Tajweed rules with pictures & examples | Jahr and Hams (Whispering)
Jahr :-
1. Definition
It is the retention (non-flow) of breath when pronouncing a letter due to the strong reliance on its articulation point
2. Explanation
Jahr is the strength of a letter’s sound due to the firm reliance on its articulation point. This causes the vocal cords to come close together and vibrate strongly, so that all the air used to pronounce the letter (the deliberately expelled exhaled air) is shaped by the sound of the letter. As a result, the amount of air used for pronunciation is minimal.
3. The effect of this attribute is
the breath does not flow with the sound of the letter, whether the letter is shadeed (plosive), rakhow (soft), or bayniyy (in-between). Therefore, the sound of the letter is heard clearly and strongly.
4. Letters of Jahr 19 Letters
ب، ج، د، ذ، ر، ز، ض، ظ، ع، غ، ل، م، ن، و، ي، ق، ط، ا، ء
“عَظُمَ وَزْنُ قَارِئٍ غَضٍّ ذي طَلَبٍ جَدٍّ”
Hams (Whispering) :-
1. Linguistic
It is the flow of breath when pronouncing the letter due to weak reliance on its articulation point.
2. Explanation:
Hams (whispering) is the weakness of the letter’s sound, resulting from a weak reliance on its articulation point. This causes the vocal cords to separate and vibrate weakly, so not all the air used for pronouncing the letter (the willfully expelled exhaled air) is shaped by the letter’s sound. As a result, the amount of air used is greater.
3. The effect of this attribute:
A noticeable flow of breath accompanies the sound of the letter, whether it is shadeed (plosive)—in which case the strength of the letter appears first, followed by the whispering—or rakhow (soft), in which the sound and breath flow together. In both cases, the letter’s sound is heard as weak and subtle.
4. Letters of Hams 10 Letters:
ف، ح، ث، هـ، ش، خ، ص، س، ك، ت
“فَحَثَّهُ شَخْصٌ سَكَتَ”
5. Special Case: Hamzah (ء)
- Some scholars classify it as voiceless due to lack of vibration.
- Others argue it belongs to a third category due to unique articulation (sudden glottal stop followed by release).
Comparison: al-Jahr vs. al-Hams :-
(Characteristic) | الجهر (Jahr – Voiced) | الهمس (Hams – Voiceless) |
(Definition) | Blocking of breath when pronouncing the letter | Flow of breath when pronouncing the letter |
(Cause) | Strong reliance on the articulation point | Weak reliance on the articulation point |
(Vocal cord vibration) | Strong vibration | Weak or no vibration |
(Breath) | The air used in pronouncing the letter is minimal (mostly sound) | The air used in pronouncing the letter is abundant (mostly air) |
(No. of letters) | 19 letters | 10 letters |
(Letters) | ع، ظ، م، و، ز، ن، ق، ا، ر، ء، غ، ض، ذ، ي، ط، ل، ب، ج، د | ف، ح، ث، هـ، ش، خ، ص، س، ك، ت |
(Mnemonic) | “عَظُمَ وَزْنُ قَارِئٍ غَضٍّ ذي طَلَبٍ جَدٍّ” | “فَحَثَّهُ شَخْصٌ سَكَتَ” |
Next:
strength (شدة – Shidda), Softness (رخاوة – Rakhawa) and Moderation (توسط – Tawassut)
