Tafkheem (تفخيم) and Tarqeeq (ترقيق) are two very important concepts in Arabic phonology. Also, in the science of Tajweed, which governs the proper pronunciation and recitation of the Quran, these concepts play a crucial role in ensuring the correct articulation of Arabic letters. They describe the modification of the pronunciation of letters to either make them “heavy” or “light”, which is essential for the beauty and accuracy of Quranic recitation.
Below, we will explore the definitions of Tafkheem and Tarqeeq. Then, we will shed light on the significance of Tafkheem and Tarqeeq in Arabic. We will also examine, in some detail, some rules of Tafkheem and Tarqeeq, such as the letters and levels of Tafkheem, as well as the letters of Tarqeeq, and the letters that can have both Tafkheem and Tarqeeq. Finally, we will tackle some special rules of these concepts with some examples.
Table of Contents
Tafkheem – Heavy Letters In Tajweed
Linguistically, “Tafkheem” is “glorification” or “magnification”. In Tajweed, “Tafkheem” means “thickening” of some sounds. it specifically refers to the articulation of certain letters in a way that makes them sound fuller or more resonant, often associated with “heavy” or “thick” way of pronunciation. Examples of heavy Arabic letters include “ض”, “ق”, and “ط”.
Tarqeeq – Light Letters In Tajweed
“Tarqeeq” is the opposite of Tafkheem. Linguistically, “Tarqeeq” is “softening” or “lightening”. In Tajweed, the term “Tarqeeq” means “thinning” of some sounds. It is often used to describe the “light” pronunciation of certain Arabic letters such as س, ت, and ب, to maintain clarity and smoothness in recitation. Most Arabic letters have Tarqeeq.
Tafkheem And Tarqeeq In Arabic
Having defined both terms, we need now to tackle some rules of Tafkheem and Tarqeeq. These are discussed below in more detail.
Tafkheem and Tarqeeq represent a very important aspect of Arabic phonology. Unlike most languages of the world, Arabic has this special phonological phenomenon. The issue of Tafkheem and Tarqeeq has a great influence on the meaning and the perceiving of Arabic words/phrases.
For example:
The word “قلب” with “ق” that has Tafkheem, means “a heart”. However, the word “كلب” with “كـ” that has Tarqeeq, means “a dog”. These are two words that have 2 letters in common and the third one has a very close place of articulation. Phonologically speaking, what makes this big distinction in meaning between these two words is that one of them has Tafkheem and the other has Tarqeeq, in just one letter.
Tafkheem Letters
Tafkheem letters are seven. They are combined in three words. Please see the image below.
So, these seven letters always have Tafkheem. However, their level of Tafkheem varies according to some factors, such as their Haraka and whether they are Sakin along with the Haraka of the letters that precede them. This point is explained below.
Levels Of Tafkheem
In Tajweed, there are five levels of Tafkheem. Some scholars believe these are four. However, the five-level approach is more accurate. Please see these levels below, in some detail, and with examples from the Quran.
1- The Strongest Level:
This applies when a Tafkheem letter is Mutahrik with Fatha (َ) and followed by an Alif (ا).
For example:
“ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ وَٱلصَّـٰدِقِينَ وَٱلْقَـٰنِتِينَ وَٱلْمُنفِقِينَ وَٱلْمُسْتَغْفِرِينَ بِٱلْأَسْحَارِ”
In this verse, there are three letters of Tafkheem (ص, ص and ق in the three bold underlined words), that are [1] Mutahrik with Fatha (َ) and [2] followed by an Alif (ا).
So the three of them have the strongest level of Tafkheem, here.
2- Less Strong Level:
This applies when a Tafkheem letter is Mutahrik with Fatha (َ) and not followed by an Alif (ا).
For example:
“قَدْ أَفْلَحَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ”
Here, there is a letter of Tafkheem (ق in the bold underlined word), that is [1] Mutahrik with Fatha (َ) and [2] not followed by an Alif (ا).
So here this ق has a less strong level of Tafkheem.
3- Moderate Level:
This applies when a Tafkheem letter is Mutahrik with Dammah (ُ).
For example:
“كِتَـٰبٌ أَنزَلْنَـٰهُ إِلَيْكَ لِتُخْرِجَ ٱلنَّاسَ مِنَ ٱلظُّلُمَـٰتِ إِلَى ٱلنُّورِ …”
In this part of verse, there is a letter of Tafkheem (ظ in the bold underlined word), that is Mutahrik with Dammah (ُ).
So here this ظ sound has a moderate level of Tafkheem.
4- Weak Level:
This applies when a Tafkheem letter is Sakin.
For example:
“فَكَفَّـٰرَتُهُۥٓ إِطْعَامُ عَشَرَةِ مَسَـٰكِينَ …”
In this part of verse, there is a letter of Tafkheem (ط in the bold underlined word), that is Sakin.
So here the ط sound has a weak level of Tafkheem.
5- The Weakest Level:
This applies when a Tafkheem letter is Mutahrik with Kasra (ِ).
For example:
“وَٱذْكُر رَّبَّكَ فِى نَفْسِكَ تَضَرُّعًۭا وَخِيفَة …”
In this part of verse, the letter of Tafkheem (خ in the bold underlined word), is Mutahrik with Kasra (ِ).
So here the خ sound has the weakest level of Tafkheem.
6- A Special Ruling Of Tafkheem Letters With Kasra
As we have seen, having Kasra (ِ) gives some Tafkheem letter the weakest level of Tafkheem. These letters are خ and غ along with ق that Kasra gives it some sort of weakness. This is evident in words like “غِل” and “خِزي”.
However, Kasra has almost no effect with four of the seven Tafkheem letters. These are ص, ض, ط and ظ. For example, both “الطَّامة” and “طِين” are given the same level of Tafkheem, although the former has Fatha (َ) and is followed by an Alif (ا) while the latter has Kasra (ِ).
Tarqeeq Letters
In Arabic, Tarqeeq letters are all Arabic letters except the 7 Tafkheem letters [خ – ص – ض – غ – ط – ق – ظ] as well as the three letters [ا – ر – ل of “الله”] that can have Tafkheem and Tarqeeq, depending on some factors. Thus, Tarqeeq letters are the majority of Arabic alphabet.
Very good examples of Tarqeeq letters in the Quran are the following verses of the Quran. Please see below:
“مَـٰلِكِ يَوْمِ ٱلدِّينِ ۞ إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ”
“فِى جَنَّةٍ عَالِيَةٍۢ”
ALL letters of these three verses are Tarqeeq letters. There are more examples of all-Tarqeeq verses in the Quran, however these are only three of them.
Letters That Can Have Tafkheem And Tarqeeq
In Arabic, three letters can have Tafkheem sometimes and Tarqeeq sometimes. These letters are Alif (ا), Lam (ل) of “الله” [Allah], and Raa (ر). Their Tafkheem/Tarqeeq status depends on some factors as explained below.
1- Alif (ا):
This sound follows the Tafkheem/Tarqeeq status of the letter/sound that precedes it.
For example:
“قَالَ رَبِّ ٱجْعَل لِّىٓ ءَايَةًۭ …”
Here, the Alif (ا) in “قال” is preceded by ق which is a Tafkheem letter. So the Alif here is given Tafkheem.
“مَا كَانَ إِبْرَٰهِيمُ يَهُودِيًّۭا وَلَا نَصْرَانِيًّۭا …”
Here, the Alif (ا) in “كان” is preceded by كـ which is a Tarqeeq letter. Therefore, the Alif is given Tarqeeq.
2- Lam (ل) Of “الله” [ِArabic: لام لفظ الجلال]
As an individual Arabic letter, Lam (ل) has always Tarqeeq. However, the Lam (ل) that is in the word “الله” – ONLY – has a special ruling, according to its case:
I – When it follows a letter that has Dammah (ُ) or Fatha (َ), it has Tafkheem.
For example:
“إِذَا جَآءَ نَصْرُ ٱللَّهِ وَٱلْفَتْحُ”
Here, Lam (ل) of “الله” follows the Dammah (ُ) of “نَصْرُ”. So it is given Tafkheem.
“وَٱللَّهُ خَيْرُ ٱلرَّٰزِقِينَ”
Here, Lam (ل) of “الله” follows the Fatha (َ) of “وَ”. So it is given Tafkheem.
II – When it follows a letter that has Kasra (ِ), it is given Tarqeeq.
For example:
“… قُلْ أَبِٱللَّهِ وَءَايَـٰتِهِۦ وَرَسُولِهِۦ كُنتُمْ تَسْتَهْزِءُونَ”
Here, Lam (ل) of “الله” follows the Kasra (ِ) of “بـِ”. So it is given Tarqeeq.
III – When it follows Tanween [Arabic: تنوين] (nunation), it has Tarqeeq.
For example:
“… لِمَ تَعِظُونَ قَوْمًا ۙ ٱللَّهُ مُهْلِكُهُمْ …”
Here, Lam (ل) of “الله” follows the nunation (ً) of “قَوْمًا”. So it is given Tarqeeq.
3- Raa (ر):
To sum up, all cases of Raa (ر) have Tafkheem, especially if it has Fatha (َ) or Dammah (ُ), or it is Sakin but is preceded by a Fatha (َ) or Dammah (ُ).
For example:
“… إِذْ أَخْرَجَهُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ …”
In this part of verse, the ر in “أَخْرَجَهُ” has Fatha and the ر in “كَفَرُوا۟” has Dammah. Therefore, both ر sounds here are given Tafkheem.
“وَكَمْ قَصَمْنَا مِن قَرْيَة …”
Here, the ر is Sakin and is preceded by a Fatha. So it is given Tafkheem.
“… وَلَوْ كَانُوٓا۟ أُو۟لِى قُرْبَىٰ …”
Here, the ر is Sakin and is preceded by a Dammah. So it is given Tafkheem.
However, there are some exceptions which give Raa (ر) Tarqeeq. These include:
I – When it has Kasra (ِ), such as “رِزق” and “رِجال”.
II – When it is Sakin and is preceded by a Kasra (ِ), such as “فِرۡعَوۡنَۖ”.
III – When it is Sakin, the letter that precedes it is Sakin, and the letter before that has Kasra (ِ), such as:
“فَلَمَّآ أَلْقَوْا۟ قَالَ مُوسَىٰ مَا جِئْتُم بِهِ ٱلسِّحْرُ ۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَيُبْطِلُهُۥٓ ۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُصْلِحُ عَمَلَ ٱلْمُفْسِدِينَ”
In this verse, if the reciter stops (makes Waqf) at the word “ٱلسِّحْر”, the ر letter will be Sakin and since it is preceded by a Sakin and a Kasra, then the ر is given Tarqeeq. However, if the reciter does not make Waqf at “ٱلسِّحْرُ”, the ر will have Dammah (ُ) and thus is given Tafkheem.
Read morea bout: What are the Leen Letters?
Special Tajweed Rules Of Heavy And Light Letters
Certain special rules govern heavy and light letters [Tafkheem and Tarqeeq letters] in Tajweed. The following are some of them.
1- Correct Place Of Articulation Of Similar Sounds Is Vital:
Tafkheem and Tarqeeq have special importance for differentiating between similar sounds with very close places of articulation. Examples of these are “س” and “ص”, “ت” and “ط”, “د” and “ض”, “كـ” and “ق”. Giving the wrong Tafkheem/Tarqeeq status can greatly influence the meaning.
For example:
“فَلَا يَصُدَّنَّكَ عَنْهَا مَن لَّا يُؤْمِنُ بِهَا وَٱتَّبَعَ هَوَىٰهُ فَتَرْدَىٰ”
[So do not let those who disbelieve in it and follow their desires distract you from it, or you will be doomed.]
In this verse, If the reciter pronounces the د [which is a Tarqeeq letter] of “فَتَرْدَىٰ” [English: or you will be doomed] with Tafkheem, the word perceived will be “فَتَرْضَىٰ” [English: or you will be pleased]. This is the complete opposite and thus is considered Lahn Jali (manifest error) (Arabic: لحن جلي) in reciting the Quran.
2- The Ghunnah Ruling:
Ghunnah [nasal sound] has a special ruling as far as the issue of Tafkheem and Tarqeeq is concerned. The Ghunnah follows the Tafkheem/Tarqeeq status of the letter/sound that precedes it. If that sound has Tafkheem, it is given Tafkheem and vice verse.
For example:
“إِنِّى ظَنَنتُ أَنِّى مُلَـٰقٍ حِسَابِيَهْ”
In the word “ظَنَنتُ”, the Ghunnah has Tarqeeq as the noon sound has Tarqeeq.
3- A Special Difficulty: Tafkheem And Tarqeeq Letters In The Same Word
Tafkheem and Tarqeeq letters do occur in the same word. Managing to properly give the right pronunciation for these very close letters can be highly challenging. Each letter must be properly pronounced with either Tafkheem or Tarqeeq.
For example, see the following word (Quran, 17:35):
In this word, there are two letters with Tafkheem [ق and ط] (those in red), and in between, there is a letter with Tarqeeq [س]. A very common mistake here is to pronounce the Tarqeeq letter (س) as if it has Tafkheem (ص) since this is easier for the tongue. So it is the job of a good reciter to properly pronounce each letter, whether it has Tafkheem or Tarqeeq.
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Conclusion
To wrap up, Tafkheem and Tarqeeq are essential aspects of Arabic pronunciation, especially in the recitation of the Quran. Correct application of these principles ensures that the reciter adheres to the precise phonetic rules of Tajweed, preserving both the beauty and the meaning of the Quran. That’s why studying them is vital for anyone striving to recite the Quran with the proper elegance and accuracy.
