By the end of this lesson
- Keep the seven heavy letters heavy
- Apply the main rāʼ rules
- Read the lām of ٱللَّه correctly
The seven letters of istiʻlāʼ (خ ص ض غ ط ق ظ) are always heavy. Most other letters are always light. Three letters change.
1. The lām in the name of Allah
| Before it | Lām is | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Fatḥah or ḍammah | Heavy | قَالَ ٱللَّهُ · رَسُولُ ٱللَّهِ |
| Kasrah | Light | بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ |
2. The rāʼ (main rules)
| Rāʼ is | When | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Heavy | It has a fatḥah or ḍammah | رَبِّ · رُسُلُ |
| Heavy | It has a sukūn after a fatḥah or ḍammah | مَرْيَمَ · ٱلْقُرْءَانُ |
| Light | It has a kasrah | رِجَالٌ |
| Light | It has a sukūn after an original kasrah in the same word, with no heavy letter after it | فِرْعَوْنَ |
There are a few special cases (such as a rāʼ sākinah after a temporary kasrah, or before a heavy letter). Your teacher will point them out as they come up.
3. Alif
Alif has no weight of its own. It follows the letter before it: heavy in قَالَ, light in كَانَ.
PracticeHeavy or light?
ر in ٱلرَّحِيمِShow answer
Heavy (fatḥah)
لّ in بِٱللَّهِShow answer
Light (kasrah before)
ا in طَابَShow answer
Heavy (follows ط)
ر in رِزْقًاShow answer
Light (kasrah)