Makharij al-huruf means “the exit points of the letters”. It is often the first thing a Tajweed teacher focuses on, because a letter pronounced from the wrong place becomes a different letter. The good news: once you know where to look, the map is simpler than it seems.
The five main areas
1. Al-Jawf — the open space
The empty space of the mouth and throat. This is where the long vowel sounds come from — the lengthened alif, waw and yaa. They flow out on the breath rather than from a single point.
2. Al-Halq — the throat
Six letters come from three levels of the throat:
- Deepest: ء and هـ
- Middle: ع and ح
- Nearest the mouth: غ and خ
These are often the hardest for new learners, especially ع and ح. Patience and listening help a great deal.
3. Al-Lisan — the tongue
Most Arabic letters are made with the tongue, touching different parts of the mouth — from the back of the tongue for ق and ك, to the tip of the tongue for letters like ت, د and ط.
4. Ash-Shafatan — the lips
ف is made with the upper teeth on the lower lip. ب, م and و are made with both lips.
5. Al-Khayshum — the nasal passage
This is the home of ghunnah, the gentle nasal sound heard especially on a noon or meem with shaddah.
How to practise
- Say each letter with a sukoon after a short vowel (for example, “ab”, “at”) to feel exactly where it is produced.
- Use a mirror for the lip letters.
- Record yourself and compare with your teacher or a skilled reciter.
Makharij is one of the first topics in our Beginner Tajweed course, where your teacher listens and corrects each letter with you.