Tafkheem & Tarqeeq

Introduction to Tafkheem and Tarqeeq

Tafkheem

Linguistically: magnification or thickening.

Technically: a fullness that enters the sound of the letter until the mouth is filled with its echo.

Tarqeeq

Linguistically: thinning, the opposite of Tafkheem.

Technically: a slenderness that enters the sound of the letter, such that the mouth is not filled with its echo.

The Alphabetic Letters Between Tafkheem and Tarqeeq

The alphabetic letters, with respect to Tafkheem and Tarqeeq, fall into three categories:

1. Letters always given Tafkheem: the Isti'la letters, gathered in "Khussa dagtin qizh."
2. Letters sometimes given Tafkheem and sometimes Tarqeeq: Alif, Raa, the Lam of the word "Allah," and the ghunnah of Ikhfa.
3. Letters always given Tarqeeq: the remaining alphabetic letters.

Letters Always Given Tafkheem or Tarqeeq

Letters Always Given Tafkheem

These are the letters carrying the quality of Isti'la (elevation).

As explained in the section on articulation points and qualities, the Isti'la letters are seven, gathered in "Khussa dagtin qizh."

The four Itbaq letters — Saad, Ddaad, Ttaa, and Zhaa — are given an especially strong Tafkheem.

The degree of Tafkheem in these letters varies according to their own vowel or the vowel of the letter preceding them.

There are four degrees (from strongest to weakest):

First degree: when the Tafkheem letter is fatha-voweled and followed by an Alif. For example:

﴾Wala-dh-dhalleen﴿ (Al-Fatiha: 7)

﴾Hatta zurtumu-l-maqabir﴿ (At-Takathur: 2)

﴾Wama adraka ma-tt-ttariq﴿ (At-Tariq: 2)

Second degree: when the Tafkheem letter is fatha-voweled, not followed by an Alif. For example:

﴾Allahu-s-Samad﴿ (Al-Ikhlas: 2)

﴾Min sharri ma khalaq﴿ (Al-Falaq: 2)

Third degree: when the Tafkheem letter is damma-voweled. For example:

﴾Ghulibati-r-Room﴿ (Ar-Rum: 2)

﴾Fatubi'a 'ala quloobihim﴿ (Al-Munafiqun: 3)

Fourth degree: when the Tafkheem letter is kasra-voweled. For example:

﴾Inna-l-muttaqeena fee zhilalin wa'uyoon﴿ (Al-Mursalat: 41)

﴾Ihdina-ss-sirata-l-mustaqim﴿ (Al-Fatiha: 6)

When the Tafkheem letter is silent, its degree of Tafkheem follows the vowel of the preceding letter. If preceded by a fatha, it falls into the second degree, as in:

﴾Yateeman dha maqrabah﴿ (Al-Balad: 15)

If preceded by a damma, it falls into the third degree, as in:

﴾Ya ayyatuha-n-nafsu-l-mutma'innah﴿ (Al-Fajr: 27)

If preceded by a kasra, it falls into the fourth degree, as in:

﴾Wayukhrijukum ikhraja﴿ (Nuh: 18)

Letters Always Given Tarqeeq

These are the remaining alphabetic letters, apart from the Isti'la letters ("Khussa dagtin qizh") and the letters given sometimes Tafkheem and sometimes Tarqeeq (Raa, Lam, and Alif).

These letters are always given Tarqeeq, regardless of their own vowel, the vowel preceding them, or the letter following them: Hamzah, Baa, Taa, Thaa, Jeem, Haa, Daal, Dhaal, Zaa, Seen, Sheen, 'Ayn, Faa, Kaaf, Meem, Noon, Haa (light), Waw, Yaa.