Lam Ta'rif (Alif Lam)

Alif Lam Qamariyah

The lam is pronounced clearly.

الْقَمَرِيَّة
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What is this rule?

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 ).

How to read it

Say 'al' clearly, then continue to the letter. For example: al-ḥamdu, al-qamar.

Trigger letters

14 qamariyah letters — mnemonic: اِبْغِ حَجَّكَ وَخَفْ عَقِيمَهُ.

ابغحجكوخفعقيمهـ
NoteQamariyah = like the word 'al-qamar' (the moon): you can clearly hear the lam.

Examples of Alif Lam Qamariyah in the Qur'an

Surah Al-Fatihah 1:2
ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ

al-ḥamdu lillāh

"[All] praise is [due] to Allāh, Lord of the worlds -"

Surah Al-Fatihah 1:2
رَبِّ ٱلْعَٰلَمِينَ

rabbil-'ālamīn

"[All] praise is [due] to Allāh, Lord of the worlds -"

Surah Al-Falaq 113:1
بِرَبِّ ٱلْفَلَقِ

birabbil-falaq

"Say, "I seek refuge in the Lord of daybreak"

Surah Al-Baqarah 2:2
ذَٰلِكَ ٱلْكِتَٰبُ

żālikal-kitāb

"This is the Book about which there is no doubt, a guidance for those conscious of Allāh -"

Surah Al-Layl 92:17
وَسَيُجَنَّبُهَا ٱلْأَتْقَى

wasayujannabuhā l-atqā

"But the righteous one will avoid it"

Surah At-Tin 95:3
وَهَـٰذَا ٱلْبَلَدِ

wahādhā l-baladi

"And [by] this secure city [i.e., Makkah],"

Surah Al-Buruj 85:14
وَهُوَ ٱلْغَفُورُ

wahuwa l-ghafūru

"And He is the Forgiving, the Affectionate,"

Surah At-Takathur 102:6
لَتَرَوُنَّ ٱلْجَحِيمَ

latarawunna l-jaḥīma

"You will surely see the Hellfire."

Surah Al-Buruj 85:5
ذَاتِ ٱلْوَقُودِ

dhāti l-waqūdi

"[Containing] the fire full of fuel,"

Surah An-Nas 114:4
ٱلْوَسْوَاسِ ٱلْخَنَّاسِ

l-waswāsi l-khanāsi

"From the evil of the retreating whisperer -"

Surah Al-Qari'ah 101:1
ٱلْقَارِعَةُ

al-qāri'atu

"The Striking Calamity -"

Surah Al-Ma'un 107:2
يَدُعُّ ٱلْيَتِيمَ

yadu''u l-yatīma

"For that is the one who drives away the orphan"

Surah Al-Ma'un 107:7
وَيَمْنَعُونَ ٱلْمَاعُونَ

wayamna'ūna l-mā'ūna

"And withhold [simple] assistance."

Surah Al-'Alaq 96:11
عَلَى ٱلْهُدَىٰٓ

'alā l-hudā

"Have you seen if he is upon guidance"

Frequently asked questions

What is Alif Lam Qamariyah in tajwid?

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 ).

How do you pronounce Alif Lam Qamariyah?

Say 'al' clearly, then continue to the letter. For example: al-ḥamdu, al-qamar.

Which letters trigger Alif Lam Qamariyah?

There are 14 letters: ا ب غ ح ج ك و خ ف ع ق ي م هـ. 14 qamariyah letters — mnemonic: اِبْغِ حَجَّكَ وَخَفْ عَقِيمَهُ.

What is an example of Alif Lam Qamariyah in the Quran?

One example is in Surah Al-Fatihah 1:2: "ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ" (al-ḥamdu lillāh) — "[All] praise is [due] to Allāh, Lord of the worlds -".

Other rules in Lam Ta'rif (Alif Lam)

Alif Lam Syamsiyah
The lam merges; the next letter is doubled.
الشَّمْسِيَّة

See all Lam Ta'rif (Alif Lam) rules → · Complete list of rules →