Arabic Alphabet & Makharij - Where Letters Come From
Correct recitation starts with the 28 letters and their articulation points (makharij): throat, tongue, lips and nasal cavity - each letter from its exact place.
Also searched as: makharij ka tarika | arabic alphabet pronunciation | huruf e tahajji | tajweed basics
How to
Steps in order
- 1Learn the 28 letters with names and shapes.
- 2Practise the six throat letters from deep to upper.
- 3Master tongue letters zone by zone: back, middle, tip.
- 4Finish with lips and nasal ghunnah; recite Al-Fatiha applying each.
The five articulation zones
Throat (halq): hamza, ha, ayn, ha, ghayn, kha - six letters from deep, middle and upper throat. Tongue (lisan): the majority - qaf and kaf from the back, jeem-sheen-ya from the middle, and twelve from tip and edges.
Lips (shafatan): ba, meem, waw and fa (teeth on lip). Nasal cavity (khayshum): the ghunnah resonance that colours noon and meem.
Why it matters in prayer
Swapping nearby letters (e.g. seen/saad, zaal/za) can change meanings - learning makharij protects both prayer validity and reward.
Practice each zone aloud daily; record yourself and compare with a reciter - a teacher corrects in weeks what solo practice takes months to fix.
Sources & review
Classical tajweed manuals (makharij doctrine); recitation practice per qualified teachers
Learn personal details from a qualified teacher; minor school differences exist.
Educational content — not a fatwa. See methodology and disclaimer.
Reviewed • 2026-01-01Our methodology
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How long does makharij take to learn?
Basic correctness in weeks of daily practice with a teacher; refinement continues for years.
Can I pray while still learning?
Yes - pray with your best recitation while learning; effort with excuses is rewarded, abandonment is not.
Which letters confuse learners most?
Seen/saad, zaal/za/zoi, and ayn/hamza pairs - drill them in contrasting word pairs.
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