Ẓāʾ

Video of the Letter Ẓā’:

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

The letter Ẓā’ is pronounced from the tip of the tongue touching the tips of the upper incisors. It shares its articulation point with the letters Dhāl and Thā’. The reader must slightly advance the tip of the tongue between the teeth for proper articulation, as shown in the image.

Second: The Main Characteristics of Ẓā’:

Rakhāwah (Flexibility), Jahr (Audibility), Istiʿlā’ (Elevation), and Iṭbāq (closure).

The image of Ẓā’ articulation shows an open space between the tongue tip and the upper incisors, allowing the sound to flow instead of being cut immediately—this is Rakhāwah(Flexibility).

It is an audible letter, meaning no extra breath accompanies its sound.

It is an elevation letter(Istiʿlā’), the back of the tongue is elevated during articulation, resulting in a heavy sound (Tafkhīm).

The middle and back of the tongue are also elevated during its pronunciation, adhering the tongue to the palate—a trait known as ' Istiṭālah '—which further intensifies its heaviness(Tafkheem).

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

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

First: Ẓā’ in a non-vowelled (Sukūn):
أَظْ	أُظْ	إِظْ
﴿أَظۡلَمَ﴾	﴿وَٱغۡلُظۡ﴾	﴿وَعِظۡهُمۡ﴾

Second: Ẓā’ with short vowels (Harakat):
ظَ	ظُ	ظِ
﴿ظَلِيلًا﴾	﴿ظُهُورِهِمۡ﴾	﴿ظِلّٗا﴾

Third: Ẓā’ with long vowels (Madd letters):
ظا	ظو	ظي
﴿ظَالِمٞ﴾	﴿حَٰفِظُواْ﴾	﴿عَظِيمٞ﴾

Fourth: Ẓā’ with shaddah (when is it doubled):
أَظَّ	أَظُّ	أَظِّ
﴿ٱلظَّمۡ‍َٔانُ﴾	﴿ٱلظُّنُونَا۠﴾	﴿ٱلظِّلُّ﴾

Fourth: Common Mistakes in Pronouncing the Letter Ẓā’:

1.Advancing the tip of the tongue excessively when pronouncing it, as in: ﴿ٱلظَّمَۡٔانُ﴾. The correct form is: ﴿ٱلظَّمَۡٔانُ﴾. Allah Almighty says: ﴿يَحۡسَبُهُ ٱلظَّمَۡٔانُ مَآءً﴾.
2.Confusing it with Ḍād in articulation, such as in: ﴿ظَلَمُواْ﴾. The correct form is: ﴿ظَلَمُواْ﴾. Allah says: ﴿وَتِلۡكَ ٱلۡقُرَىٰٓ أَهۡلَكۡنَٰهُمۡ لَمَّا ظَلَمُواْ﴾.
3.Pronouncing it between Zāy and Ẓā’, such as in: ﴿ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ﴾. The correct form is: ﴿ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ﴾. Allah says: ﴿قَالَ لَا يَنَالُ عَهۡدِي ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ﴾.

الرعاية (220)، التحديد (105)، نهاية القول المفيد (54)، هداية القاري (1/68-69)، التجويد المصور (57)، المنير (64).

الرعاية (220)، نهاية القول المفيد (115)، هداية القاري (1/97)، التجويد المصور (98)، المنير (95).

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1. الحروف العربية

Introductions

Ẓāʾ