Kāf

Kāf Letter Video:

This video demonstrates the Makhraj and characteristics of Kāf, 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 Kāf:

Kāf is articulated from the back of the tongue with the opposing part of the hard upper palate (Which is the hard area of the roof of the mouth). This area is slightly ahead of the articulation point of Qāf and closer to the front of the mouth, as illustrated in the image.

Second: Main Characteristics of the Letter Kāf

Shiddah (Strength), Hams (Whispering), and Istifāl (Lowering).

The image of Kāf’s articulation shows the back of the tongue closing against the hard palate, preventing the sound from flowing so the sound of Kāf is cut abruptly. This is the meaning of 'Shiddah'(intensity).

Kāf is whispered (Mahmoos), meaning that extra breath accompanies the sound.

Both the sound and the breath are blocked initially because of closure of the Makhraj, then the Makhraj opens allowing breath to escape distinguishing the Tā’ from other letters.

It is a lowered letter (Istifāl), meaning the back of the tongue is lowered when pronouncing it, resulting in a light (Muraqqaq) sound.

Third: Pronunciation of Kāf in Various States with Quranic Examples

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

First: Kāf in non-vowelled (Sukūn) state:
أَكْ	أُكْ	إِكْ
﴿أَكۡثَرَ﴾	﴿أُكۡرِهَ﴾	﴿إِكۡرَاهَ﴾

Second: Kāf with short vowels (Harakat):
كَ	كُ	كِ
﴿كَذَٰلِكَ﴾	﴿كُلَّمَا﴾	﴿كِتَٰبٌ﴾

Third: Kāf with long vowels (Madd letters):
كا	كو	كي
﴿كَادُواْ﴾	﴿كُونُواْ﴾	﴿كِيدُونِ﴾

Fourth: Kāf with shaddah (when it is doubled):
أَكَّ	أَكُّ	أَكِّ
﴿أَكَّٰلُونَ﴾	﴿تُزَكُّوٓاْ﴾	﴿نُمَكِّن﴾

Fourth: Common Mistakes in Pronouncing Kāf

1. Failing to whisper it when in a non-vowelled state (Sukūn), e.g., ﴿ذِكۡرَكَ﴾. Correct: ﴿ذِكۡرَكَ﴾.
2. Over-whispering it when it has a short vowel (Harakat), e.g., ﴿كُوِّرَتۡ﴾. Correct: ﴿كُوِّرَتۡ﴾.
3. Pronouncing it heavily, especially when it has a Dammah, e.g., ﴿تَكُونَ﴾. Correct: pronounce it lightly with correct Dammah sound.
4. Pronouncing it close to Qāf, e.g., ﴿كُشِطَتۡ﴾. Correct: ﴿كُشِطَتۡ﴾.

الرعاية (173)، التحديد (104)، نهاية القول المفيد (51)، هداية القاري (1/66)، التجويد المصور (50)، المنير (57).

نهاية القول المفيد (51)، التجويد المصور (68)، المنير (79 – 80).

Lesson Content

Lesson questions

1. الحروف العربية

Introductions

Kāf