Qalqalah is one of the rules of the science of Tajweed as it means the disturbance of the tongue and its movement when pronouncing one of the Qalqalah letters so that the letter appears with a strong and clear tone. We will talk in this article about the Qalqalah letters and what the difference is between major Qalqalah and minor Qalqalah.
Qalqalah letters
The Qalqalah letters are represented in the phrase (قطب جد) which is pronounced like this (Qutb Jud) and they are as follows:
- The letter (ق)(Qaf):
- {وَخَلَقْنَا لَهُم مِّن مِّثْلِهِ مَا يَرْكَبُونَ}
(Wa khalaqnaa lahum mim mithlihee maa yarkaboon)
[And We created for them from its like that which they ride.],
- {فَهِيَ إِلَى الأَذْقَانِ فَهُم مُّقْمَحُونَ}
(Fahiya ilal azqaani fahum muqmahoon)
[So they are up to the chins, so they are with heads raised.].
- The letter (ب)(Baa):
- {سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ الأَزْوَاجَ كُلَّهَا}
(Subhaanal lazee khalaqal azwaaja kullahaa)
[Exalted is He who created all pairs.].
- The letter (ج)(Jeem):
- {وَالشَّمْسُ تَجْرِي لِمُسْتَقَرٍّ لَّهَا ذَلِكَ تَقْدِيرُ الْعَزِيزِ الْعَلِيمِ}
(Wash shamsu tajree limustaqarril lahaa; zaalika taqdeerul ‘Azeezil ‘Aleem)
[And the sun runs [on course] toward its stopping point. That is the determination of the Exalted in Might, the Knowing.]
- The letter (ط)(Taa):
- {أَوَلَمْ يَرَ الإِنسَانُ أَنَّا خَلَقْنَاهُ مِن نُّطْفَةٍ}
(Awalam yaral insaanu annaa khalaqnaahu min nutfah)
[Does man not see that We created him from a sperm-drop?].
- The lette (د)(Daal):
- {لَقَدْ حَقَّ الْقَوْلُ عَلَى أَكْثَرِهِمْ فَهُمْ لا يُؤْمِنُونَ}
(Laqad haqqal qawlu ‘alaa aktharihim fahum laa yu’minoon)
[The word has already come into effect upon most of them, so they do not believe.].
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Definition of Qalqalah in Tajweed
Qalqalah in language means disturbance, but in the science of Tajweed, it means the disturbance of the tongue during the pronunciation of any letter of Qalqalah, which are represented in the phrase (قطب جد)(Qutb Jud). The levels of Qalqalah are divided into three levels: a major level, a middle level, and a minor level. Qalqalah was given this name because the sound that emerges from it during the disturbance of the tongue is a strong sound.
The difference between Major Qalqalah and Minor Qalqalah
The difference between major Qalqalah and minor Qalqalah is as follows:
Major Qalqalah
It means that a letter of Qalqalah comes stressed (mushaddad) or at the very end of the word. At that time, one must pause on it, such as:
- {وَلَقَدْ عَلِمُوا لَمَنِ اشْتَرَاهُ مَا لَهُ فِي الْآخِرَةِ مِنْ خَلَاقٍ}
(Wa laqad ‘alimoo lamanish taraahu maa lahoo fil aakhirati min khalaaq)
[And they certainly knew that whoever purchased it would not have in the Hereafter any share.].
- {وَنَحۡنُ أَقۡرَبُ إِلَیۡهِ مِنۡ حَبۡلِ ٱلۡوَرِیدِ}
(Wa nahnu aqrabu ilaihi min hablil wareed)
[And We are closer to him than [his] jugular vein.]
The letter of Qalqalah may also come sakin with an original sukoon, example:
- {لَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا الْإِنسَانَ فِي أَحْسَنِ تَقْوِيمٍ}
(Laqad khalaqnal insaana fee ahsani taqweem)
[We have certainly created man in the best of stature.].
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Minor Qalqalah
It means that the letter of Qalqalah is sakin in the middle of the word, example:
- {وَإِن كُنتُمْ فِي رَيْبٍ مِّمَّا نَزَّلْنَا عَلَى عَبْدِنَا}
(Wa in kuntum fee raibim mimmaa nazzalnaa ‘alaa ‘abdinaa)
[And if you are in doubt about what We have sent down upon Our Servant [Muhammad].],
- {قَالَ إِنَّكَ لَن تَسۡتَطِیعَ مَعِیَ صَبۡرࣰا}
(Qaala innaka lan tastatee’a ma’iya sabraa)
[He said, “Indeed, with me you will never be able to have patience.”],
- {وَیُبَشِّرَ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِینَ ٱلَّذِینَ یَعۡمَلُونَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ أَنَّ لَهُمۡ أَجۡرًا حَسَنࣰا}
(Wa yubashshiral mu’mineenal lazeena ya’maloonas saalihaati anna lahum ajran hasanaa)
[And gives good tidings to the believers who do righteous deeds that they will have a good reward.]
Importance of Qalqalah in improving Quranic recitation
The importance of the Qalqalah letters in the recitation of the Noble Quran lies in the addition of an aesthetic sound during the recitation of the verses. This gives the verses a special melody that distinguishes the reciter’s recitation.
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How to Pronounce the Qalqalah letters Correctly
The Qalqalah letters are pronounced correctly through the creation of a disturbance in the tongue upon the pronunciation of the letters. The goal of that is the manifestation of the sound and its emphasis in a strong and clear manner.
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The Role of Qalqalah in the clarity of quranic Meanings
Qalqalah has an important role in the manifestation of the meanings of the Quranic verses because it assists in the manifestation of the letters, especially at the end of words that contain the Qalqalah letters. Qalqalah is considered one of the basic rules of Tajweed that assists in the correct reading of the Quran, and it adds beauty and impact to the recitation.
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Common mistakes when pronouncing Qalqalah letters and how to correct them
There are some mistakes that may occur during the pronunciation of the Qalqalah letters. Among the most prominent of those mistakes are:
- The termination of the sound with a hamza, as the larynx must not be closed after the pronunciation of the Qalqalah letter.
- The stretching of the sound and its elongation beyond the allowed limit.
What do you say in Sujood in Arabic? We say: (سبحان ربي الأعلى) which means) [Glory be to my Lord, the Most High] three times or more.
FAQs
How to remember Qalqalah letters?
The Qalqalah letters can be memorized easily because they are gathered in the phrase (قطب جد) (Qutb Jud).
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Is Qalqalah obligatory?
Recitation without Qalqalah is permissible (Ja’iz), however, recitation with it is recommended (Mustahabb) for whoever is able, and for him is a great reward.
What are heavy letters?
The Qalqalah letters are represented in ق, ج, ب, ط, and د.
The Qalqalah letters are a part of the rules of the science of Tajweed. They mean the occurrence of a disturbance and movement of the tongue upon the pronunciation of the Qalqalah letters to cause them to be heard with a strong tone, whether the sukoon of the letter is temporary due to a pause upon it or it is original. They are represented in five letters which are contained in the phrase (قطب جد) (Qutb Jud).
