Letter Qualities
Isti'la (Elevation)
The back of the tongue rises toward the palate for seven letters, making them heavy.
الاستعلاء
Scope
When it applies
- خ
- ص
- ض
- غ
- ط
- ق
- ظ
Method
How to pronounce it
Raise the rear of the tongue. These seven are always heavy regardless of their vowel — unlike ra and the lam of Allah.
Examples
Worked examples
Each is cited so you can find it in the mushaf and check it yourself.
| Reference | Example | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 1:6 | الصِّرَاطَ | Sad and ta are both heavy. |
Honestly
Common mistakes
- Thinning these letters when they carry a kasrah.
- Confusing them with the conditional heaviness of ra.
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 Isti'la (Elevation)?
The back of the tongue rises toward the palate for seven letters, making them heavy.
Which letters does Isti'la (Elevation) apply to?
خ، ص، ض، غ، ط، ق، ظ — 7 letters in total.
How is Isti'la (Elevation) applied?
Raise the rear of the tongue. These seven are always heavy regardless of their vowel — unlike ra and the lam of Allah.
What mistakes are common with Isti'la (Elevation)?
Thinning these letters when they carry a kasrah. and Confusing them with the conditional heaviness of ra.. These are the reason the rule is learned with a tutor listening rather than from a written description.
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