The quality/qualities with which a letter is pronounced is called sifah (plural: sifaat).

In the science of tajweed, sifaat are of two types:

• Laazimah – quality that is intrinsic in the letter
• Aaridhah – quality that is present due to the circumstance surrounding the letter

The sifaat laazimah is further broken down into two more parts:

• dhatiyyah – quality is necessary for the letter to be pronounced properly, if it is pronounced without this quality the letter will be incorrect/incomplete
• mahaliyyah – quality that describes the makhraj of the letter

Then dhatiyyah is further broken down into:
• Mutadhaadah – qualities that have opposites (5 pairs)
• Ghair Mutadhaadah – qualities with no opposites

 

Mutadhaadah
As we said that Mutadhaadah has 5 pairs, we will cover a pair at a time.

Pair # 1 – Hams & Jahr

• Hams – Hams literally means a whisper. The breath flows when pronouncing the letters of hams.

Ten letters that have hams:
فحث ه شخص سكت
• Jahr – Jahr literally means to announce something loudly. The breath is imprisoned when pronouncing the letters of jahr.

The remaining letters of the Arabic alphabet (not in hams) have jahr.

Pair # 2 – Shiddah & Rikhwah

• Shiddah – Shiddah literally means strength. The sound is imprisoned when pronouncing the letters of shiddah.

There are eight letters with this quality:
أجد قط بكت
• Rikhwah – Rikhwah literally means softness and the sound of the letters with this quality will flow.

Between the qualities of Shiddah and Rikhwah is the quality of Tawassut and five letters have this quality:
لن عمر
All the remaining letters not found in Shiddah and Tawassut have Rikhwah.

Note: The letters of Hams and Rikhwa do not depend on their makhraj as the other letters and that is why the air/sound continues to flow slightly.

Pair # 3 – Isti’la & Istifaal

• Isti’la – Isti’la literally means to elevate and the letters with this quality will be pronounced with the back of the tongue elevated.

Due to the back of the tongue rising, it creates a thickness in the letters.

There are seven letters with this sifah:
خص ضغط قظ
• Istifaal – the letters with this quality will not have the back of the tongue rise when pronouncing the letters

Not raising the back of the tongue results in a thin sound for these letters.

All the remaining letters not found in isti’la have istifaal.

Pair #4 – Itbaq & Infitah

• Itbaq is that quality in which the center of the tongue will meet and embrace the palate. This encompassing of the palate creates a hollow or “tunnel effect” in the mouth which enhances the thickness of the letter.

The letters of Itbaq are:
ص ض ط ظ
Note that these four letters are also found in the letters of Isti’la, but these four letters (of Itbaq) will be heavier than the other Isti’la letters.

The remaining letters fall under Infitah.

Pair #5 – Izhlaaq & Ismaat

• Izhlaaq – The letters with this quality are pronounced swiftly and with ease.

The letters of Izhlaaq are:
فر من لب
The remaining letters fall under the category of Ismaat.

Note that Izhlaaq and Ismaat have no affect on one’s recitation, unlike previously mentioned attributes, and have more to do with the linguistic aspect of the Arabic language.

 
Ghayr Mutadhaadah

There are seven qualities that are Ghayr Mutadhaadah:
1. Qalqalah – The letters with this quality will echo/bounce when they have a sakin.

The letters of Qalqalah are:
قطبجد
2. Safeer – The letters with this quality will make a type of whistling sound.

The letters with this quality are:
ص س ز
3. Tafash-shee – The letter with this quality, when pronounced, the sound of the letter will flow throughout the mouth.

The only letter with this quality is:
ش
4. Takreer – This quality is similar to “rolling your ‘R’s’”. The tongue strikes the palate multiple times.

It is only found in one letter:
ر
Note that this quality is to be avoided.

5. Leen – These letters are pronounced with ease and without much exertion

The letters with this quality are:

Wow Sakin preceded by a Fatha ex. بَوْ
Yaa Sakin preceded by a Fatha ex. بَيْ

6. Inhiraaf – It literally means inclination. These letters incline towards the makhraj of each other.It is found in the letters:
ر ل
7. Istitaalah – It literally means to lengthen. The sound of the letter is lengthened from the beginning of its makhraj to its end.

The letter with this quality is:
ض