The Qalqalah letters in the Quran—ق, ط, ب, ج, and د—produce a distinct echo when pronounced with a sukoon (no vowel). These letters, grouped as “قطب جد” for easy memorization, are known for their attributes of Jahr and Shiddah, which block airflow and sound, creating a vibrating effect.
Qalqalah only occurs when these letters are followed by a sukoon, adding rhythm and clarity to Quranic recitation.
Qalqalah letters:
The letters of Qalqalah in the Holy Quran are 5 letters and they are
(ق – ط – ب – ج – د) They can be combined in the word قطب جد to facilitate their memorization.
And these letters have the attribute of Jahr – preventing the airflow when pronouncing them – and Shiddah – preventing the flow of sound when pronouncing them.
Qalqalah is applied to these letters only in the case of sukoon, but in the case of vowels it is not pronounced with Qalqalah or echo.
for example:
The Almighty’s saying
(وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُمْ بِشَيْءٍ مِنَ الْخَوْفِ وَالْجُوعِ وَنَقْصٍ مِنَ الْأَمْوَالِ وَالْأَنْفُسِ)
(And We will certainly test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives)
The place of qalqalah came in His Almighty’s saying: (ولنبلونكم), it came in the middle of the word in the letter Ba(ب) .
The Letter ق (Qaf)
The letter ق (Qaf) is one of the primary letters of Qalqalah. It is articulated from the back of the throat, and when pronounced with a sukoon (no vowel), it creates a distinct echoing sound.
This letter falls under the category of “Qalqalah Sughra” or “Qalqalah Kubra,” depending on its position and whether it has a Shaddah. When Qaf appears at the end of a verse or word with a Shaddah, the pronunciation becomes more intense, producing a strong, resonant sound. In contrast, when Qaf is found in the middle of a word or without a Shaddah, it produces a lighter, more subtle sound.
The Letter ط (Taa)
The letter ط (Taa) is considered the strongest of the Qalqalah letters. It is articulated with the tip of the tongue touching the upper front of the teeth and creates a forceful, vibrating sound.
When Taa appears at the end of a word with a Shaddah, it produces a powerful, clear Qalqalah, known as Qalqalah Kubra. Its intense sound makes it easily recognizable in recitations, particularly when it is found at the end of verses in the Quran. Taa‘s articulation requires a firm stop, which enhances the echoing effect.
The Letter ب (Baa)
The letter ب (Baa) is articulated by bringing both lips together. When this letter appears with a sukoon or at the end of a word, it generates a noticeable but less intense Qalqalah compared to Taa and Jeem. Baa falls under Qalqalah Sughra, meaning the echoing effect is lighter and softer.
Despite being less forceful, its pronunciation still adds clarity and rhythm to the recitation. The Qalqalah produced by Baa is important in maintaining the smooth flow of the recitation, especially in middle or end positions.
The Letter ج (Jeem)
The letter ج (Jeem) is articulated from the middle of the mouth with a soft but resonant sound. When it appears with a sukoon, it produces a middle-range Qalqalah sound, referred to as Qalqalah Wusta. While it is less intense than Taa, it still has a pronounced echo when articulated properly. Jeem is often found in the middle of words or at the beginning with a sukoon, making it a key letter in achieving balanced and clear recitation in Quranic verses. The Qalqalah sound of Jeem ensures the continuity of the recitation while maintaining the beauty of the verse.
The Letter د (Daal)
The letter د (Daal) is articulated by placing the tip of the tongue against the upper front teeth. Similar to Baa, Daal produces a light echo when it is saakin or at the end of a word, which is classified as Qalqalah Sughra. Its sound is less intense than that of Taa and Jeem, but it still creates a subtle resonance that aids in maintaining the rhythmic flow of the recitation. Daal‘s gentle Qalqalah effect ensures a smooth transition between words in the recitation.
How to identify Qalqalah letters?
If we find one of these letters (ق – ط – ب – ج – د) with a sukun (without a vowel), in this case it is considered a qalqalah letter, and the intensity of the qalqalah varies according to the strength of the letter: the ت is the strongest qalqalah, while the (ق – ب – ج – د) show a progressively lighter jitter.
It must be known that Qalqalah does not occur if the letter Qalqalah contains a vowel (Fatha, Kasra, Damma, or Tanween0).
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Conclusion:
Mastering the Qalqalah letters—ق, ط, ب, ج, and د—is essential for accurate Quranic recitation. The intensity of the echo varies by letter, with Taa being the strongest and Daal the softest. Understanding these letters ensures a clear and harmonious recitation of the Quran.
