Fāʾ

Video of the Letter Fā’:

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

The letter Fā’ is pronounced from the inner surface of the lower lip with the tips of the upper incisors, as shown in the image.

Second: The Main Characteristics of the Letter Fā’:

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

In the image showing the articulation of Fā’, we see a space between the inner surface of lower lip and the tips of the upper incisors. The sound of the letter flows continuously and is not cut off immediately—this is the characteristic of Rakhāwah (Flexibility).

Fā’ is whispered, meaning that extra breath accompanies the sound during articulation.

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

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

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

First: Fā’ in non-vowelled (Sakin) state:
أَفْ	أُفْ	إِفْ
﴿أَفۡوَاجٗا﴾	﴿أُفۡرِغۡ﴾	﴿إِفۡكًا﴾

Second: Fā’ with short vowels (Harakat):
فَ	فُ	فِ
﴿فَأَحۡيَٰكُمۡ﴾	﴿فُرۡقَانٗا﴾	﴿فِدۡيَةٞ﴾

Third: Fā’ with long vowels (Madd letters):
فا	فو	في
﴿فَالِقُ﴾	﴿وَفُومِهَا﴾	﴿فِيهَا﴾

Fourth: Fā’ with shaddah(when it is doubled):
أَفَّ	أفُّ	أفِّ
﴿أَفَّاكٍ﴾	﴿لَمُوَفُّوهُمۡ﴾	﴿يُخَفِّفۡ﴾

Fourth: Common Mistakes in Pronouncing the Letter Fā’:

1.Not giving it its proper Rakhāwah(Flexibility) and hams (Whispering)—preventing the flow of sound and breath, as in: ﴿تَفۡعَلُونَ﴾. The correct way is to allow both sound and breath to flow: ﴿تَفۡعَلُونَ﴾. Allah Almighty says: ﴿إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَعۡلَمُ مَا تَفۡعَلُونَ﴾.
2.Applying qalqalah when it is non-vowelled (Sakin), as in: ﴿أَفۡوَاجٗا﴾. The correct pronunciation is without Qalqalah(bounce): ﴿أَفۡوَاجٗا﴾. Allah Almighty says: ﴿فَتَأۡتُونَ أَفۡوَاجٗا﴾.
3.Pronouncing it like the English letter 'V', such as in: ﴿وَٱلضَّفَادِعَ﴾. The correct way is: ﴿وَٱلضَّفَادِعَ﴾. Allah Almighty says: ﴿وَٱلضَّفَادِعَ﴾.
4.Pronouncing it heavily (Mufakham), especially near heavy letters, as in: ﴿فَغَفَرۡنَا﴾. The correct way to pronounce it lightly: ﴿فَغَفَرۡنَا﴾. Allah Almighty says: ﴿فَغَفَرۡنَا لَهُۥ ذَٰلِكَ﴾.

الرعاية (227)، التحديد (106)، نهاية القول المفيد (54)، هداية القاري (1/69)، التجويد المصور (58)، المنير (64).

الرعاية (227)، نهاية القول المفيد (118)، هداية القاري (1/97)، التجويد المصور (98)، المنير (95).

الدرس Content

Lesson questions

1. الحروف العربية

Introductions

Fāʾ