Thāʾ

Video of the Letter Thā’:

This short video presents the articulation and characteristics of the letter Thā’, 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 Thā’:

تخرج Thāʼ من طرف اللسان مع طرف الثنايا العليا، ويشاركها في المخرج حرفا (الظاء، والذال).

The letter Thā’ is articulated from the tip of the tongue touching the tips of the upper incisors. It shares its articulation point with the letters Ẓā’ and Dhāl.

Second: The Main Characteristics of Thā’:

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

يلاحظ في صورة مخرج Thāʼ انفتاح ما بين طرف اللسان وطرف الثنايا العليا، فيجري صوت الحرف عند النطق به، ولا ينقطع فورًا، وهذا ما يعبّر عنه بصفة “الرخاوة”.

Thā’ is a whispered letter(Mahmoos), which means that additional breath accompanies its sound.

Dhāl is an audible letter(Majhoor), meaning that there is no extra breath accompanies its sound.

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

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

First: Thā’ in non-vowelled (Sukūn) state:
أَثْ	أُثْ	إِثْ
﴿أَثۡقَلَت﴾	﴿يُثۡخِنَ﴾	﴿إِثۡمٗا﴾

Second: Thā’ with short vowels (Harakat):
ثَ	ثُ	ثِ
﴿ثَمَرَةٖ﴾	﴿ثُلَّةٞ﴾	﴿ثِقَالٗا﴾

Third: Thā’ with long vowels (Madd letters):
ثا	ثو	ثي
﴿ثَابِتٞ﴾	﴿فَٱبۡعَثُوٓاْ﴾	﴿كَثِيرٗا﴾

Fourth: Thā’ with shaddah (intensity):
أَثَّ	أثُّ	أثِّ
﴿ٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ﴾	﴿ٱلثُّمُنُ﴾	﴿ٱلثِّقَالَ﴾

Fourth: Common Mistakes in Pronouncing Thā’:

1.Extending the tip of the tongue excessively when pronouncing it, as in: ﴿أَثۡمَرَ﴾. The correct way is: ﴿أَثۡمَرَ﴾. Allah Almighty says: ﴿ٱنظُرُوٓاْ إِلَىٰ ثَمَرِهِۦٓ إِذَآ أَثۡمَرَ وَيَنۡعِهِ﴾.
2.Replacing it with Sīn, such as in: ﴿مَثَلُهُمۡ﴾. The correct way is: ﴿مَثَلُهُمۡ﴾. Allah Almighty says: ﴿مَثَلُهُمۡ كَمَثَلِ ٱلَّذِي ٱسۡتَوۡقَدَ نَارٗا﴾.
3.Replacing it with Tā’, such as in: ﴿فَكَثَّرَكُمۡ﴾. The correct way is: ﴿فَكَثَّرَكُمۡ﴾. Allah Almighty says: ﴿وَٱذۡكُرُوٓاْ إِذۡ كُنتُمۡ قَلِيلٗا فَكَثَّرَكُمۡ﴾.
4.Pronouncing it heavily (Tafkhim), especially when next to a heavy letter, such as in: ﴿أَكۡثَرَهُمۡ﴾. The correct way is to keep it light (Muraqqaq): ﴿أَكۡثَرَهُمۡ﴾. Allah Almighty says: ﴿وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكۡثَرَهُمۡ لَا يَعۡلَمُونَ﴾.

الرعاية (223)، التحديد (105)، نهاية القول المفيد (54)، هداية القاري (1/68-69)، التجويد المصور (57)، المنير (64).

الرعاية (223)، نهاية القول المفيد (117)، هداية القاري (1/97)، التجويد المصور (97)، المنير (95).

Lesson Content

Lesson questions

1. الحروف العربية

Introductions