Sifaat Huruf Hijaiyah Tajweed (mutadhaddah/ghair mutadhaddah) .pdf

Ṣifāt al-Ḥurūf (the characteristics of the Arabic letters) are the qualities that describe how each letter is pronounced and give it a distinct sound, ensuring accuracy in Qurʾānic recitation. They are studied alongside makhārij al-ḥurūf (articulation points), since the makhraj tells us where a letter comes from, while the ṣifah explains how it is produced. Scholars divide them into two categories: those with opposites, such as jahr (strong sound) versus hams (flow of breath), shiddah (complete stoppage of air) versus rikhwah (continuous flow), istiʿlāʾ (heaviness) versus istifāl (lightness), and iṭbāq (tongue adhesion) versus infitāḥ (separation), as well as idhlāq (lightness and speed) versus ismāt (heaviness); and those without opposites, which include unique qualities like ṣafīr (whistling in س ص ز), qalqalah (echoing in ق ط ب ج د), līn (softness in و and ي after fatḥah), inḥirāf (turning in ل and ر), takrīr (slight vibration of ر), tafashshī (spreading in ش), and istiṭālah (elongation in ض). These characteristics are crucial because many letters share the same makhraj, and only their ṣifāt distinguish them—for example, between س and ص, or ق and ك. Neglecting ṣifāt can lead to mistakes in meaning when reciting the Qurʾān, while mastering them preserves the exact manner of recitation passed down from the Prophet ﷺ. Thus, the study of ṣifāt al-ḥurūf is not merely theoretical, but a practical necessity for every serious student of Tajwīd.

1. SIFAAT HURUF
By Ustazah Zahirah

2. INTRO.
As we encounter new people in our lives, we pick up
on their characteristics, their qualities and way of
being. We learn to appreciate or criticise these. In
the same way, the letters of tajweed all have rights
which we must abide by. They have characteristics, or
qualities, most of which we must embrace, and few
which we must avoid…

3. WHAT IS SIFAAT HURUF?
Sifaatul huroof: directly translates to “characteristics of
the letters”. It is important to study these to ensure they
are present during recitation, such that letters emerging
from the same makhraj (point of articulation) are
differentiated. Perfection in pronunciation cannot be
obtained unless both the sifah (characteristic/quality) and
makhraj are correct.

4. DISCUSSION
Are the letters in the Arabic alphabet the
same as how we pronounce the English
alphabet
Can we obtain the perfect pronunciation
if the qualities are missing? What is the
ruling? (haram/makruh)?

5. TYPES OF SIFAAT
Sifat Laazimah (permanent characteristics)
that characteristic which is part of the makeup of the
letter, it cannot be removed from it; it is a right
Sifat Aaridah (redundant characteristics)
that characteristic which “adds to” or “completes” a letter,
such that if it were to be removed from it, it would not
affect the actual letter; it is an additional right

6. SIFAT LAAZIMAH
Within this category, there are 17 characteristics spread
across two branches.
The first branch is sifaatul mutadaaddah, which means
opposing characteristics (that is, for any given
characteristic, there is an opposite characteristic).
The second branch is sifaat ghayr mutadaaddah, which
means characters without opposites.

7. SIFAT MUTADHAADDAH
Five characteristics, with five opposites total ten of
the 17 sifaat. Each letter has at least five
characteristics, one from either pair of opposites

9. SIFAT GHAIR MUTADHAADDAH
Encapsulates the remaining 7 of 17 characteristics.
Some of the above letters have an additional sifah
ghayr mutadaaddah.