Read this post to the end to get a detailed understanding of the letters of qalqalah!
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) received the Quran from Allah SWT in Arabic. His Companions (RAA) wrote it down and collected it into a book. After that, it was passed from Abu Bakr (RA), a companion of the Prophet Muhammad, Umar (RA), and finally Uthman (RA).
The Quranic script had several enhancements throughout the Abbasid Caliphate, including adding Fatha, Kasra, Dummah, and Tanween. In addition, Shaddah, the Iddhaar sign, the Madd signs, and the Ishmaam and Imaalah signs—some words in the Tajweed science that include Qalqalah letters—were added.
Everything about it is covered in this post, including the definition of Qalqalah, examples, and application guidelines.
Letters of Qalqalah
Qalqalah is one of the most fundamental tenets of Tajweed. We will also study its letters, meaning, and application today. Now let’s get going.
Qalqalah: What is it? One of the tajweed principles used to recite the holy Quran is Qalqalah, which is an echoing sound made when you find any of the letters of qalqalah: daal, jeem, baa, tah, and qaaf. But unless there is a sukoon symbol on the letter, the regulation is null and void.
But firstly we should know the main advantages of learning the Qur’an with Tajweed. This is because the Holy Qur’an is the only book whose recitation is regarded as a form of worship with great reward. This letter and no other book suited this talking.
Every Muslim is obliged to read the Qur’an as accurately as possible and in the exact manner that our Holy Prophet was revealed to.
It is also advised to study the Great Benefits Of Learning the Tajweed Quran before we discuss the Qalqalah Rules and begin practicing understanding them since they are equally significant and vital.
While reciting the Holy Quran, we also need to explain why these requirements are recognized and followed. Reading the Qur’an accurately by Tajweed’s guidelines is, as we all know, necessary to read it well. Therefore, we must understand the meaning and regulations of the qalqalah letters.
The Noble Qur’an was revealed to our Prophet Muhammad in this form (Tajweed) by God Almighty, who also gave him instructions to memorize its verses, reflect on their meanings, comprehend them, and embellish his recitation of them so that they stand out from other textual interpretations.
Thus, it is crucial to prioritize learning the Tajweed Rules, especially the 5 letters of qalqalah, and to devote enough time and effort to it. One of our most important jobs is to comprehend our responsibilities so that we can accept his kindness.
Continue reading to find out more about Qalqalah, its varieties, and its applications.
Meaning of Qalqalah in English
First, let’s talk about what the term “Qalqalah” means. In Tajweed, Qalqalah refers to the sound’s reverberation when it is Saakin, as opposed to its linguistic meaning of shaking or disturbance:
“وَالفَجْر”
“قل أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ الفَلَق”
The highlighted Saakin sounds in each of the Quranic verses were uttered with a faint echo or Qalqalah.
As you may have observed, the letters in the first two instances were initially Saakin, but the last example “الفلق” only has a Sukoon assigned upon halting; it does not have an original Sukoon identical to the others. The letters were pronounced with Qalqalah in both instances.
Letters of qalqalah in Arabic
In Arabic, qalqalah denotes echo or vibration. In Tajweed, Qalqalah signifies to upset the letter that contains Sukoon.
This indicates a Saakin, but without the mouth movement associated with vowel letters, those beginning with Fatha, Dummah, or Kasra. Without picking up the diacritical mark from the previous or subsequent letter, Qalqalah trembles to reflect that letter.
Its letters are divided into 5 letters of qalqalah. The letters of qalqalah are:
قطب جد (ق،ط، ب، ج، د)
To help you remember the meaning of these Qalqalah letters, try to recall the sentence composed of قطب جد. These five letters share the qualities of Jahr, which inhibits airflow during pronunciation, and Shiddah, which inhibits sound flow.
Only when these letters have a Sukoon is it noticed. Vowel signs are spoken naturally, without any echo-like or Qalqalah sounds.
How Should Qalqalah Be Pronounced?
The 5 letters of qalqalah that make up Qalqalah are daal, jeem, baa, tah, and qaaf. “ق, ط, ب, ج, د” as that is how they are written in Arabic. Simply place them in the sentence “قطب جد” to help you memorize them.
As long as the term has the Sukoon symbol, the rule is applicable regardless of where the letters are located inside the word.
The Qalqalah is caused by the tongue slipping on the back of the mouth without the jaw or mouth moving. In case you’re wondering what Qalqalah means in Urdu, the meaning remains the same even with its spelling.
The Trio of Qalqalah Types:
- Qalqalah Kubra (A Sharp Reverberation): The conclusion of an Ayah.
- Wusta Qalqalah (Medium Echoing): In the middle of an ayah, after a word.
- The Echoing of Light, Qalqalah Sughra: Whether at the start, middle, or finish of an ayah, in a word.
The Greater Qalqalah (strong): The letter’s echoing will be powerful if it appears after a word or verse and has a shaddah, at which point you should stop. As an illustration:
“تبت يدا أبي لهب وتبّ”
The letter “ب” had a shaddah at the end of the word “وتبّ,” and as a result, its qalqalah is strong after the verse.
The Intermediate: The letter’s echoing will fall somewhere in between the other two forms when it appears after a word without a shaddah. As an illustration:
“ما أغنى عنه ماله وما كسب”
The letter “ب,” which ends the word “كسب,” appears after the verse and is not covered by a shadda.
The Lesser Qalqalah (weak): you go straight to the remainder of the word when any one of the five letters is located in the word, causing the letter’s echoing to become weak. As an illustration: “في جيدها حبل من مسد”
Since the word “حبل” has the letter “ب” in the center, there will be a little echo.
What Makes letters of qalqalah Crucial?
Pronouncing letters becomes simpler when using letters of qalqalah. For instance, try pronouncing the following: أط. Were you able to read it without producing an echoing sound? Of course not; attempt saying أق and the identical outcome will occur. They must be spoken with the resonant sound, known as Qalqalah.
One of two things will occur if you attempt to speak it without echoing: either your tongue will become stuck and be difficult to release, or you will find it difficult to breathe. Another possibility is that you may just slip your tongue, causing the Qalqalah sound to reverberate.
The tongue slipping on the back of the mouth without the jaw or mouth moving is the source of the qabalah. You might attempt pronouncing the remaining letters, “أد”, “أج”, and “أب”.
Try saying the phrase “أبْناء” now, and you’ll notice that the echoing sound appears on its own without your awareness. At the end of the line, Qalqalah facilitates simpler word pronunciation. As an Imam once said:
“Qalqalah is necessary for these letters because they bear the characteristics of jahr (stoppage of the breath flow) and shiddah (stoppage of the sound flow); without them, there would be no sound!”
Typical Qalqalah errors:
With a non-Qalqalah letter, understanding the notion of letters of qalqalah could become simpler. Upon reading the word ٱل, we see that the front portion of the tongue touches the upper gums near the conclusion of the word. The Qalqalah effect occurs when we move our tongue away from this spot without muting the sound.
However, we shouldn’t bounce the letter Laam because it isn’t one of the Qalqalah letters. Making Qalqalah sound like non-Qalqalah letters is a rather common error.
Using a non-Qalqalah idea, it could be simpler to arrive at a Qalqalah concept. Upon reading the word (ٱ), we see that the tongue’s tip touches the upper gums at its conclusion. The Qalqalah effect may be achieved without muting the sound by moving the tongue away from this spot.
However, we shouldn’t be concerned about this letter as the letter Laam is absent from the letter Qalqalah. When producing sounds for letters that are not Qalqalah, this is a typical error.
Last Remarks
In conclusion, the Arabic word “qalqalah” means “vibration” or “echoes.” Everything you need to know about letters of qalqalah and the Rules is covered in this essay. However, you can always ask for our assistance if you want to learn more about Qalqalah Rules in Arabic or Qalqalah letters meaning in English!
Qualified experts who read the Quran with ease and who speak Arabic are employed by Al Hafidz Academy. They speak English well as well. As a result, learning the qalqalah letters in English is also simple. They can provide you a thorough education on this, in addition to providing worksheets for Qalqalah.
Enroll in our online Tajweed course or Quran recitation course if you or your kids want to learn more in-depth information on the letters of Qalqalah.
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