or lips as if they are slipping away.
There are 6 letters:
ف
– ر – م – ن – ل - ب
These letters are compelled in this sentence:
فَرَّ مِنْ لُبٍّ
10. Al-Ismat
Literally means “desistance”. It is a heaviness
that affects the letters of al ismat by their pronunciation. The letters
concerned are the remaining 23:
ا
– ت – ث – ج – ح – خ – د – ذ – ز – س – ش – ص - ض – ط – ظ – ع -غ – ق – ك –
ه – و -ء – ي
B. Ṣifaat Without Opposites (الصِفَاتُ الْمُتَضادَة).
Letters with distinctive characteristics having no
opposites - الصِفَات غَيْر المُتَضادَة
11. As-Safeer (الصَفِير)
In the Arabic language, as-safîr means: whistling. It
is a sound emerging between the tip of the tongue and the upper central
incisors which resembles the sound of a bird. This is the whistle that
accompanies the letters:
ص
– ز – س
Note: Zaay (ز)
is more a buzzing sound.
12. Al-Qalqala (القَلْقَلَة)
In the Arabic language, al qalqala means
restlessness, instability, disturbance. It is a strong impact resulting from
the pronunciation of a Sakeena letter and due to the fact of the
sudden separation of 2 organs of pronunciation without any opening of the mouth
or rounding of the lips or lowering of the jaw inferior. This characteristic
– sifat is also a rule of Tajweed. This is a strong
characteristic. These letters are:
ق
– ط – ب – ج – د
These letters are compelled in this sentence:
قُطُبٌ جَدٍ
There are 3 levels of Qalqala as regards to the
strength of its pronunciation.
• Strongest: when making waqf (stopping) on a
mushaddad letter of qalqala.
• Strong: when making waqf on a sakin letter of
qalqala.
• Weak: when the sakin letter of qalqala is in the
middle of a word.
13. Al-Leen (اللِّيْن)
In the Arabic language, al-leen means ease
or softness. Technically, it is pronunciation without exertion or difficulty.
This is a sifat of Waw (و)
and Ya’ (ي) with sukoon prececed
by fathah. These are not to be confused with the vowel sounds of wau sakinah (وْ) and ya’ sakinah (يْ) which will be
discussed under the section of madd. This is a weak characteristic.
14. Al-Inhiraf (الإِنْحِراف)
In the Arabic language, al-inhirâf means deviation.
This is the deflection of the sound of the letters from their original point of
articulation. This is a strong characteristic. This concerns the 2 letters:
ل
– ر
15. At-Takreer (التَّكْرِير)
In the Arabic language, at-takrîr means repetition.
Technically it means the trilling of the tongue while pronouncing a letter that
causes the letter to be pronounced more than once. This is found only in Raa’ (ر).
16. At-Tafashee (التَّفَشِي)
In the Arabic language, at-tafashee means
propagation. It is the spread of air throughout the mouth during pronunciation.
This concerns the letter Sheen (ش).
17. Al-Istitala (الإِسْتِطَالَة)
In the Arabic language, al istitala means
elongation. This is a weak characteristic. This is the extension of sound over
the entire edge of the tongue from front to back. This is a quality of dad (ض) and is most
noticeable when it is accompanied by a sukoon
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