Lām

Lām Letter Video:

This video demonstrates the Makhraj and characteristics of Lām, 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 Lām

Lām is articulated from the front area of the tongue’s edge to its end at the tip, with the corresponding gums of the upper teeth, as shown in the image.

Second: Main Characteristics of Lām

Inḥirāf (Deviation), Bayniyyah (Partial flow or intermediate), and Istifāl (Lowering).

The articulation image of Lām shows the tip of the tongue closing on the gums of upper teeth, which causes the sound to deviate to the right and left because the passage of sound is blocked by the tip of the tongue—this is the trait of 'Inḥirāf'(Deviation).

This deviation causes a partial flow of the sound, which is the trait of 'Bayniyyah'.

It is a lowered letter(Mustafil), as the back of the tongue remains low during pronunciation, making it light (Muraqqaq).

Although Lām is a light letter, it is pronounced heavily in certain cases, particularly in the word 'Allah' (الله), where the back of the tongue is elevated, as shown in the second image. Details will be explained later.

Third: Pronunciation of Lām in Various States with Quranic Examples

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

First: Lām in non-vowelled (Sukūn) state:
أَلْ	أُلْ	إِلْ
﴿أَلۡفَافًا﴾	﴿أُلۡقُواْ﴾	﴿إِلۡحَافٗا﴾

Second: Lām with short vowels (Harakat):
لَ	لُ	لِ
﴿لَعَلَّكُمۡ﴾	﴿لُغُوبٞ﴾	﴿لِلَّهِ﴾

Third: Lām with long vowels (Madd letters):
No	لو	لي
﴿لَٰبِثِينَ﴾	﴿لُوطٗا﴾	﴿عَلِيمُ﴾

Fourth: Lām with shaddah(doubled):
أَلَّ	أَلُّ	أَلِّ
﴿ٱلَّيۡلِ﴾	﴿ٱللُّؤۡلُؤُ﴾	﴿يُعَلِّمُونَ﴾

Fourth: Common Mistakes in Pronouncing Lām

1. Pronouncing it as an intense letter (Shadid) with sound being cut of upruptly, especially when doubled, e.g., ﴿تَٱللَّهِ﴾. Correct way: allow partial sound flow.
2. Merging it with a following Nūn, e.g., ﴿جَعَلۡنَا﴾. Correct: ﴿جَعَلۡنَا﴾.
ثالثًا: إدغام اللام القمرية في الجيمsuch as: ﴿ٱلۡجِبَالَ﴾، والصواب: ﴿ٱلۡجِبَالَ﴾، قال الله تعالى: ﴿وَٱلۡجِبَالَ أَوۡتَادٗا﴾.
4. Pronouncing it heavily near heavy letters, e.g., ﴿ٱللَّطِيفُ﴾. Correct: pronounce it lightly.
5. Mixing its sound with Ghunnah (nasal sound), e.g., ﴿بِٱللَّهِ﴾. Correct: avoid nasalization.

الرعاية (188)، التحديد (106)، نهاية القول المفيد (52)، هداية القاري (1/67)، التجويد المصور (53)، المنير (60).

الرعاية (188)، نهاية القول المفيد (103)، هداية القاري (1/96)، التجويد المصور (98)، المنير (95).

الدرس Content

Lesson questions

1. الحروف العربية

Introductions

Lām