Alif Lam ( الْ ) at the start of a word: sometimes the lam is pronounced clearly (Qamariyah), sometimes it merges into the next letter (Syamsiyah).
| Rule | Letters / form | How to read |
|---|---|---|
| Alif Lam Qamariyah | ا ب غ ح ج ك و خ ف ع ق ي م هـ | The lam is pronounced clearly. |
| Alif Lam Syamsiyah | ت ث د ذ ر ز س ش ص ض ط ظ ل ن | The lam merges; the next letter is doubled. |
The lam is pronounced clearly. Alif Lam ( الْ ) meeting one of the qamariyah letters is pronounced clearly — you hear the lam ('al-'). It is marked with a sukun above the lam ( ﻟْ ).
Say 'al' clearly, then continue to the letter. For example: al-ḥamdu, al-qamar.
al-ḥamdu lillāh
"[All] praise is [due] to Allāh, Lord of the worlds -"
Full explanation of Alif Lam Qamariyah →
The lam merges; the next letter is doubled. Alif Lam ( الْ ) meeting one of the syamsiyah letters: the lam is NOT pronounced but merges into the following letter, which is then read doubled.
Don't say 'al'. Go straight into the following letter with emphasis. For example: asy-syams (not al-syams).
ar-raḥmānir-raḥīm
"The Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful,"
Full explanation of Alif Lam Syamsiyah →
Coloured on these verses of juz 'amma — open the surah to see every rule in each verse:
There are 2: Alif Lam Qamariyah, Alif Lam Syamsiyah.
The lam is pronounced clearly. Alif Lam ( الْ ) meeting one of the qamariyah letters is pronounced clearly — you hear the lam ('al-'). It is marked with a sukun above the lam ( ﻟْ ).
The lam merges; the next letter is doubled. Alif Lam ( الْ ) meeting one of the syamsiyah letters: the lam is NOT pronounced but merges into the following letter, which is then read doubled.