Bāʾ

Video of the Letter Bā’:

This short video presents the articulation and characteristics of the letter Bā’, demonstrating its correct pronunciation with Qur’anic examples, and highlighting the most common pronunciation errors made by readers.

First: The Articulation Point of the Letter Bā’:

The letter Bā’ is articulated from between the two lips when they are completely closed. It shares this articulation form with the letter Mīm, as shown in the image.

Second: The Main Characteristics of the Letter Bā’:

Shiddah (Intensity), Jahr (Audibility), Qalqalah (Bouncing), and Istifāl (Lowering).

In the image of the articulation point of Bā’, the lips are tightly closed together, preventing the sound from flowing; instead, it is cut off immediately—this is the meaning of 'Shiddah'(Intensity).

Bā’ is an audible letter, meaning no extra breath accompanies its sound during pronunciation.

Because it is both intense(Shadid) and audible(Majhoor)—blocking both sound and breath—it must be bounced(Qalqalah) to make the sound clear. Qalqalah(bounce) is the vibration of the letter’s sound in its articulation point.

Bā’ is a letter of Istifāl, which means the back of the tongue remains lowered when pronounced, making the sound light (Muraqqaq).

Third: Pronouncing Bā’ in Different States through Qur’anic Examples:

You can click on the word to hear the correct pronunciation.

First: Bā’ in the state of Sukūn (non-vowelled):
أَبْ	أُبْ	إبْ
﴿أَبۡوَٰبٗا﴾	﴿أُبۡسِلُواْ﴾	﴿ٱبۡنُواْ﴾

Second: Bā’ with short vowels (Harakat):
بَ	بُ	بِ
﴿بَعَثۡنَٰكُم﴾	﴿يَٰبُشۡرَىٰ﴾	﴿بِٱلۡغَيۡبِ﴾

Second: Bā’ with short vowels (Harakat):
با	بو	بي
﴿بَايَعۡتُم﴾	﴿بُورٗا﴾	﴿بِيضٞ﴾

Fourth: Bā’ with shaddah(when it is doubled):
أَبَّ	أبُّ	أبِّ
﴿وَأَبّٗا﴾	﴿رَبُّكَ﴾	﴿نُسَبِّحُ﴾

Fourth: Common Mistakes in Pronouncing the Letter Bā’:

1.Whispering it by allowing extra breath to accompany it, such as: ﴿بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ﴾. The correct pronunciation is audible without extra breath: ﴿بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ﴾. Allah Almighty says: ﴿بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ﴾.
2.Failing to apply Qalqalah(bounce) when the letter is non-vowelled (Sakin), such as in: ﴿يُبۡصِرُونَ﴾. The correct pronunciation includes Qalqalah: ﴿يُبۡصِرُونَ﴾. Allah Almighty says: ﴿وَتَرَكَهُمۡ فِي ظُلُمَٰتٖ لَّا يُبۡصِرُونَ﴾.
3. Pronouncing it heavily (tafkhīm), especially when adjacent to heavy letters, such as: ﴿بَصِيرٞ﴾. The correct way is to keep it light (Muraqqaq): ﴿بَصِيرٞ﴾. Allah Almighty says: ﴿إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِمَا تَعۡمَلُونَ بَصِيرٞ﴾.

الرعاية (229)، التحديد (106)، نهاية القول المفيد (55)، هداية القاري (1/69)، التجويد المصور (59)، المنير (65)..

الرعاية (229)، نهاية القول المفيد (119-120)، هداية القاري (1/98)، التجويد المصور (97)، المنير (95).

Lesson Content

Lesson questions

1. الحروف العربية

Introductions

Bāʾ