What is Makharij Al Huroof? Detailed Guide

To learn Arabic and to read and recite the Quran correctly, one needs to excel in all the articulation points and the pronunciation of the letters. The articulation points from which each Arabic letter sounds are called Makharij al Huroof.  Mastering the Tajweed makharij not only perfects the recitation but also helps students learn all the quran reading rules excellently. Learning Makharij al Huroof is highly important as the meanings can shift when makharij are ignored, which can result in serious misunderstandings of Quranic texts.

What is Makharij al Huroof?

The Arabic root word “خرج” translates to “to exit,” which gives rise to the term makharij (مخارج). This term refers to the specific places from which sounds “exit” or are articulated during recitation. Huroof means letters in Arabic. So,  each of the twenty-eight Arabic huroof has their distinct point of articulation known as a makhraj (the singular form of makharij).

Thus, Makharij al-Huroof precisely describes the areas in the mouth, throat, or chest from which the sounds of each letter are produced. This understanding is essential because the Arabic language is particularly sensitive to even minor errors in pronunciation. Mispronouncing words can lead to different meanings, which is especially critical when reading the Quran.

5 Main Makharij in Tajweed

There are 5 main vocal points to utter the letters of Arabic. The students need to understand each letter’s makhraj to avoid any wrong articulation.

• Al-Jawf: The Area of the Chest
• Al-Halq: The Throat
• Al-Lisaan: The Tongue
• Al-Shafataan: The Lips
• Al-Khayshoom: The Nasal Passage

1. Al-Jawf (the space in the throat and mouth)

The three Arabic long vowels (Madd letters) originated in this area, which is sometimes referred to as the empty gap.

• ا Alif Madd: is spoken without touching the tongue or lips.
• و Waw Madd is pronounced with a space and air moving between the lips.
• ي Ya Madd: Moving through the void with a relaxed tongue.

Example:  تِلْكَ مِنْ أَنبَاءِ الْغَيْبِ نُوحِيهَا إِلَيْكَ

2. Al-Halq,  (The Throat)

The throat is composed of three areas (upper, middle, and lower), from which six letters are formed: The words emerge from the base of the throat.

•  أ (Hamzah) and هـ (Haa) are pronounced from the deep throat.

Example: قُلْ هُوَ اللَّـهُ أَحَدٌ

• ع (Ayn) and ح (Haa) are pronounced from the centre throat.

Example: إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ  and بِسْمِ اللَّـهِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

• غ (Ghain) and خ (Khaa) are pronounced from the upper throat.

Example: صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا الضَّالِّينَ

Note: Quran Grace offers an advanced tajweed course specifically designed to teach Tajweed rules with proficiency.

3. Al-Lisaan, (The Tongue)

It is the greatest area of articulation, and 18 letters are articulated from different areas of the tongue.

• The Root/Base of the Tongue: Depending on how far the tongue goes into the soft palate, it produces letters like ق (Qaaf) and ك (Kaaf)
• The mid of the tongue: The letters like ش (Sheen), ج (Jeem), and ي (Ya) are uttered from the middle of the tongue.
• The sides of the tongue: To pronounce the letter ض  (Daad), put your tongue’s sides up against your molars.
• The tongue tip: Several letters, such as ت (Taa), د (Daal), س (Seen), ص (Saad), ز (Zay), and ث (Thaa), are articulated with the tongue tip touching or near the front teeth.

4. Ash-Shafataan, (The Lips)

A total of 4 letters are articulated from the lips.

• ف (Faa): Speak faa by pressing your upper teeth against your lower lip.
• The mouth movements for ب (Baa), م (Meem), and و (Waw) are to be rounded off.

5. Al-Khaishoom, (The Nasal Cavity)

No single letter originates from the nasal cavity, but as part of the nasalization process, it is the source of the nasal sounds used when pronouncing the letters م (Meem) and ن (Noon).

Makharij Chart with 17 Arabic Letters

Understanding makharij is crucial for perfect pronunciation and Quranic recitation since it guarantees the distinct and precise pronunciation of every letter. The 17 primary makharij, which are associated with individual letters, can be divided into various zones according to where they are located in the mouth and throat.

How to Utter Makharij of Arabic Letters?

A few rules need to be adhered to to attain perfect clarity and pronunciation:

• The first step is to understand where each letter should be pronounced and to accomplish this, you have to practice under a teacher’s supervision and pay attention to experienced Qaris.
• Certain letters, like س (Seen) and ث (Thaa), have remarkably similar positions of articulation. To prevent meanings from changing, it’s imperative to keep these letters distinct from one another.
• Because of their native tongue, some non-Arabic speakers commonly pronounce letters incorrectly. With regular practice, these issues can be resolved with appropriate articulation.
• Each Arabic letter has a power, softness, and heaviness that go well with its pronunciation. Using makharij and striking a balance between these traits guarantees appropriate articulation.

Conclusion

Understanding the makharij is essential for reciting the Quran accurately. To effectively convey the message of the Quran, precise pronunciation is crucial, and this can only be achieved by mastering these pronunciation points. While learning the makharij al huroof may pose challenges, it is vital to acquiring Arabic language skills. With consistent practice and guidance from qualified egyptian quran teachers, like those at Quran Grace in the online tajweed course, students can enhance their pronunciation and intonation, ultimately boosting their fluency in the language. So, join tajweed classes for adults, tajweed for children, and online tajweed classes for sisters to discover and develop your skills and enhance your quran learning today.