The Arabic definite article "Al" (الـ) has two different pronunciations depending on the letter that follows it. Arabic letters are divided into Sun Letters (شمسية) where the Lam merges, and Moon Letters (قمرية) where the Lam remains clear.
Why Sun and Moon?
The letter Shams (ش — sun) is a sun letter — in الشمس (the sun), the lam disappears into the شin. The letter Qamar (ق — moon) is a moon letter — in القمر (the moon), the lam stays clear. This is how the names came from the Quran itself.
The 14 Sun Letters (Shamsiyya) — Lam Merges
ت
ث
د
ذ
ر
ز
س
ش
ص
ض
ط
ظ
ل
ن
Sun Letters — الـ + these = lam disappears
- ›The lam in الـ merges into the sun letter
- ›The sun letter gets a shadda (doubling mark)
- ›Result: you hear only the doubled sun letter, not the lam
Tip: Memory trick: all sun letters are articulated near the front of the mouth, near where Lam is made.
الشَّمْسُ
— Ash-Shams — the sun (ش is sun letter)
الرَّحْمَٰنُ
— Ar-Rahmaan — the Most Gracious (ر)
النَّاسُ
— An-Naas — the people (ن)
الدِّينُ
— Ad-Deen — the religion (د)
الصِّرَاطُ
— As-Siraat — the path (ص)
التَّوَّابُ
— At-Tawwaab — the Accepting (ت)
الضَّالِّينَ
— Ad-Daalleen — the misguided (ض)
الطَّيِّبَاتُ
— At-Tayyibaat — the good things (ط)
الظَّالِمِينَ
— Adh-Dhaalimeen — wrongdoers (ظ)
الزَّكَاةُ
— Az-Zakaat — the charity (ز)
The 14 Moon Letters (Qamariyya) — Lam Stays Clear
أ
ب
ج
ح
خ
ع
غ
ف
ق
ك
م
ه
و
ي
Moon Letters — الـ + these = lam stays clear
- ›The lam in الـ is pronounced clearly
- ›No shadda on the following letter
- ›Result: you hear a clear "al" then the letter
Tip: Memory: أَبْغِ حَجَّكَ وَخَفْ عَقِيمَهُ — contains all 14 moon letters.
الْقَمَرُ
— Al-Qamar — the moon (ق)
الْحَمْدُ
— Al-Hamdu — the praise (ح)
الْكِتَابُ
— Al-Kitaab — the book (ك)
الْمُؤْمِنُونَ
— Al-Muminoon — the believers (م)
الْعَالَمِينَ
— Al-Aalameen — the worlds (ع)
الْبَقَرَةُ
— Al-Baqarah — the cow (ب)
الْجَنَّةُ
— Al-Jannah — paradise (ج)
الْوَاحِدُ
— Al-Waahid — the One (و)
الْيَوْمِ
— Al-Yawm — the day (ي)
الْأَرْضِ
— Al-Ard — the earth (أ)
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Heavy and Light Letters — Tafkheem and Tarqeeq
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Madd Rules — Rules of Elongation
القاعدة النورانية
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