Hāʾ

Video of the Letter Hāʼ:

This short video presents the articulation and characteristics of the letter Hāʼ, demonstrating its practical performance using Qur’anic examples, and highlighting common pronunciation mistakes that readers may make.

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First: Articulation Point of the Letter Hāʼ:

The letter Hāʼ is articulated from the deepest part of the throat, specifically from the area of the vocal cords. It shares its articulation point with the letter Hamzah.

Hāʼ is produced when the vocal cords are apart, and this applies whether it is pronounced as a vowelled (mutaharrik) or non-vowelled (sākin) letter, as shown in the diagram.

Second: Main Characteristics of the Letter Hāʼ:

• Rikhawah (flexibility) • Hams (whispering) • Istifāl (non-elevation of the back of the tongue)

From the image of Ha’ Makhraj, it is clear that the articulation point remains open, allowing the sound to flow upon pronunciation, which reflects its characteristic of Rakhawah.

The letter Hāʼ is Mahmoos (whispered), meaning that an extra breath accompanies its sound.

It is also a letter of Istifāl; the tongue remains lowered, so the letter is pronounced lightly (Muraqaq).

Because Hāʼ is both flexible (Rikhow) and whispered (Mahmoos), it is considered one of the weaker letters, and therefore extra attention must be paid to its correct pronunciation—especially when stopping on it.

Hāʼ is also a letter of istifāl, meaning the back of the tongue remains lowered, thus it is always pronounced light (murakhkhaq).

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

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

Hāʼ in the non-vowelled (Sukun)State
أَهـ	أُهـ	إِهـ
﴿أَهۡدَىٰٓ﴾	﴿مُهۡتَدِينَ﴾	﴿ٱهۡدِنَا﴾

Hāʼ with Short Vowels(Harkat):
هَ	هُ	هِِ
﴿هُدٗى﴾	﴿هُمَزَةٖ﴾	﴿هِيَهۡ﴾

Hāʼ with Long Vowels (Madd):
ءهَا	هُو	هِي
﴿هَٰرُونَ﴾	﴿هُودًا﴾	﴿شَهِيدٗا﴾

Hāʼ with Shaddah (doubled):
أَهـَّ	أَهـُّ	أَهـِّ
﴿وَهَّاجٗا﴾	﴿يُوَجِّههُّ﴾	﴿فَطَهِّرۡ﴾

Fourth: Common Mistakes in Pronouncing Hāʼ:

• Failing to precisely articulate it, making it sound like breath, as in: ﴿ٱهۡدِنَا﴾. The correct pronunciation is: ﴿ٱهۡدِنَا﴾. Allah says: ﴿ٱهۡدِنَا ٱلصِّرَٰطَ ٱلۡمُسۡتَقِيمَ﴾. This also appears when stopping on it, like in: ﴿فَعَلُوهُ﴾. Correct: ﴿فَعَلُوهُ﴾. Allah says: ﴿كَانُواْ لَا يَتَنَاهَوۡنَ عَن مُّنكَرٖ فَعَلُوهُ﴾.
• Not clarifying its sound when adjacent to another Hā’, like in: ﴿جِبَاهُهُمۡ﴾. Correct: ﴿جِبَاهُهُمۡ﴾. Allah says: ﴿فَتُكۡوَىٰ بِهَا جِبَاهُهُمۡ وَجُنُوبُهُمۡ وَظُهُورُهُمۡ﴾. Also occurs when adjacent to Ḥā’, as in: ﴿وَسَبِّحۡهُ﴾. Correct: ﴿وَسَبِّحۡهُ﴾. Allah says: ﴿وَسَبِّحۡهُ لَيۡلٗا طَوِيلًا﴾.
• Pronouncing it heavily(Tafkhim), especially when next to a heavy letter, like: ﴿أَنۡهَٰرٗا﴾. Correct:is to pronounce it lightly(Muraqqaq)﴿أَنۡهَٰرٗا﴾. Allah says: ﴿وَيَجۡعَل لَّكُمۡ أَنۡهَٰرٗا﴾.
• Applying qalqalah(bounce) to it , like in: ﴿يُهۡدَىٰ﴾. Correct: ﴿يُهۡدَىٰ﴾. Allah says: ﴿إِلَّآ أَن يُهۡدَىٰ﴾.

الرعاية (155)، نهاية القول المفيد (90)، هداية القاري (1/95)، التجويد المصور (97)، المنير (95).

Lesson Content

Lesson questions

1. الحروف العربية

Introductions

Hāʾ