Shīn

Shīn Letter Video:

This video demonstrates the Makhraj and characteristics of Shīn, and how to practically pronounce it with Quranic examples and the most common mistakes that reciters make when pronouncing it.

First: The Articulation Point of the Letter Shīn

Shīn is articulated from the middle of the tongue along with the corresponding part of the upper palate. It shares its articulation point with the letters Jīm (ج) and non-elongated Yāʾ (ي), as shown in the image.

Second: Main Characteristics of Shīn

Rakhāwah (flexibility), Tafash-shī (Propagation or spreading), and Istifāl (Lowering).

The articulation image of Shīn shows a gap between the middle of the tongue and the upper palate, allowing the sound to flow continously when pronouncing it, so the sound is not cut abruptly , which is the meaning of flexibility(Rakhawah).

One unique charicteristic of Shīn is 'Tafash-shī'—the spreading of its sound throughout the mouth when pronouncing it. No other letter shares this quality.

Shīn is also a lowered letter, meaning the back of the tongue remains low during pronunciation, resulting in a light sound (Muraqqaq).

Third: Pronunciation of Shīn in Different state with Quranic Examples

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

First: Shīn in non-vowelled (Sukūn) state:
أَشْ	أُشْ	إِشْ
﴿أَشۡيَآءَ﴾	﴿أُشۡهِدُ﴾	﴿وَٱلۡإِشۡرَاقِ﴾

Second: Shīn with short vowels (Harakat):
شَ	شُ	شِ
﴿شَفَٰعَةٞ﴾	﴿شُعَيۡبٗا﴾	﴿شِدَادٞ﴾

Third: Shīn with long vowels (Madd letters):
شا	شو	شي
﴿شَاعِرٞ﴾	﴿شُورَىٰ﴾	﴿شِيبًا﴾

Fourth: Shīn with shaddah (when it is doubled):
أَشَّ	أَشُّ	أَشِّ
﴿ٱلشَّجَرَةِ﴾	﴿ٱلشُّهَدَآءِ﴾	﴿ٱلشِّمَالِ﴾

Fourth: Common Mistakes in Pronouncing Shīn

1. Weakening its sound due to lack of reliance on its articulation point, e.g., ﴿ٱشۡتَرَوُاْ﴾. The correct way is to articulate it properly and apply the propagation (Tafash-shī) characteristic.
2. Pronouncing it heavily (Tafkhīm), especially near heavy letters, e.g., ﴿شَطَطًا﴾. The correct way is to pronounce it lightly (Tarqeeq).
3. Using the lips while pronouncing it, by rounding them forward, e.g., ﴿ٱلشَّيۡطَٰنِ﴾. The correct way is to pronounce it without rounding the lips.

الرعاية (175)، التحديد (105)، نهاية القول المفيد (51)، هداية القاري (1/66)، التجويد المصور (51)، المنير (57).

الرعاية (175)، نهاية القول المفيد (98)، هداية القاري (1/96)، التجويد المصور (97)، المنير (95).

Lesson Content

Lesson questions

1. الحروف العربية

Introductions