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Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi

I have 2 questions

1. I always thought the letter laam was pronounced with the tip of the tongue, but found lately after reading a book by Dr. Yahyah Alghouthani and speaking to other shuyukh that the "laam" like the "dhaad" is pronounced from the side of the tongue to the tip either from left side or right side. Can u give some clarity on this?

2. What is meant by "itbaaq ashafatayn"when pronouncing the "ikhfa shafawi" and "iqlaab"



Wa alaikum assalaam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh.

The articulation point of the letter is from the anterior sides of the tongue forward until the sides end together at the tip.  The letter uses the posterior 2/3 of the side of the tongue and the the anterior (closest to the mouth) 1/3 of the sides of the tongue until it ends at the tip.  The sides and tip form a “U” shape at the front part of the tongue, and this is what is used for the

The does not use the tip and if one uses the tip to pronounce the , it will sound like a with tafkheem.  We checked Sheikh Dr. Yahyaa’s book, and he does not include the tip of the tongue for the articulation point of the , but does say right or left side of the tongue until the sides end at the tip for the , wherein the old sources of tajweed say both sides are used together for the

On the site here, the definition for the articulation point of the is:

It is articulated from the anterior one third of the sides of the tongue until the sides end at the tip, and what lies opposite to them of the gums of the two top front incisors, the two top lateral incisors, the two top canines, and the two top premolars. 

Imam Ibn Al-Jazaree very accurately described the articulation point of both the and , one after another in his teaching poem:

In it he said:

And the Dhaad from its side [tongue’s side] when it is close-/to the molars from its left or right [of the side of tongue]

And the Laam, its lowest [side of the tongue] until it ends [at the tip]. 

Sheikhah Rehab Shaqaqi under the supervision of  Ash-Sheikh Dr. Ayman Swayd has recently written/compiled and published a book on tajweed.  Included in it are the drawings for articulation points used in Sheikh Ayman’s program on the Iqra’ channel.  The drawings and explanations (in Arabic) are very useful, insha’ Allah.  The name of the book is:  Hilyatu At-Tilaawah fee Tajweed Al-Qur’an Al-Kareem.  


2.  Itbaaq as-shafatayn means closing them together, as we do with the meem. 

Afwan.  Wa assalaam alaikum.

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