Letter 1 of 29
Alif
Transliterated “alif”
ا
Its four forms
An Arabic letter changes shape depending on where it sits in a word. All four are the same letter.
- Isolated
- ا
- Initial
- ا
- Medial
- ـا
- Final
- ـا
Where it comes from
The oral cavity — no contact anywhere in the mouth
Carries a long "aa" when preceded by a fathah. It has no sound of its own.
More on this articulation point →Qualities
- Madd letter when carrying no vowel
Joining: Does not join to the letter that follows — one of the six non-joiners.
Common mistakes
- Treating alif and hamzah as the same letter
- Shortening the madd to one count
In the Quran
- 1:2الْعَالَمِينَAlif held for two counts