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  2. Qaida Foundations
  3. Lesson 11

Sun and moon letters

اللام الشمسية والقمرية

The lām of ال is sometimes said and sometimes swallowed. It depends on the next letter.

Lesson 11 of 12About 10 minBeginner

By the end of this lesson

  • Pronounce the lām before moon letters
  • Merge the lām into sun letters
  • Recognise the shaddah that signals a sun letter
The lāmExample
Moon letter (qamariyyah)Pronounced, with sukūnٱلْقَمَرُ al-qamar
Sun letter (shamsiyyah)Silent; next letter doubledٱلشَّمْسُ ash-shams

The 14 sun letters

ت
ث
د
ذ
ر
ز
س
ش
ص
ض
ط
ظ
ل
ن

The 14 moon letters

ا
ب
ج
ح
خ
ع
غ
ف
ق
ك
م
ه
و
ي

PracticeSun or moon?

ٱلدِّينِShow answer

Sun: ad-dīn

ٱلْعَٰلَمِينَShow answer

Moon: al-ʻālamīn

ٱلنَّاسِShow answer

Sun: an-nās

ٱلْفَلَقِShow answer

Moon: al-falaq