Arabic for Beginners - Hamzatul Wasl - Lesson 12

Summary

The video script is a comprehensive guide to understanding and pronouncing the Arabic letter hamza, including its variations with diacritical marks (fatha, kasra, and dhamma) and the connecting hamza (hamzatul wasl). It explains the rules for pronouncing hamzatul wasl at the beginning of words and when reading connected words, emphasizing the importance of context. The script also provides a systematic approach to determining the correct vowel to use with hamzatul wasl based on the presence of a laam or the third letter's diacritical mark, with examples to illustrate the rules and exceptions.

Takeaways

• 📖 The letter hamza (ء) changes pronunciation based on the vowel diacritics: with a fatha it's 'a', with a kasra it's 'i', and with a dhammah it's 'u'.
• 🔗 The connecting hamza, or hamzatul wasl (ٱ), appears like the head of the letter Saad (ص) and is placed above an Alif (ا) at the beginning of a word.
• 🌐 When reading a word starting with hamzatul wasl, it is pronounced with a vowel: alhamdu for الْحَمْدُ.
• 📚 If continuing a sentence, the hamzatul wasl is dropped, as in rabbil a’alamin instead of rabbi al ‘aalamiin.
• 👉 The pronunciation of hamzatul wasl depends on the following letter: a fatha is added if there's a laam (ل) after it, like in الْحَمْدُ and الْعَـٰلَمِينَ.
• 🔍 If there's no laam after hamzatul wasl and the third letter has a dhamma, a dhamma is placed on the hamzatul wasl, as in ٱخْرُجْ and ٱنظُرْ.
• 📌 In cases where there's no laam after hamzatul wasl and the third letter lacks a dhamma, a kasra is used, such as in ٱفْتَحْ and ٱذْهَبْ.
• 📘 When reading words together, the hamzatul wasl is often dropped, changing pronunciation, e.g., from alqalam to walqalam.
• 💡 Exceptions to hamzatul wasl pronunciation rules exist and can be further explored through tajweed resources.
• 🔢 Practice with examples is crucial for mastering the rules of hamzatul wasl, as demonstrated with various words and phrases in the script.

Q & A

What is the letter hamza and how does it change with different diacritics?

The letter hamza (ء) is a letter in Arabic that changes its pronunciation based on the diacritic marks. With a fatha (َ), it becomes 'a', with a kasra (ِ) it becomes 'i', and with a dhammah (ُ), it becomes 'u'.

What is a connecting hamza or hamzatul wasl?

A connecting hamza, also known as hamzatul wasl, is a diacritic mark that looks like the head of the letter Saad placed above an Alif at the beginning of a word. It indicates that the word starts with a hamza sound.

How do you pronounce hamzatul wasl when starting to read a word?

When starting to read a word with hamzatul wasl, you pronounce it with a vowel. The specific vowel depends on the following letters in the word, as outlined in the rules provided in the script.

What happens to hamzatul wasl when reading a sentence continuously?

When reading a sentence continuously, hamzatul wasl often gets dropped and is not pronounced unless it is at the beginning of the reading.

How do you determine which vowel to place on hamzatul wasl when starting a word?

The vowel placement on hamzatul wasl depends on the letters following it: if there is a laam (ل) after the hamzatul wasl, you add a fatha; if the third letter of the word has a dhamma, you place a dhamma on the hamzatul wasl; otherwise, it takes a kasra.

Can you provide an example of how to read a word starting with hamzatul wasl with a laam after it?

In the example 'ٱلْحَمْدُ', there is a laam after the hamzatul wasl, so a fatha is added to the hamzatul wasl, and it is read as 'alhamdu'.

What is the rule for placing a vowel on hamzatul wasl if there is no laam after it?

If there is no laam after hamzatul wasl, you look at the third letter of the word. If it has a dhamma, you place a dhamma on the hamzatul wasl; otherwise, it takes a kasra.

Are there any exceptions to the rules for pronouncing hamzatul wasl?

Yes, there are a few exceptions to the rules for pronouncing hamzatul wasl, and these can be further explored in tajweed videos for detailed understanding.

How do you read 'وَٱلْقَلَم' when it is part of a continuous sentence?

When 'وَٱلْقَلَم' is part of a continuous sentence, the hamzatul wasl is dropped, and it reads as 'walqalam'.

Can you give an example of a word where hamzatul wasl takes a kasra?

In the word 'ٱفْتَحْ', there is no laam after the hamzatul wasl and the third letter does not have a dhammah, so the hamzatul wasl takes a kasra, and it reads as 'iftah'.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Understanding Hamza and Hamzatul Wasl

This paragraph discusses the Arabic letter hamza and its various forms when combined with vowels, such as fatha, kasra, and dhammah. It introduces the connecting hamza, known as hamzatul wasl, which resembles the head of the letter Saad placed above an Alif. The rules for pronouncing hamzatul wasl are explained, stating that it should be pronounced with a vowel if it starts a word or sentence, but dropped when continuing from it. Examples are provided to illustrate these rules, such as 'الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ' and 'وَٱلْقَلَم', where the hamzatul wasl is either pronounced or dropped based on the context. The paragraph also offers guidance on how to determine the correct vowel to use with hamzatul wasl, depending on the presence of a laam or the third letter's vowel marking.

05:04

🔍 Applying Hamzatul Wasl Pronunciation Rules

This paragraph continues the discussion on hamzatul wasl with more examples to solidify the understanding of its pronunciation rules. It guides the reader through the process of determining the correct vowel to use with hamzatul wasl based on the presence of a laam or the third letter's vowel marking. Examples such as 'قَالَ رَبِّ ٱشْرَحْ لِى' and 'قِيلَ ٱدْخُلِ ٱلْجَنَّةَ' are used to demonstrate how to apply these rules in practice. The paragraph emphasizes the importance of dropping the hamzatul wasl when reading connected words and provides a step-by-step approach to pronouncing hamzatul wasl correctly, ensuring that readers can confidently navigate the nuances of Arabic pronunciation.

Keywords

💡Hamza

Hamza is an Arabic letter that represents the glottal stop, which is a sound produced in the throat. In the context of the video, it is essential for understanding the pronunciation of Arabic words. The video explains that Hamza can take different forms depending on the vowel that follows it: with a fatha, it becomes 'a'; with a kasra, it becomes 'i'; and with a dhammah, it becomes 'u'. The video also discusses the 'connecting Hamza' or 'hamzatul wasl', which is a Hamza that appears at the beginning of a word and is pronounced with a vowel when the word starts a sentence or is read in isolation.

💡Hamzatul Wasl

Hamzatul Wasl is a specific form of the Hamza letter that appears at the beginning of a word and is used to indicate the absence of a vowel sound at the beginning of a word. It is described as looking like the head of the letter Saad placed above an Alif. The video emphasizes the pronunciation rules for Hamzatul Wasl, stating that it is pronounced with a vowel when a word begins a sentence but is often dropped when the word is part of a continuous text.

💡Fatha

Fatha is one of the three short vowel signs in Arabic script, representing the sound 'a'. The video explains that when Hamza is followed by a Fatha, it is pronounced as 'a'. This is part of the broader discussion on how vowels affect the pronunciation of Hamza and Hamzatul Wasl in Arabic.

💡Kasra

Kasra is another short vowel sign in Arabic, representing the sound 'i'. According to the video, when Hamza is followed by a Kasra, it is pronounced as 'i'. This is an important aspect of Arabic pronunciation rules that the video aims to clarify.

💡Dhammah

Dhammah is the third short vowel sign in Arabic, representing the sound 'u'. The video explains that when Hamza is followed by a Dhammah, it is pronounced as 'u'. This rule is part of the foundational knowledge for Arabic language learners regarding the pronunciation of Hamza.

💡Alif

Alif is the first letter of the Arabic alphabet and is used in combination with Hamzatul Wasl to form the connecting Hamza. The video uses Alif in the example of Hamzatul Wasl, where it is placed above the Alif at the beginning of a word to indicate the absence of a vowel sound.

💡Tajweed

Tajweed refers to the rules of recitation in Arabic, which includes the correct pronunciation of the Quran and other Arabic texts. The video mentions Tajweed in the context of providing more detailed rules and exceptions for pronouncing Hamzatul Wasl and other Arabic letters.

💡Vowel

Vowels are speech sounds produced without any constriction in the vocal tract, and they are a fundamental part of Arabic pronunciation. The video discusses the three short vowels (Fatha, Kasra, Dhammah) and their impact on the pronunciation of Hamza and Hamzatul Wasl.

💡Laam

Laam is the twelfth letter of the Arabic alphabet and is mentioned in the video as a specific letter that, when it follows Hamzatul Wasl, dictates the use of a Fatha on the Hamzatul Wasl. The video provides examples such as 'ٱلْحَمْدُ' and 'ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ' where a Fatha is added to Hamzatul Wasl because of the presence of Laam.

💡Noun

While not explicitly defined in the video, the term 'noun' is implied in the context of Arabic grammar. Nouns are a part of speech that represent a person, place, thing, or idea. The video script suggests that understanding the difference between vowels and nouns is part of the broader learning process for Arabic language learners.

💡Exceptions

Exceptions refer to the instances where the general rules of pronunciation do not apply. The video mentions that there are exceptions to the rules for pronouncing Hamzatul Wasl and encourages viewers to follow the tajweed video for more details on these exceptions.

Highlights

Understanding the letter hamza and its pronunciation variations with different diacritics.

Hamza with a fatha becomes 'a', with a kasra becomes 'i', and with a dhammah becomes 'u'.

Introduction to the connecting hamza, known as hamzatul wasl.

Hamzatul wasl appears like the head of the letter Saad placed above an Alif.

Pronunciation rules for hamzatul wasl at the beginning of a word.

Examples of hamzatul wasl in sentences and their pronunciation.

Dropping the hamzatul wasl when continuing to read a sentence.

Guidelines for reading words with hamzatul wasl in different contexts.

How to handle hamzatul wasl when reading words in isolation versus in a sentence.

The importance of vowel placement on hamzatul wasl based on the following letter.

Step-by-step method to determine the correct vowel for hamzatul wasl.

Adding a fatha to hamzatul wasl if there is a laam following it.

Placing a dhamma on hamzatul wasl if the third letter of the word has a dhamma.

Using a kasra for hamzatul wasl if there is no laam and the third letter lacks a dhamma.

Exceptions to the general rules for hamzatul wasl pronunciation.

Practical examples to illustrate the application of hamzatul wasl pronunciation rules.

How to read complex sentences with multiple instances of hamzatul wasl.

Summary of the key points for pronouncing hamzatul wasl in various scenarios.

Transcripts

By now we should know the letter hamza.

ء We said if it has a fatha it becomes a, with a kasra it become I and with a dhammah

it becomes u.

We also have a connecting hamza, ٱ known as hamzatul wasl in Arabic.

It looks like the head of the letter Saad placed above an Alif at the beginning of a

word.

ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ.

Like in this example.

We see two hamzatul wasls.

Now the rules are, if we begin reading with a word beginning with hamzatul wasl, then

we pronounce it with a vowel.

So this word will read الْحَمْدُ alhamdu, I pronounced the hamzatul wasl with

a vowel.

Or if we start reading from this word it will read الْعَالَمِينَ al ‘aalamiin.

But if we continue reading the sentence, the hamzatul wasl gets dropped.

So this will read rabbil a’alamin and not rabbi al ‘aalamiin.

Lets have a look at some more examples وَٱلْقَلَم – This is two words.

When we are reading these two words together we have to drop the hamzatul wasl.

It now reads walqalam.

But if I read this word on its own, I have to place a vowel on the hamzatul wasl.

It will read alqalam.

وَٱنْحَرْ – Another example.

When we are reading these two words together we have to drop the hamzatul wasl.

It now reads wanhar.

Let’s try something bigger.

طَعَامِ ٱلْمِسْكِين – The first word reads Ta-a’ami.

The second word has hamzatul wasl.

We have to place the vowel on it when starting to read from it.

It reads almiskiin.

Now when we read it together we drop the hamzatul wasl.

It now reads Ta- a’a mil mis kiin. هُنَالِكَ ٱبْتُلِىَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ

– Let’s find all the hamzatuls wasls.

Ok great.

Now since we are reading everything together, we have to drop the hamzatul wasl.

It reads Hu naa li kab tu li yal mu’ mi nuun.

See how we did not pronounce the hamzatul wasl.

Hunaa likab tuliyal mu’minuun, Hunaalikab tuliyal mu’minuun.

Great work.

And if I begin reading from these words, we have to keep the hamzatul wasl and add a vowel.

If I begin reading here ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ, it will read almu’minuun.

And if I begin reading here ٱبْتُلِىَ, this will read Ubtuliya.

Question?

When you begin reading a word with hamzatul wasl, how do you know what vowel to put on

the hamzatul wasl?

Like in this example, I put a dhammah here اُبْتُلِيَ and a fatha here اَلْمُؤْمِنُونَ

Since we are just learning and most of us don’t know the difference between a vowel

and a noun, we should follow these steps.

1.

If after the hamzatul wasl there is a laam, you add a fatha.

Like in these examples.

ٱلْحَمْدُ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ – We see a laam after hamzatul wasl, we

have to place a fatha on the hamzatul wasl.

This reads alhamdu, this read ala’alamiin.

2.

Step 2, If the word doesn’t have a laam after hamzatul wasl, then we look at the 3rd

letter of that word.

If it has a dhamma then we place a dhamma on the hamzatul wasl.

Like in these examples.

ٱخْرُجْ, ٱنظُرْ There is no laam after hamzatul wasl.

The third letter has a dhammah, so we place a dhammah on hamzatul wasl.

This reads Unthur, and this reads Ukhruj.

There are a few exceptions; you can follow our tajweed video for more details.

3.

Step 3, if the word doesn’t have a laam after hamzatul wasl, and if the third letter

does not have a dhamma on it, then it takes a kasra.

Like these examples ٱفْتَحْ, ٱذْهَبْ.

There is no laam after hamzatul wasl.

The third letter doesn’t have a dhammah, therefore the hamzatul wasl takes a kasra.

This now reads Idh hab and this reads iftah.

Let’s do some more examples to sum it up.

قَالَ رَبِّ ٱشْرَحْ لِى صَدْرِى (20:25)

Lets say I want to start reading from here اشْرَحْ.

Let’s look through the rules.

Is there a laam after hamzatul wasl?

No.

So it’s not a fatha.

Does the third letter have a dhamma?

No.

So it’s not a dhamma.

It can only be a kasra.

It reads Ishrah.

Ishrah.

And if I read the words together, we drop the hamzatul wasl and read it as rabbish rah

قِيلَ ٱدْخُلِ ٱلْجَنَّةَ (36:26).

Lets say I want to start reading from here.

Lets look through the rules.

Is there a laam after hamzatul wasl?

No.

So it’s not a fatha.

Does the third letter have a dhamma?

Yes.

So it takes a dhamma.

It reads udkhuli.

And lets say I want to start reading from here الْجَنَّةَ.

Lets look through the rules.

Is there a laam after hamzatul wasl?

Yes.

So it takes a fatha.

It reads aljannah.

Lets read it together.

First we drop the hamzatul wasls.

It now reads Qii lad khu lil jannah, qiilad khulil jannah.

Great work