Intensity, Flexibility, and Intermediary (Shiddah, Rikhāwah, Bayniyyah)

Fourth: Issues Related to the Combination of Some Attributes

• أ – اجتماع الهمس والشدة في (الكاف والتاء) :

  A - Combination of Hams (whispering) and Shiddah (Intensity) in kāf and tāʼ: These two letters possess both attributes. Shiddah implies complete closure, while Hams allows breath to flow, so how can we reconcile between them? The reconciliation is that the sound and breath are initially blocked due to closure of Makhraj, then breath flows after the articulation point opens. Thus, the letters are intense at the beginning and whispered at the end. ⁵

  والجواب: هو أن الصوت والنفَس في أول النطق بهذين الحرفين يكون محبوسًا؛ لانغلاق المخرج، ومن ثم ينطلق النفس بعد فتح المخرج، فيكون الحرفان في أولهما شديدين، وفي آخرهما مهموسين.

• ب – اجتماع الجهر والشدة في حروف (أجد قطب) :

  تجتمع في بعض الحروف صفتا الشدة والجهر، والشدة يلزم منها انغلاق المخرج، والجهر يلزم منه عدم جريان النَفَس، فكيف يُسمَع صوت الحرف؟

  B - Combination of Jahr (Audibility) and Shiddah (Intensity) in “Ajid Qutob” letters: These letters combine both Intensity and Audibility, Intensity means complete closure of Makhraj and audibility stops the flow of breath. So how is their sound heard? In these letters the sound is initially blocked because the Makhraj is closed, then it opens, allowing a slight sound to escape without breath. This is the Qalqalah Characteristic which applies to the letters in “Qutob Jad” (قطب جد). More details on Qalqalah will follow in a later lesson, God willing. As for the hamzah, it is not pronounced with Qalqalah because it is typically articulated softly and gently without exaggeration. ⁶