Lam Shamsiyyah

Rules of Lam

لام شمسية

The lam of "al-" is silent before fourteen sun letters, and the following letter is doubled.

When it applies

  • ت
  • ث
  • د
  • ذ
  • ر
  • ز
  • س
  • ش
  • ص
  • ض
  • ط
  • ظ
  • ل
  • ن

How to pronounce it

Do not pronounce the lam at all. Move from the alif straight into a doubled sun letter.

Worked examples

Each is cited so you can find it in the mushaf and check it yourself.

ReferenceExampleNote
1:1الرَّحْمَٰنِLam silent, ra doubled.
114:1النَّاسِLam silent, noon doubled.

Common mistakes

  • Pronouncing the lam, giving "al-rahman" instead of "ar-rahman".
  • Failing to double the sun letter.

Other rules in this group