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**Lesson 3: The Chapters of Tajwid**
**Chapter One**
■ **Points of Articulation of the Letters (Makharij al‑Huruf)**
**Point of articulation (Makharaj):**
It is the place where the sound of a letter is produced from the organs of speech, or the position where the sound of a letter stops and thus becomes distinct from other letters.
According to the well‑known opinion in the science of Tajwid, the number of articulation points of the letters is **seventeen**.
There is a rule for identifying the articulation point of a letter:
The letter is made **silent (sakin)** or **geminated (mushaddad)** and pronounced after a **hamzah**, then one listens carefully. The place where the sound stops when pronouncing the letter is its articulation point.
Examples: **أذ ، أب ، أخ**.
**Position (Mawdi‘):**
This is the place that contains one articulation point or several articulation points for letters. In Tajwid there are **five positions**, which will be explained below.
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**Letters**
In the Arabic language there are **28 letters**, each with a specific articulation point. A reciter of the Noble Qur’an should learn them and give each letter its proper pronunciation so that every letter emerges from its correct articulation point.
These letters are divided into two types:
1. **Consonant letters (static letters):**
These have a specific articulation point and can begin words. They are called **letters**, and their number is **28**.
2. **Vowel letters:**
These do not have a fixed articulation point and cannot begin words. They are called **letters resembling letters**, namely the **long vowels (letters of elongation)**. They are **three**, in addition to the vowel marks: **fatha, kasra, and damma**.
**Note:**
It is important for the reciter of the Qur’an to know the specific articulation points of the **28 letters**, the **three vowel letters**, and the **two nasal letters (nun and mim)**. Thus, the total becomes **33 sounds**, which will be explained, God willing.
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**Articulation Points of the Letters**
We now clarify the following:
**Positions – Articulation points – Letters**
### The Positions
**1. The oral cavity (Al‑Jawf):**
Here the sounds of the vowel movements and the **long vowel letters** are produced.
**2. The throat (Al‑Halq):**
It contains **three articulation points** from which **six letters** are produced, called **throat letters**:
– **Deepest part of the throat:** ء ، ه
– **Middle of the throat:** ع ، ح
– **Nearest part of the throat:** غ ، خ
These six letters are called **the throat letters (Huruf Halqiyyah).**
**3. The tongue (Al‑Lisan):**
It contains **ten articulation points** producing **eighteen letters**, as follows:
– **Back of the tongue:** ق
– **Back of the tongue slightly forward:** ك
– **Middle of the tongue:** ج ، ش ، ي
– **Side of the tongue:** ض (from the beginning of one side of the tongue to the end)
– **Side of the tongue:** ل
– **Tip of the tongue:** ن
– **Tip of the tongue:** ر (between the articulation of nun and the upper front teeth)
The letters **ل ، ن ، ر** are called **the flowing letters (Al‑Huruf al‑Dhulaqiyyah).**
– **Tip of the tongue:** ت ، د ، ط
These are called **the dental‑gum letters (Al‑Nita‘iyyah).**
– **Tip of the tongue:** ز ، س ، ص
These are called **the sibilant letters (Al‑Asliyyah).**
– **Tip of the tongue:** ث ، ذ ، ظ
These are called **the interdental letters (Al‑Lathawiyyah).**
**4. The lips (Al‑Shafatan):**
This position contains **two articulation points** producing **four letters**:
– **Inner part of the lower lip with the upper teeth:** ف
– **Between the two lips:** ب ، م ، و
**5. The nasal passage (Al‑Khayashum):**
It contains **one articulation point** from which the nasal sound of **ن and م** (when doubled) is produced. This sound is called **ghunnah (nasalization).**
