Isti'la (Elevation)
Letter Qualities
الاستعلاء
The back of the tongue rises toward the palate for seven letters, making them heavy.
When it applies
- خ
- ص
- ض
- غ
- ط
- ق
- ظ
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.
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. |
Common mistakes
- Thinning these letters when they carry a kasrah.
- Confusing them with the conditional heaviness of ra.