Ghayn

Video of the Letter Ghayn:

This short video presents the articulation and characteristics of the letter Ghayn, showing how to pronounce it practicall y with Qur’anic examples, and highlighting the most common mistakes readers make when articulating it.

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First: Articulation Point of the Letter Ghayn:

The letter Ghayn is articulated from the closest part of the throat(which is the root of the tongue) withopposite the upper soft palate (uvula). It shares its articulation point with the letter Khāʼ, but Ghayn is slightly deeper, as shown in the diagram.

Second: Main Characteristics of the Letter Ghayn:

• Rakhawah (Flexibility) • Istiʿlāʼ (elevation of the back of the tongue)

The diagram of the articulation of Ghayn shows that the articulation point is open, allowing the sound to flow and not cut off abruptly. This is described as Rakhawah.

Ghayn is one of the letters of Istiʿlāʼ, meaning that the back of the tongue is raised, causing the letter to be pronounced heavily (Mufakham).

Third: Pronunciation of Ghayn in Different States with Qur’anic Examples:

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

Ghayn in the non-vowelled(Sukūn) State:
أَغْ	أُغْ	إِغْ
﴿أَغۡلَٰلٗا﴾	﴿أُغۡشِيَتۡ﴾	﴿ٱغۡتَرَفَ﴾

Ghayn with Short Vowels(Harakat):
غَ	غُ	غِ
﴿غَلِيظٖ﴾	﴿غُثَآءٗۚ﴾	﴿غِشَٰوَةٞۖ﴾

Ghayn with Long Vowels (Madd letter):
غا	غو	غي
﴿غَالِبَ﴾	﴿لُغُوبٞ﴾	﴿وَغِيضَ﴾

Fourth: Common Mistakes in Pronouncing Ghayn:

• Not pronoucing it accurately or merging it with Qāf when it comes after, as in: ﴿تُزِغۡ قُلُوبَنَا﴾. Correct: ﴿تُزِغۡ قُلُوبَنَا﴾. Allah says: ﴿رَبَّنَا لَا تُزِغۡ قُلُوبَنَا﴾.
• Pronouncing it lightly (Tarqīq), such as: ﴿غَيۡرِ ٱلۡمَغۡضُوبِ﴾. The correct pronunciation is heavy (tafkhīm): ﴿غَيۡرِ ٱلۡمَغۡضُوبِ﴾. Allah says: ﴿صِرَٰطَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَنۡعَمۡتَ عَلَيۡهِمۡ غَيۡرِ ٱلۡمَغۡضُوبِ﴾.
• Overemphasizing tafkhīm (heaviness)when it has a Kasrah, such as: ﴿مَا نَبۡغِي﴾. Correct: ﴿مَا نَبۡغِي﴾. Allah says: ﴿قَالُواْ يَٰٓأَبَانَا مَا نَبۡغِي﴾.
• Applying Qalqalah(bounce) when it is in a non-vowelled (sukoon)state, like: ﴿وَأَغۡرَقۡنَا﴾. Correct: ﴿وَأَغۡرَقۡنَا﴾. Allah says: ﴿وَأَغۡرَقۡنَآ ءَالَ فِرۡعَوۡنَ﴾.
• Pronouncing it like Khā’ or close to it, such as: ﴿يَغۡشَى﴾. Correct: ﴿يَغۡشَى﴾. Allah says: ﴿وَٱلَّيۡلِ إِذَا يَغۡشَىٰ﴾.
• Pronouncing it like Qāf or close to it, such as: ﴿يَغۡفِرُ﴾. Correct: ﴿يَغۡفِرُ﴾. Allah says: ﴿يَغۡفِرُ لِمَن يَشَآءُ﴾.

التحديد (104)، نهاية القول المفيد (50-51)، هداية القاري (1/65)، التجويد المصور (49)، المنير (54).

الرعاية (169)، نهاية القول المفيد (94)، هداية القاري (1/95)، التجويد المصور (98)، المنير (95).

Lesson Content

Lesson questions

1. الحروف العربية

Introductions