Istiʿlāʾ and Istifāl

First: Istiʿlāʾ (Elevation) and Its Letters

Istiʿlāʾ refers to the elevation of the back of the tongue toward the roof of the mouth (the palate) when pronouncing a letter.

The practical effect of Istiʿlāʾ is Tafkhīm (heaviness) of the letter.

The istiʿlāʾ letters are seven, grouped in the phrase: “Khoṣ Ḍaghṭin Qiẓ” (خص ضغط قظ), and they are: khāʼ (خ), ṣād (ص), ḍād (ض), ghayn (غ), ṭāʼ (ط), qāf (ق), and ẓāʼ (ظ). These letters vary in strength of Tafkhīm, in the following order: ṭāʼ, then ḍād, then ṣād, then ẓāʼ, then qāf, then ghayn, and finally khāʼ.¹

Levels of Tafkhīm

The level of tafkhīm of an Istiʿlāʾ letter changes based on its short vowel (Harakah). There are three levels:

1. First level: When the heavy letter has a Fatḥah (a), e.g.: ﴿بِٱلصَّبۡرِ﴾, ﴿وَغَفَرَ﴾, ﴿قَولٌ﴾.

2. Second level: When the heavy letter has a ḍammah (u), e.g.: ﴿قُلُوبِهِمۡ﴾, ﴿خُرُوجٖ﴾, ﴿طُبِعَ﴾.

3. Third level: When the heavy letter has a kasrah (i). This is the weakest form of Tafkhīm, referred to as “relative tafkhīm.” This weakness is more apparent in the open (Monfateh)Istiʿlāʾ letters (qāf, ghayn, khāʼ) as in: ﴿ٱلۡقِتَالُ﴾, ﴿غِلّٗا﴾, ﴿خِيفَةٗ﴾, than in the adhering (Muṭbaqah) letters (ṣād, ḍād, ṭāʼ, ẓāʼ) such as: ﴿صِدۡقٗا﴾, ﴿ظِلّٗا﴾.²

If the tafkhīm letter is in a state of sukoon(non-vowelled), it follows the short vowel(Harakah) before it. For example, associated with the Fatḥah level: ﴿يَقۡضِي﴾, with the Dammah level: ﴿يُطۡعِمُنِي﴾, and with the Kasrah level: ﴿أَفۡرِغۡ﴾.

Also, A non-vowelled(Sakin) heavy letter preceded by a non-vowelled(Sakin) Yāʼ (ي)is treated as the Kasrah level (third level), such as: ﴿زَيۡغٞ﴾, ﴿شَيۡخٞ﴾.³

Notes:

• 1.Take into consideration that the Adhering (Muṭbaqah) Istiʿlāʾ letters which are (ṣād, ḍād, ṭāʼ, ẓāʼ) are pronounced more heavily than open (Monfateh) Istiʿlāʾ letters which are (qāf, ghayn, khāʼ) for example: so ṣād in (يصلى) is pronounced heavier than Ghayn in (يغفر)
• 2- يستثنى من الساكن بعد الكسر الخاء المتعلقة بالفعل (خرج) كقوله تعالى: ﴿بِإِخۡرَاجِ﴾، ﴿وَقَالَتِ ٱخۡرُجۡ﴾، حيث تُقرأ مفخمة على أصلها، ويعود ذلك للراء المفخمة التي جاءت بعدها .

Second: Istifāl (Lowerings) and Its Letters

Istifāl refers to the lowering of the back of the tongue when pronouncing a letter. The practical effect is Tarqīq (lightness) of the letter.

The letters of Istifāl are twenty-two—the remainder of the Arabic alphabet after removing the seven Istiʿlāʾ letters.⁶

Some istifāl letters may be pronounced with tafkhīm in special cases. These are: the elongated alif, the Lām in the word “Allah,” and the Rāʼ. Ghunnah (nasal sound) is also treated similarly. Details of these cases will be explained in later lessons, InshAllah.⁷