Sīn

Video of the Letter Sīn:

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

First: The Articulation Point of Sīn:

Sīn is pronounced from the tip of the tongue with the inner surface of the lower incisors. The sound flows above the tongue and passes between the upper and lower teeth. It shares its articulation point with the letters Ṣād and Zāy, as illustrated in the image.

Second: The Main Characteristics of Sīn:

Rakhāwah (Flexibility), Hams (Whispering), Ṣafīr (Whistling), and Istifāl (Lowering).

The image of Sīn articulation shows an open articulation point(Makhraj) that allows the sound to continue flowing without being cut off abruptly, which is the characteristic of 'Rakhāwah'.

Sīn is a whispered letter(Mahmoos), which means that extra breath flows along with the sound.

It is also characterized by 'Safīr', which is the high-pitched whistling sound that occurs due to its flow between the teeth.

Also it is one of the letters of Istifāl(Lowering),which means that the back of the tongue remains low when pronounced, giving the letter a light sound (Muraqqaq).

Third: Pronouncing the Letter Sīn in Different States through Qur’anic Examples:

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

First: Sīn in the state of non-vowelled (Sukūn):
أَسْ	أُسْ	إِسْ
﴿بِأَسۡمَآئِهِمۡ﴾	﴿أُسۡوَةٌ﴾	﴿إِسۡمَٰعِيلَ﴾

Second: Sīn with short vowels (Harakat):
سَ	سُ	سِ
﴿سَوَآءٌ﴾	﴿سُجَّدٗا﴾	﴿سِرَّهُمۡ﴾

Third: Sīn with long vowels (Madd letters):
سا	سو	سي
﴿سَاعَةٗ﴾	﴿سُورَةٞ﴾	﴿سِيمَاهُمۡ﴾

Fourth: Sīn with shaddah(when it is doubled):
أَسَّ	أَسُّ	أَسِّ
﴿ٱلسَّمَآءِ﴾	﴿ٱلسُّجُودِ﴾	﴿ٱلسِّدۡرَةَ﴾

Fourth: Common Mistakes in Pronouncing the Letter Sīn:

1.Weakening its whistling sound (Safīr), as in: ﴿مَسۡغَبَةٖ﴾. The correct pronunciation is to emphasize the Safīr clearly: ﴿مَسۡغَبَةٖ﴾. Allah Almighty says: ﴿أَوۡ إِطۡعَٰمٞ فِي يَومٖ ذِي مَسۡغَبَةٖ﴾.
2.Mixing its sound with Zāy, such as: ﴿ٱلۡمَسۡجِدِ﴾. The correct way to pronounce a pure Sīn: ﴿ٱلۡمَسۡجِدِ﴾. Allah Almighty says: ﴿فَوَلِّ وَجۡهَكَ شَطۡرَ ٱلۡمَسۡجِدِ ٱلۡحَرَامِ﴾.
3.Adding Qalqalah(bouncing) when non-vowelled(Sakin), such as in: ﴿يَسۡمَعُونَ﴾. The correct way to avoid Qalaqalah(bouncing): ﴿يَسۡمَعُونَ﴾. Allah Almighty says: ﴿إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَأٓيَٰتٖ لِّقَوۡمٖ يَسۡمَعُونَ﴾.
4.Pronouncing it heavily (Tafkhīm), especially when adjacent to a heavy letter, which makes it sound like Ṣād, as in: ﴿يَسۡطُرُونَ﴾. The correct way is to pronounce it lightly (Muraqqaq): ﴿يَسۡطُرُونَ﴾. Allah Almighty says: ﴿وَٱلۡقَلَمِ وَمَا يَسۡطُرُونَ﴾.

الرعاية (211)، التحديد (105)، نهاية القول المفيد (54)، هداية القاري (1/68)، التجويد المصور (57)، المنير (63).

الرعاية (211)، نهاية القول المفيد (114)، هداية القاري (1/97)، التجويد المصور (97)، المنير (95).

Lesson Content

Lesson questions

1. الحروف العربية

Introductions

Sīn