Laam (ل) in Tajweed has distinct rules affecting its pronunciation, alternating between heavy (tafkhīm) and light (tarqīq) sounds. It becomes heavy only in the name of Allah when preceded by a fathah or dammah, while a kasrah keeps it light. Laam Sakinah, carrying sukoon, is governed by the rules of izhar (clear pronunciation) and idgham (merging), with variations like Laam Shamsiyyah and Qamariyyah.
Have you ever noticed how the sound of the letter Laam (ل) in the name “Allah” changes depending on the word before it? It can sound full and majestic, as in “Abdullah,” or light and gentle, as in “Bismillah.”
This is no accident; it is a precise science of recitation known as Tajweed. The letter Laam has a unique set of rules that govern its very character.
Laam in Tajweed
In Tajweed, the science of Quranic recitation, Laam holds a special status. It is one of the few letters whose pronunciation quality can change from being light (thin) to heavy (thick) depending on its position in a word.
Laam in Arabic
In the Arabic language, Laam functions as a fundamental letter in roots of verbs and nouns. It also serves as a particle, such as the definite article “Al-” (ال) or the preposition “li-” (لِ), meaning ‘for’ or ‘to’.
How to Pronounce Laam?
The standard pronunciation of Laam is a light, clear “L” sound. You should make the sound from the front of the mouth, similar to the ‘l’ in the English word “listen.”
What is the Makhraj of Laam?
The makhraj (point of articulation) of Laam is from the tip of the tongue touching the gums of the upper front teeth. This includes the area from the two front incisors all the way to the second premolars on both sides.
Mastering this makhraj is a key first step and can be perfected in a course like Quranica’s Learn Tajweed for beginners Course.
Now that we know the letter, we can dive into its special rules in Tajweed. The pronunciation of Laam is beautifully dynamic, changing its quality based on the letters around it.
Rules of Laam in Tajweed
Laam rules in Tajweed primarily fall into two main categories. The first deals with its thickness (Tafkheem) or lightness (Tarqeeq), and the second governs its pronunciation when it is sakinah (still).
The Rule of Tafkheem (Heavy) and Tarqeeq (Light) Laam
This first set of rules determines the ‘color’ or ‘texture’ of the Laam’s sound. Depending on its context, the Laam can be pronounced with a full, heavy sound or its default light, thin sound.
Mastering this distinction adds a profound layer of authenticity to your recitation, making it more resonant and moving.
1. What is the Difference Between a Heavy Laam and a Light Laam?
A heavy Laam (Laam Mufakhamah) is pronounced with a full mouth, with the back of the tongue raised, similar to the “l” sound in the word “tall.”
A light Laam (Laam Muraqqaqah) is the default, pronounced with a thin, flat tongue, like the “l” in “leaf.”
2. When is Laam Pronounced Heavy?
The letter Laam is pronounced with Tafkheem (heaviness) only in the name of Allah (الله). This special rule is exclusive to the Divine Name and does not apply to any other word in the entire Quran.
3. What are the Heavy Laam Rules?
There are two conditions for pronouncing the Laam in the name of Allah (الله) heavily.
The Laam is made heavy if the name of Allah is preceded by a letter with a Fathah (ـَ). It is also made heavy if preceded by a letter with a Dammah (ـُ).
Examples of Heavy Laam in the Quran
Condition 1: Preceded by a Fathah (ـَ)
“قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ”
“Qul huwa Allahu ahad”
“Say, ‘He is Allah, [who is] One'” (Al-Ikhlas:1).
In this verse, the Laam in “Allah” is heavy because it is preceded by the letter waw (و) which has a Fathah.
Condition 2: Preceded by a Dammah (ـُ)
“يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ بِكُمُ الْيُسْرَ”
“Yureedu Allahu bikumu al-yusr”
“Allah intends for you ease” (Al-Baqarah:185).
Here, the Laam in “Allah” is heavy because it is preceded by the letter daal (د) which has a Dammah.
5. Tarqeeq al-Laam: The Light Laam
The Laam is pronounced with Tarqeeq (lightness) in all other cases.
This means if the Laam is in any word other than “Allah,” it is light.
The Laam in the name of Allah (الله) is also light if the letter preceding it has a Kasrah (ـِ).
Example of Light Laam in the Name of Allah
“بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ”
“Bismi Allahi al-Rahmani al-Rahim”
“In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.” (Surah Al-Fatiha, 1:1)
The Laam in “Allah” is light here because the letter before it (the meem) has a kasrah.
“الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ”
“Alhamdu lillahi rabbi al-‘alameen”
“[All] praise is [due] to Allah, Lord of the worlds.” (Surah Al-Fatiha, 1:2)
Here, the Laam in “lillah” is light because it is preceded by a kasrah.
If you wish to test your understanding of these rules, consider using Quranica’s Tajweed test and practice platform.
The Rules of Laam Sakinah (The Still Laam)
The second major category of rules applies to the Laam when it has a Sukoon (ـْ) on it. A proper understanding of Laam Sakinah is essential for a smooth and connected recitation, preventing awkward pauses or mispronunciations.
What is Laam Sakinah?
Laam Sakinah is a Laam (ل) that has a Sukoon (لْ) on it, meaning it carries no vowel.
Laam Sakinah can appear in the middle or at the end of a word, and its pronunciation is determined by the letter that comes after it.
Types of Laam Sakinah
Laam Sakinah is categorized based on the type of word it appears in.
Laam Sakinah is found in five forms: Laam al-Ta’reef (in the definite article), Laam al-Fi’l (in verbs), Laam al-Ism (in nouns), Laam al-Harf (in particles), and Laam al-Amr (the command Laam).
We will focus on the most common types you will encounter frequently in your recitation.
Type 1: Laam al-Ta’reef (The Definite Article ‘Al-‘)
Laam al-Ta’reef is the Laam Sakinah found in the definite article “Al-” (ال) that precedes nouns to make them definite. Its rule changes based on the letter that follows it, leading to two distinct outcomes.
1. What are Laam Shamsiya and Laam Qamariya?
These are the two rules governing the pronunciation of Laam al-Ta’reef. Laam Qamariya (the lunar Laam) is pronounced clearly (a rule known as Izhar), while Laam Shamsiya (the solar Laam) is merged into the next letter and is not pronounced (a rule known as Idgham).
2. Laam Qamariya Letters (The Letters of Showing/Izhar)
The Laam is pronounced clearly when “Al-” (ال) is followed by one of the 14 Qamariya letters. These letters are conveniently collected in the Arabic phrase: (ابْغِ حَجَّكَ وَخَفْ عَقِيمَهُ).
The 14 letters are:
- ء (Hamzah)
- ب (Baa)
- غ (Ghayn)
- ح (Haa)
- ج (Jeem)
- ك (Kaaf)
- و (Waw)
- خ (Khaa)
- ف (Faa)
- ع (‘Ayn)
- ق (Qaaf)
- ي (Yaa)
- م (Meem)
- ه (Haa)
3. Laam Shamsiya Letters (The Letters of Merging/Idgham)
The Laam is merged and not pronounced when “Al-” (ال) is followed by one of the 14 Shamsiya letters. Instead, the letter following the Laam is stressed with a Shaddah (ـّ).
The 14 letters are:
- ت (Taa)
- ث (Thaa)
- د (Daal)
- ذ (Dhaal)
- ر (Raa)
- ز (Zay)
- س (Seen)
- ش (Sheen)
- ص (Saad)
- ض (Daad)
- ط (Taa)
- ظ (Dhaa)
- ن (Noon)
- ل (Laam)
4. Laam Shamsiya and Qamariya Examples
“الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ”
“Alhamdu lillahi rabbi al-‘aalameen”
“[All] praise is [due] to Allah, Lord of the worlds” (Al-Fatihah:2).
Here, the Laam in “Al-Hamd” and “Al-‘Aalameen” is clearly pronounced because it is followed by the Qamari letters Haa (ح) and ‘Ayn (ع).
5. Laam Shamsiya Example (Silent Laam):
“وَالشَّمْسِ وَضُحَاهَا”
“Wal-shamsi wa duhaha”
“By the sun and its brightness” (Ash-Shams:1).
In this example, the Laam in “Ash-Shamsi” is silent and merges into the next letter, Sheen (ش), which is a Shamsi letter.
Type 2: Laam al-Fi’l (Laam in a Verb)
This is a Laam Sakinah that is part of the original root of a verb, appearing in the middle or at the end of it.
The general rule for Laam al-Fi’l is Izhar, meaning it is pronounced clearly, except in a few specific cases.
Example of Laam al-Fi’l:
“قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ النَّاسِ”
“Qul a’udhu birabbi an-naas”
“Say, ‘I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind'” (An-Nas:1).
In the word “Qul” (قُلْ), which is a verb, the Laam Sakinah at the end is pronounced clearly.
Type 3: Laam al-Ism (Laam in a Noun)
This is a Laam Sakinah that is an original part of a noun’s structure. Its ruling is always Izhar, meaning it is pronounced clearly without exception.
Example of Laam al-Ism:
“وَأَلْسِنَتُكُمْ وَأَلْوَانُكُمْ”
“Wa alsinatukum wa alwanukum”
“And your tongues and your colors” (Ar-Rum:22).
The Laam Sakinah in the nouns “alsinatukum” (أَلْسِنَتُكُمْ) and “alwanukum” (أَلْوَانُكُمْ) is pronounced with clarity.
Type 4: Laam al-Harf (Laam in a Particle)
This is a Laam Sakinah that appears in the particles “Hal” (هَلْ) and “Bal” (بَلْ). Its ruling is generally Izhar (clear pronunciation), except when it is followed by the letters Laam (ل) or Raa (ر), in which case it merges.
Example of Laam al-Harf:
“هَلْ أَتَىٰ عَلَى الْإِنسَانِ حِينٌ مِّنَ الدَّهْرِ”
“Hal ata ‘ala al-insani heenun mina ad-dahr”
“Has there [not] come upon man a period of time…” (Al-Insan:1).
In the particle “Hal” (هَلْ), the Laam Sakinah is pronounced clearly because it is followed by a Hamzah, not a Laam or Raa.
Izhar And Idgham of Laam Sakinah in Tajweed
Having explored the different types of Laam Sakinah, we can now group their rulings into two fundamental principles.
These are Izhar (clear pronunciation) and Idgham (merging), which dictate whether the Laam sound is fully present or assimilated into the next letter.
1. The Rule of Izhar (Showing) for Laam Sakinah
Izhar is the clear and distinct pronunciation of the Laam Sakinah, giving the letter its full sound without any buzzing (ghunnah) or merging. This is the default and most common rule for Laam Sakinah.
This ruling applies to Laam al-Ism (in nouns), Laam al-Fi’l (in verbs), and Laam al-Harf (in particles), as long as they are not followed by another Laam (ل) or a Raa (ر).
It also applies to Laam al-Ta’reef when followed by one of the 14 Qamariya letters.
Example of Izhar:
“فَاجْعَلْ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَكَ مَوْعِدًا”
“Faj’al baynana wa baynaka maw’idan”
“So make between us and you an appointment” (Taha:58).
In the verb “Faj’al” (فَاجْعَلْ), the Laam Sakinah is pronounced clearly as it is followed by the letter Baa (ب), which does not cause merging.
2. The Rule of Idgham (Merging) for Laam Sakinah
Idgham is the complete merging of the Laam Sakinah into the letter that follows it. When this happens, the Laam sound disappears entirely, and the subsequent letter is pronounced with a Shaddah (ـّ).
This merging occurs in two primary situations: with Laam al-Ta’reef followed by a Shamsiya letter, and with any Laam Sakinah (in a verb or particle) that is followed by the letter Laam (ل) or Raa (ر).
3. Idgham Mutamathilayn (Merging of Two Identical Letters)
This specific type of Idgham occurs when a Laam Sakinah is followed by a voweled Laam (ل).
The first Laam merges completely into the second, resulting in the pronunciation of a single, stressed Laam.
Example of Idgham Mutamathilayn
“قُل لَّا أَمْلِكُ لِنَفْسِي نَفْعًا وَلَا ضَرًّا”
“Qul la amliku linafsee naf’an wala darran”
“Say, ‘I hold not for myself [the power of] benefit or harm…'” (Al-A’raf:188).
Here, the Laam Sakinah at the end of “Qul” (قُلْ) merges into the Laam at the beginning of “la” (لَّا), so you pronounce it as “Qulla.”
4. Idgham Mutaqaribayn (Merging of Two Similar Letters)
This Idgham takes place when a Laam Sakinah is followed by the letter Raa (ر). Because the articulation points of Laam and Raa are very close to each other (mutaqaribayn), the Laam merges completely into the Raa.
Example of Idgham Mutaqaribayn
“وَقُل رَّبِّ زِدْنِي عِلْمًا”
“Wa qur Rabbi zidni ‘ilma”
“And say, ‘My Lord, increase me in knowledge'” (Taha:114).
In this verse, the Laam Sakinah of “Qul” (قُلْ) merges into the Raa (ر) of “Rabbi,” and you pronounce it as “Qur-Rabbi.”
Perfect Your Pronunciation with Quranica
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Conclusion
The letter Laam (ل) in Tajweed has unique rules that influence its pronunciation, making it either heavy (tafkhīm) or light (tarqīq) depending on its context. While the default sound of Laam is light, it becomes heavy in specific cases, especially in the name of Allah when preceded by certain vowels.
Laam’s articulation (makhraj) originates from the tip of the tongue touching the gums of the upper front teeth. Its sound can change based on the letters before and after it, which is why mastering its pronunciation is essential for correct Quranic recitation.
The heaviness (tafkhīm) of Laam occurs only in the name of Allah when preceded by a fathah or dammah, while a preceding kasrah keeps it light. Examples include “Qul huwa Allahu ahad” (heavy) versus “Bismillah” (light).
Laam Sakinah, which has a sukoon, is another important category. It appears in articles, verbs, nouns, and particles, and its pronunciation depends on the following letter. It can be pronounced clearly (izhar) or merged (idgham), as seen in the rules of Laam Shamsiyyah and Qamariyyah.
Idgham occurs when Laam merges with similar letters (like another Laam) or with Raa, creating a smooth and connected sound.
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