In Tajweed, mastering Tarqeeq—the art of light pronunciation—is essential for clear, beautiful Quranic recitation. Unlike Tafkheem (heaviness), Tarqeeq ensures that certain Arabic letters are pronounced softly and thinly, preserving both meaning and elegance.
In this guide, we’ll explore what Tarqeeq is, which letters follow this rule, and how to apply it correctly in your recitation, especially for variable letters like Ra, Alif, and Lam.
What is Tarqeeq in Tajweed?
Tarqeeq is the beautiful and delicate counterpart to Tafkheem. It is the rule of pronouncing letters with a “light,” “thin,” or “flat” sound, giving the recitation grace and clarity.
Definition of Tarqeeq
In Tajweed, Tarqeeq (التَرْقِيق) is the technical term for the lightness and thinness applied to a letter’s sound during pronunciation.
It is the default state for most letters of the Arabic alphabet, and it stands in direct opposition to the fullness of Tafkheem.
Tarqeeq Letters
The letters of Tarqeeq are known as Huroof al-Istifal (حُرُوفُ الإِسْتِفَال), which translates to “letters of lowering.”
This group includes all the letters of the alphabet except for the seven heavy letters of Isti’laa and the three letters with variable rules.
- The Letter س (Seen)
- The Letter ك (Kaf)
- The Letter ت (Ta)
- The Letter ذ (Dhal)
- Letter Lam ل (in some conditions)
- Letter Raa ر (in some conditions)
- Letter Alif أ (in some conditions)
Read More about: The Rules of Heavy and Light letters in tajweed
How to Pronounce the Tarqeeq Letters
Pronouncing a light letter is done by keeping the tongue in its natural, flat, and lowered position.
There is no elevation of the back of the tongue, which allows the sound to exit the mouth directly without any trapped resonance. The result is a crisp, clear, and thin sound.
Examples of Tarqeeq Letters
The beauty of Tarqeeq lies in its crispness and clarity. The best way to understand these light letters is to hear them, especially in contrast to their heavy counterparts.
This foundational skill is a core focus in Quranica’s Learn Tajweed for beginners Course.
1. An Example of Tarqeeq The Letter س (Seen)
The letter Seen has a light, sharp whistling sound. It is crucial not to confuse it with the heavy letter ص (Sad), as doing so can alter the meaning of the words.
“بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ”
bismi-llahir-raḥmaanir-raḥeem
“In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.” (Surah Al-Fatiha, 1:1)
The sound of the س (seen) is effortless and thin, produced with a smile and a flat tongue.
2. An Example of Tarqeeq The Letter ك (Kaf)
The letter Kaf is the light counterpart to the deep and heavy ق (Qaf). The Kaf is pronounced further forward in the mouth, resulting in a light, crisp sound.
“إِنَّا أَعْطَيْنَاكَ الْكَوْثَرَ”
innaa aṭaynaak-al-kawthar
“Indeed, We have granted you al-Kawthar.” (Surah Al-Kawthar, 108:1)
Listen for the light ك(*kaf*) at the end ofأَعْطَيْنَاكَ` and notice how it differs from a heavy Qaf sound.
3. An Example of Tarqeeq The Letter ت (Ta)
This letter is defined by its sharpness and a distinct whisper of air (hams) upon its release. It stands in direct opposition to the thick, blocking sound of the heavy letter ط (Ta’).
“تَبَّتْ يَدَا أَبِي لَهَبٍ وَتَبَّ”
tabbat yadaa abee lahabiw-watab
“May the hands of Abu Lahab be ruined, and ruined is he.” (Surah Al-Masad, 111:1)
The sound of the ت (ta) is quick and clean, with no resonance or fullness in the mouth.
4. An Example of Tarqeeq The Letter ذ (Dhal)
The letter Dhal has a soft sound, produced by placing the tip of the tongue on the edges of the top front teeth. Its lightness is the key difference between it and the heavy ظ (Dha’).
“ذَٰلِكَ الْكِتَابُ لَا رَيْبَ فِيهِ”
dhalika-l-kitaabu laa rayba feeh
“This is the Book about which there is no doubt.” (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:2)
The ذ (dhal) is pronounced gently and without any elevation of the back of the tongue.
Read More about: Tafkheem In Tajweed And Its Letters & Levels With Examples
Letters That Could Be With Tafkheem And With Tarqeeq With Examples
Beyond the always heavy and always light letters, a special group of three letters can be either heavy or light depending on the vowels and letters around them.
These letters are the Alif (ا), Lam (ل), and Ra (ر).
1. The Rules of the Letter Ra (ر)
The letter Ra (ر) has the most detailed set of rules, making it a unique topic of study. Its state changes between Tafkheem (heavy) and Tarqeeq (light) based on specific conditions.
When is Ra Heavy?
Generally, the letter Ra is pronounced with Tafkheem (heavy) when it has a fatha or a damma.
“رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ”
rabbi-l`aalameen
“[All] praise is [due] to Allah, Lord of the worlds.” (Surah Al-Fatiha, 1:2)
Here, the Ra has a fatha, so it is pronounced with a full, heavy sound: ‘RRRa’.
“رُزِقُوا”
ruziqoo
“…were provided…” (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:25)
With a damma, the Ra is also heavy, with a round and full articulation: ‘Ru’.
When is Ra Light?
The letter Ra is pronounced with Tarqeeq (light) when it has a kasra.
“فِي أَمْرٍ مَرِيجٍ”
fee amrim-mareej
“…in a confused state.” (Surah Qaf, 50:5)
The kasra under the Ra makes its sound light and thin, without any thickness: ‘ri’.
2. The Rules of Alif Madd (ا)
The rule for the Alif of prolongation (Alif Madd) is beautifully simple: it is a follower.
If the letter before the Alif is heavy, the Alif will also be pronounced with a heavy sound. If the letter before it is light, the Alif will be light.
“قَالَ”
qaala
“He said…” (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:30)
Because the ق (Qaf) is a heavy letter, the Alif that follows it also takes on a heavy quality.
“كَانَ”
kaana
“…was…” (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:34)
Here, the ك (Kaf) is a light letter, so the following Alif is pronounced with a light, thin sound.
3. The Rules of the Letter Lam (ل) in the Name of Allah
The letter Lam (ل) is always light, with one significant exception: in the name of Allah (الله).
If the name of Allah is preceded by a letter with a fatha or a damma, the Lam is pronounced with Tafkheem (heavy).
“هُوَ اللَّهُ”
huwa-llahu
“He is Allah…” (Surah Al-Hashr, 59:22)
The word is preceded by a fatha, so the Lam is pronounced with a glorious, heavy sound: ‘…allah’.
If the name of Allah is preceded by a letter with a kasra, the Lam is pronounced with Tarqeeq (light).
“بِسْمِ اللَّهِ”
bismi-llahi
“In the name of Allah…” (Surah Al-Fatiha, 1:1)
The kasra on the letter م (Meem) before it causes the Lam to be pronounced with a soft, light sound: ‘…illah’.
Read More About: Difference Between Tafkheem And Tarqeeq With Examples
Comparison With Tafkheem
The main difference between Tafkheem and Tarqeeq lies in the quality and weight of the sound produced when pronouncing an Arabic letter. Tafkheem, which linguistically means “to make something big or heavy,” is the rule for pronouncing certain letters with a full, thick, and resonant sound. This is achieved by elevating the back of the tongue toward the soft palate, which traps the sound and creates a “full mouth” effect.
The seven letters of tafkheem, or Huroof al-Isti’laa are (خ, ص, ض, غ, ط, ق, ظ) and they are always pronounced with Tafkheem, though the degree of heaviness can vary. This heavy articulation gives the recitation a quality of strength and glory.
In contrast, Tarqeeq is the rule for pronouncing letters with a light, thin, and flat sound, and it is the default state for most letters in the alphabet. Known as Huroof al-Istifal (letters of lowering), these letters are articulated by keeping the tongue in its natural, lowered position, allowing the sound to exit the mouth directly without any trapped resonance.
This results in a crisp and clear pronunciation. While most letters are either always heavy or always light, a few, such as the letter Ra (ر), the Alif (ا), and the Lam (ل) in the name of Allah (الله), can be pronounced with either Tafkheem or Tarqeeq depending on the specific vowels and letters that surround them, adding a layer of nuanced rules to their correct recitation.
Master Tafkheem And Tarqeeq with Quranica’s Expert Guidance
Understanding these rules transforms your recitation from mere reading into a profound act of worship, connecting you more deeply to the sacred text. It is a journey of precision, beauty, and devotion.
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Conclusion:
Understanding and applying the rules of Tarqeeq enhances both your precision and spiritual connection in Quranic recitation. By learning to distinguish between heavy and light letters, you not only avoid critical pronunciation errors but also elevate the beauty of your Tajweed.
Enroll in Quranica’s expert-led Tajweed courses to master Tarqeeq and recite the Quran as it was meant to be heard—clearly, reverently, and correctly.
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