Makhaarij al-Huroof

The Hamzah (ء) and the light Ha (ه) originate from the very bottom of the throat, near the chest. Hamzah is produced by a sudden closure and release of the vocal cords. Ha is a breathy sound from the same region but without the sharp closure.

Ain (ع) and the emphatic Ha (ح) come from the middle of the throat. Ain requires a voiced constriction of the throat — a sound unique to Arabic. Ha (ح) is its voiceless counterpart, produced with friction but no vocal cord vibration.

Ghain (غ) and Kha (خ) are produced at the uppermost part of the throat, where it meets the back of the mouth near the uvula. Ghain is voiced (like a French 'r'), while Kha is voiceless (a raspy friction sound).

Qaf (ق) is produced when the deepest part of the tongue meets the uvula. Kaf (ك) is produced slightly more forward, where the back of the tongue meets the soft palate. Qaf is heavy; Kaf is light.

Jeem (ج), Sheen (ش), and Ya (ي) are all produced when the middle part of the tongue rises toward the hard palate (roof of the mouth). Jeem involves a full contact; Sheen involves friction; Ya is a glide.

Dad (ض) — the most unique Arabic letter — is produced from either side of the tongue pressing against the upper molars. Lam (ل) uses the tip and sides of the tongue touching the gum ridge and the sides of the upper teeth.

Noon (ن) is produced with the tip of the tongue touching the gum ridge behind the upper front teeth, allowing air through the nose. Ra (ر) comes from a similar area but with a slight roll or tap.

Ta (ت), Dal (د), and Taa (ط) are produced when the tip of the tongue touches the base (gum line) of the upper front teeth. Taa (ط) is the emphatic (heavy) version of Ta (ت).

Tha (ث), Dhal (ذ), and Dhaa (ظ) are produced with the tip of the tongue protruding slightly between the upper and lower front teeth. Dhaa (ظ) is the emphatic counterpart.

Seen (س), Zay (ز), and Sad (ص) are the whistling letters (Huroof as-Safeer). The tongue tip approaches the upper teeth with a narrow channel, producing a hissing airstream. Sad (ص) is the emphatic, heavy version.

Ba (ب) and Meem (م) are produced by pressing both lips together. Ba releases with a puff; Meem allows air through the nose. Waw (و) is produced by rounding the lips without full closure, creating a glide.

Fa (ف) is produced when the inner edge of the lower lip lightly touches the tips of the upper front teeth, allowing air to pass through with friction. Identical to English 'f'.

The Ghunnah (nasalisation) sound resonates from the nasal cavity. It accompanies Noon (ن) and Meem (م) when they carry a Shaddah, and also appears during Idgham with Ghunnah and Ikhfa. The Ghunnah is held for approximately two counts and adds a melodic, humming quality to recitation.

The Madd letters — Alif (ا) after Fathah, Waw (و) after Dammah, and Ya (ي) after Kasrah — originate from the empty space (Jawf) inside the mouth and throat. These are pure vowel sounds that carry no point of contact between articulators. The sound is simply shaped by the openness of the oral cavity.