Articulation Points
Al-Lisan (The Tongue)
The tongue, the most productive articulation area, with ten points producing eighteen letters.
اللسان
Scope
When it applies
- ق
- ك
- ج
- ش
- ي
- ض
- ل
- ن
- ر
- ط
- د
- ت
- ص
- ز
- س
- ظ
- ذ
- ث
Method
How to pronounce it
Work from the back forward: qaf and kaf at the rear, then the middle, the sides for dad, and the tip for the majority.
Examples
Worked examples
Each is cited so you can find it in the mushaf and check it yourself.
| Reference | Example | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 112:1 | قُلْ | Qaf from the back of the tongue. |
| 1:7 | الضَّالِّينَ | Dad from the side of the tongue. |
Honestly
Common mistakes
- Pronouncing dad as a heavy dal.
- Bringing qaf forward so it sounds like kaf.
Related
Other rules in this group
Rules are learned by ear, not by list
A tutor hears the sound you are making and corrects it. That is the part a written rule cannot do.
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Questions about this rule
What is Al-Lisan (The Tongue)?
The tongue, the most productive articulation area, with ten points producing eighteen letters.
Which letters does Al-Lisan (The Tongue) apply to?
ق، ك، ج، ش، ي، ض، ل، ن، ر، ط، د، ت، ص، ز، س، ظ، ذ، ث — 18 letters in total.
How is Al-Lisan (The Tongue) applied?
Work from the back forward: qaf and kaf at the rear, then the middle, the sides for dad, and the tip for the majority.
What mistakes are common with Al-Lisan (The Tongue)?
Pronouncing dad as a heavy dal. and Bringing qaf forward so it sounds like kaf.. These are the reason the rule is learned with a tutor listening rather than from a written description.
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