Correct recitation
A short map of the rules worth starting with before reciting aloud. For precise pronunciation it is best to learn with a teacher or a trusted course.
Rules learned: 0 / 6
Lengthening a vowel sound. It is important not to swallow long sounds, nor to stretch short ones where there is none.
وَلَا ٱلضَّآلِّينَ
In “aḍ-ḍāllīn” the vowel is stretched the longest (madd lāzim) — clearly longer than a normal madd.
A soft nasal tone in certain letter combinations. It should not be made harsh or too long.
إِنَّآ أَعْطَيْنَـٰكَ ٱلْكَوْثَرَ
In “innā” the nūn carries a shadda — the sound goes through the nose for about two counts.
When one sound passes into the next. It makes recitation flow, but the rule depends on the specific letters.
وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُۥ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌۢ
“Lam yakun lahu”: the final nūn merges into the following lām and is not pronounced separately.
The sound is recited neither fully openly nor fully merged. One of the subtle topics, best learned by listening to examples.
إِنَّ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ لَفِى خُسْرٍ
“Al-insān”: the nūn is neither pronounced clearly nor merged — it is hidden before the sīn.
A slight bounce of the sound in certain letters, especially when they carry a sukun or come at the end of a word.
قُلْ هُوَ ٱللَّهُ أَحَدٌ
Stopping on “aḥad”, the final dāl gives a light bounce — a short echo.
Correct stopping places help not to break the meaning of a verse and to breathe naturally while reciting.
ٱللَّهُ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ٱلْحَىُّ ٱلْقَيُّومُ ۚ
The small marks above the line (ۚ ۖ ۗ) show where you may stop and where the meaning is better kept whole.
To a Slavic ear these pairs sound nearly identical — but in Arabic they are different letters, and swapping them changes the word. This is the most common source of mistakes.
Both are “s”. But ṣād is said with the back of the tongue raised: heavy and hollow, almost echoing.
Tā is light, like an ordinary “t”. Ṭā is heavy, pressed, with a wider contact against the palate.
Ḍād is the hardest Arabic letter; it is made with the side of the tongue against the molars. Neither “d” nor “z”.
Hā is a light breath. Ḥā comes deeper, from the middle of the throat — no rasp, and not a “kh”.
Kāf is an ordinary “k”. Qāf is deeper, from the root of the tongue near the throat.
ʿAyn has no equivalent in European languages: it is a constriction in the middle of the throat, not a vowel.
Five points of articulation. Knowing them is half the work: most pronunciation mistakes happen right here.
ا و ي
The sound flows freely, with no contact — these are the letters of prolongation.
ء ه ع ح غ خ
Three pairs: deep throat, middle and the near edge.
ت د ط ن ل ر س ص ز …
The largest group — 18 letters: from the root of the tongue to its tip at the teeth.
ف ب م و
F — lip against teeth; b, m, w — both lips.
ن م
Ghunna lives here — the nasal sound in nūn and mīm with shadda.
The main rule: slowly. Fast reading blurs exactly the sounds you are learning.
This page is a guide, not a substitute for live checking of your pronunciation. The best way: listen to a reciter, repeat short passages, and have someone experienced check your mistakes.