--- title: "Sifaat of Arabic Letters: Rules, Types and Examples" description: "Sifaat of Arabic letters are the inherent attributes and phonetic characteristics that describe how a letter sounds when it is articulated from its specific point of origin (Makhraj). While the Makhraj tells us exactly where…" canonical: "https://eilaf101.com/sifaat-of-arabic-letters/" content_type: "post" author: "seo" date_published: "2026-08-20T06:17:01+00:00" date_modified: "2026-08-20T06:17:01+00:00" language: "en-US" agent_client: "claude-bot" ---  # Sifaat of Arabic Letters: Rules, Types and Examples By seo Sifaat of Arabic letters are the inherent attributes and phonetic characteristics that describe how a letter sounds when it is articulated from its specific point of origin (Makhraj). While the Makhraj tells us exactly where a letter comes from in the throat or mouth, the Sifaat explain the “manner” of its pronunciation, such as whether it is heavy or light, whispered or clear, and strong or soft. ## What Are the Sifaat of Arabic Letters in Tajweed? Sifaat provide the phonetic detail required to produce a letter correctly, acting as the “qualities” that give each sound its unique identity. Without understanding sifatul huruf, a student may produce a sound from the correct location but fail to give it the necessary breath or strength, leading to a recitation that sounds flat or linguistically incorrect. ## Types of Sifaat in Tajweed The characteristics of Arabic letters are broadly divided into two main categories: those that are permanent and those that appear only in specific contexts. Understanding this distinction helps a student recognize which sounds must always be present and which are dependent on the surrounding letters or vowel marks. ### 1. Permanent Sifaat (Sifaat Lazimah) These are the foundational traits that are inseparable from the letter. Every single letter of the Arabic alphabet must possess a set of these permanent characteristics. For example, the letter Qaf (ق) will always have the quality of being a “heavy” letter and an “echoing” letter (Qalqalah) when it carries a Sukoon. If a reciter removes a permanent Sifat, the letter essentially changes into a different one or loses its Arabic identity entirely. ### 2. Temporary Sifaat (Sifaat Aridah) These characteristics appear only under certain conditions. They include rules like Ikhfa (hiding), Idgham (merging), and Iqlab (changing). Additionally, the length of vowel prolongation, known as the Types of Madd, falls into this category because the length changes depending on whether a Hamza or a Sukoon follows the vowel. These temporary traits add a layer of complexity and beauty to the flow of recitation but are not considered inherent to the individual letter’s identity. ### Sifaat With Opposites The majority of permanent characteristics come in pairs, where if a letter possesses one trait, it cannot possess its opposite. There are five main pairs of opposites that every student must learn to categorize the alphabet correctly. Opposite Pair First Quality Opposite Quality Breath Al-Hams: Breath continues to flow, creating a whispered sound. Its ten letters are collected in فَحَثَّهُ شَخْصٌ سَكَتَ. Al-Jahr: Breath is trapped or obstructed, producing an apparent and stronger sound. Sound flow Ash-Shiddah: Sound is completely trapped behind the articulation point. Its letters are collected in أجد قط بكت. Ar-Rikhawah: Sound continues to flow. Tawassut is the middle quality between complete trapping and complete flow. Tongue elevation Al-Isti‘la: The back of the tongue rises, producing a heavy or thick sound. Its letters are collected in خص ضغط قظ. Al-Istifal: The tongue remains lowered, producing a light or thin sound. Palate position Al-Itbaq: The tongue is almost pressed against the upper palate. It applies to Saad, Daad, Twa, and Zwa. Al-Infitah: The tongue stays away from the roof of the mouth, leaving an opening for air. Ease of speech Al-Idhlaq: Letters are easy and quick to pronounce because they emerge from the tongue tip or lips. They are collected in فر من لب. Al-Ismat: Letters require greater effort and stability to pronounce. #### Al-Hams and Al-Jahr Hams refers to “whispering,” or the continued flow of breath during the pronunciation of a letter. There are ten letters of Hams, collected in the phrase Fahathahu shakhsun sakat (فَحَثَّهُ شَخْصٌ سَكَتَ). These letters are Fa, Ha, Tha, Ha, Sheen, Kha, Saad, Seen, Kaaf, and Ta. Jahr is the opposite, meaning “apparent” or the trapping of breath. If a letter is not one of the ten whispered letters, it is a letter of Jahr, where the breath is obstructed, resulting in a clearer, stronger sound. #### Ash-Shiddah and Ar-Rikhawah Shiddah means “strength” and refers to the trapping of sound, not breath, behind the articulation point. The letters of Shiddah are Hamza, Jeem, Dal, Qaf, Twa, Ba, Kaaf, and Ta (أجد قط بكت). Rikhwah is “softness,” where the sound continues to flow during pronunciation. Between these two is a middle quality called Tawassut (moderation), found in the letters Lam, Noon, ‘Ayn, Meem, and Ra (لن عمر), where the sound is neither fully trapped nor fully flowing. #### Al-Isti‘la and Al-Istifal Isti‘la means “elevation” and refers to raising the back of the tongue toward the roof of the mouth, which makes the letter sound heavy or thick. The seven letters of Isti‘la are Kha, Saad, Daad, Ghayn, Twa, Qaf, and Zwa (خص ضغط قظ). Istifal is “lowering,” where the tongue remains at the bottom of the mouth, producing a light or thin sound. All remaining letters possess this quality. #### Al-Itbaq and Al-Infitah Itbaq (closing) is a more intense version of elevation, where the tongue is almost pressed against the upper palate. This applies to only four letters: Saad, Daad, Twa, and Zwa. Infitah (opening) means the tongue is kept away from the roof of the mouth, allowing air to flow between them. Even some heavy letters, like Qaf and Ghayn, have the quality of Infitah despite being elevated. #### Al-Idhlaq and Al-Ismat Idhlaq (fluency) refers to letters that are easy and fast to pronounce because they come from the tip of the tongue or the lips. They are Fa, Ra, Meem, Noon, Lam, and Ba (فر من لب). Ismat (restraint) refers to letters that require more effort and stability to pronounce. This pair is more related to the linguistic structure of Arabic words than to a significant change in the sound itself. ### Sifaat Without Opposites Some letters possess unique traits that do not have a counterpart. These specific Arabic letter characteristics give certain letters their most recognizable sounds. #### As-Safeer Meaning “whistling,” this is a sharp, whistling sound produced by the letters Seen, Saad, and Zay. It occurs because of the narrow passage the air must travel through between the teeth. #### Al-Qalqalah Meaning “echoing” or “bouncing,” this occurs when a letter of Shiddah, or trapped sound, carries a Sukoon. To release the trapped sound, a small bounce is made. The letters are Qaf, Twa, Ba, Jeem, and Dal (قطب جد). #### Al-Leen Meaning “ease” or “softness,” this applies to Waw and Ya when they have a Sukoon and are preceded by a Fatha. It allows the reciter to transition smoothly between these sounds, and it relates to specific [types of Madd](https://eilaf101.com/types-of-madd/) known as Madd al-Leen. #### Al-Inhiraf Meaning “drifting,” this is a quality of the letters Lam and Ra, where the sound drifts away from its original path because the tongue blocks the way. #### At-Takrir Meaning “repetition,” this is a specific trait of the letter Ra. It refers to the vibration of the tip of the tongue. Beginners are taught to limit this vibration so that they do not produce multiple “Rs” in one go. #### At-Tafashshi Meaning “spreading,” this belongs only to the letter Sheen. It describes the way the sound of the letter spreads throughout the mouth until it reaches the teeth. #### Al-Istitaalah Meaning “prolongation,” this is the unique characteristic of the letter Daad. It refers to the way the sound stretches along the side of the tongue from the back to the front. Read also about: [What Is Qalqalah? Meaning and Its Types](https://eilaf101.com/what-is-qalqalah-meaning-and-its-types-eilaf-institute/) ## Beginner’s Practice Checklist for Learning Sifaat Learning Sifaat of Arabic letters can feel overwhelming, but a structured approach makes it manageable. Use this checklist to build your skills gradually. ### Identify the Sifaat of Each Arabic Letter Start by taking one letter and listing its five permanent opposite-based traits. For example, for the letter Seen: - Is it Hams or Jahr? Hams — whispered. - Is it Shiddah, Tawassut, or Rikhwah? Rikhwah — soft. - Is it Isti‘la or Istifal? Istifal — light. - Is it Itbaq or Infitah? Infitah — open. - Is it Idhlaq or Ismat? Ismat — restraint. Then check for a unique trait: Seen also possesses As-Safeer. ### Practice Each Quality With Examples Focus on one specific Sifat for a few days. For instance, spend a week focusing on Isti‘la to ensure all your heavy letters sound thick and deep. Use common words from Juz Amma to practice. ### Listen and Compare Your Pronunciation Record yourself and listen to a master reciter like Sheikh Al-Husary. Pay close attention to the breath and sound. Do you hear the whispering in his Kaaf? Do you hear the bounce in his Dal? Compare your sound to his. ### Apply Sifaat During Quran Recitation During your daily Hifz or reading, do not try to apply everything at once. Choose one pair of opposites, such as Hams and Jahr, and try to apply them consistently across a whole page. Over time, these movements will become subconscious. Book the [Quran Recitation with Tajweed course](https://eilaf101.com/quran-classes/learn-quran-recitation/) now. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What Is the Difference Between Makharij and Sifaat? Makharij refer to the physical location where the sound is produced—the “where.” Sifaat refer to the specific characteristics and manner of the sound—the “how.” ### How Many Letter Qualities Are There? There are 17 main Sifaat recognized by most Tajweed scholars. Ten of these exist in pairs of opposites, and seven are standalone qualities without opposites. ### What Are Hams and Jahr? Hams is the continued flow of breath during pronunciation, or whispering, while Jahr is the obstruction of breath, producing an apparent or clear sound. Every Arabic letter must possess one or the other. ### Which Sifaat Should Beginners Learn First? Beginners should focus on Isti‘la (heaviness) versus Istifal (lightness) and Qalqalah (echoing), as these have the most immediate and noticeable impact on the quality of recitation.