Hamza tul Wasl – هَمْزَةُ الْوَصْلِ
In this part of lesson we will learn about a new concept which is the use of letter Alif in Arabic. In Arabic the letter “Alif” has two types:
o One type of Alif is called “Hamza tul Qaŧξ”. This type of Alif is always pronounced irrespective of whether it is preceded by some word or letter.
o While the other form of Alif is called “Hamza tul Waŝl”. This form of Alif appears in the beginning of a word but if preceded by some word or letter it is not pronounced even if written.
· Please read the following examples:
| Translation: | Transliteration: | Arabic: | Type of /Alif/ |
| He is the teacher’s son | /Huwab nul mudarrisi/ | هُوَ ٱبْنُ ٱلْمُدَرِّسِ. | هَمْزَةُ الْوَصْلِ |
| And the girl’s name is Aminah | /Was mul binti Aaminatu/ | وَٱسْمُ ٱلبِنْتِ آمِنَةُ. | هَمْزَةُ الْوَصْلِ |
· In the above mentioned examples the letter /Alif/ of the words are written but they are not pronounced. In the first example, the letter /alif/ of the word /ibn/ (meaning son) is written yet not pronounced and the letter /ba/ is joined together with letter /wa/ of /howa/ and is pronounced /huwabnu/. This is similar to the letter /alif/ of the word /almudarrisi/, the letter /alif/ is written yet not pronounced and the letters /nūn/ of /Ibn/ (meaning son) and /lām/ are joined together to become /nul/ and the sentence becomes /huwab-nul mudarrisi/.
· Similarly in the second example the letter /wa/ is joined with the word /Ism/ whose /alif/ is written but not pronounced and the word becomes /wasm/ and the /Alif/ of /Albinti/ is written but not pronounced so they become /was-mul-binti/. Therefore the sentence becomes /Was-mul-binti Aaminatu/.
| Translation: | Transliteration: | Arabic: | Type of Alif |
| I am Ahmad | Ana Aħmadu | أَنَا أَحْمَدُ. | هَمْزَةُ الْقَطْعِ |
| Where are you from | Min aina anti | مِنْ أَيْنَ أَنْتِ؟ | هَمْزَةُ الْقَطْعِ |
| Who are you | Man anta | مَنْ أَنْتَ؟ | هَمْزَةُ الْقَطْعِ |
- In these examples the letter /Alif/ of the words Ahmad, /Aina/ and /Anta/ are written and are pronounced. No letters are merged together. This type of /Alif/ is called /Hamza tul Qaŧξ/.
- There is no specific rule for recognizing /Hamza tul Qaŧξ/ and /Hamza tul Waŝl but the pronouns, the interrogative articles and the nouns beginning with /Alif/ have /Hamza tul Qaŧξ/.
- It must be however remembered that when /Hamza tul Waŝl/ is written in the beginning of a sentence and is not preceded by any letter or word, it is pronounced. It is dropped only when it is preceded by some letter or word. /Hamza tul Qaŧξ/ is always written and pronounced and is not affected if preceded by any letter or word.
- Please read the following sentences carefully and then click on the words to hear the speech, i.e. how the words should be pronounced.
| Pictures: | English: | Arabic: |
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| Who are you? I am the son of Abbas | مَنْ أَنْتَ؟ أَنَا ٱبْنُ عَبَّاسٍ. |
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| And whose son is he? He is the son of Khalid | وَٱبْنُ مَنْ هُوَ؟ هُوَ ٱبْنُ خَالِدٍ. |
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| The teacher’s name is Saeed and the engineer’s name is Khalid | اِسْمُ الْمُدَرِّسِ سَعِيْدٌ. وَٱسْمُ الْمُهَنْدِسِ خَالِدٌ. |
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| Ammar’s son is a student and Yasir’s son is a trader | اِبْنُ عَمَّارٍ طَالِبٌ وَٱبْنُ يَاسِرٍ تَاجِرٌ. |
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| Where is the son of the engineer? He is in the university | أَيْنَ ٱبْنُ الْمُهَنْدِسٍ؟ هُوَ فِي الْجَامِعَةِ |
- In the next part of the lesson we will In-Shā’-Allâh (God-Willing) learn a new concept which is the use of Vocative Articles.