The Chapter on Sifāt

Question 1

What is the linguistic definition of صفات?

Answer 1

A quality, attribute, or characteristic.

Question 2

What is the technical definition of صفات?

Answer 2

Those attributes which are affixed to the pronunciation of a letter, whether intrinsic or circumstantial.

Question 3

Name the categories صفات is divided into

Answer 3

The categories are two: Sifāt Lāzimah (permanent attributes) and Sifāt ‘Āridah (temporary attributes)

Question 4

Define Sifāt Lāzimah

Answer 4

Sifāt Lāzimah (permanent attributes) – they form part of the make-up of the letter and never leave the letter i.e. the letter will never be found without these attributes.

Question 5

Define Sifāt ‘Āridah

Answer 5

Sifāt ‘Āridah (temporary attributes) – in certain circumstances these attributes are found in a letter and at other times they are not.

Question 6

Name the categories Sifāt Lāzimah is further divided into

Answer 6

It is further divided into two categories: Mutadāddah (those which have opposites) and Ghayr Mutadāddah (those which do not have opposites)

Question 7

Define Sifāt Mutadāddah

Answer 7

Mutadāddah (those which HAVE opposites)

• since these are permanent attributes, it is impossible that any letter of the Arabic alphabet be found without them, and due to them being opposites, it is also impossible that both opposite attributes are found in any one letter.
• All letters of the Arabic alphabet must have one of these pairs of attributes.

Question 8

Define Sifāt Ghayr Mutadāddah

Answer 8

Ghayr Mutadāddah (those WITHOUT opposites)

– These attributes are also permanent i.e. it is impossible that a letter having one of these qualities be found without it.
- They do not have any opposites, and will only apply to certain letters of the Arabic alphabet.

Question 9

How many sifāt lāzimah (permanent attributes) does Ibn al-Jazarī outline in this chapter?

Answer 9

17

Question 10

From the sifāt lāzimah (permanent attributes), how many does Ibn al-Jazari mention that are mutadāddah (those which have opposites) List them all.

Answer 10

He mentions 5 which are: Jahr, Rikhwah, Istifal, Infitah, Ismat

There opposites are: Hams, Shiddah, Isti’la, Itbāq, Izhlāq

Question 11

How many letters of hams are there and what is the combination?

Answer 11

There are 10

فَحَثَّهُ شَخْصٌ سَكَتْ

Question 12

How many letters of shiddah are there and what is the combination?

Answer 12

There are 8

أَجِدْ قَطٍ بَكَتْ

Question 13

What is the attribute between shiddah and rikhawah?

Answer 13

It is tasawwut

Question 14

How many letters of tawassut are there and what is the combination?

Answer 14

There are 5 letters

لِنْ عُمَرْ

Question 15

How many letters of isti’la are there and what is the combination?

Answer 15

There are 7 letters

خُصَّ ضَغْطٍ قِظْ

Question 16

What does Ibn al-Jazari refer to the letters of isti’la as?

Answer 16

The 7 elevated letters (سَبْعُ عُلْوٍ)

Question 17

How many letters of itbāq are there?

Answer 17

There are 4 letters: ص, ض, ط, ظ

Question 18

How many letters of idhlāq are there and what is the combination?

Answer 18

There are 6 letters

فَرَّ مِنْ لُبِّ

Question 19

From the sifāt lāzimah (permanent attributes), how many does Ibn al-Jazari mention that are ghayr mutadāddah (those WITHOUT opposites) List them all.

Answer 19

He mentions 7

Safīr, Qalqalah, Līn, Inhiraf, Takrīr, Tafashi, Istitālah

Question 20

Define the attribute of safīr and list the letters

Answer 20

It is that extra whistling sound which is evident when pronouncing these letters.

3 letters: ز, س, ص

Question 21

Define the attribute of qalqalah and list the letters

Answer 21

It is a disturbance in the makhraj of these letters, making it seem as if they
are being read with an extra “echoing” sound.

5 letters: قُطْبُ جَدٍّ

Question 22

Some consider qalqalah as being a temporary attribute, arguing that
it is only apparent when its letters are sākin. What is the response?

Answer 22

As qalqalah is caused by two intrinsic attributes (jahr and shiddah) it cannot be said that it is a temporary attribute. Thus, it is a permanent attribute found in the letters ق ط ب ج د whether they are sākin or mutaharrik.

Question 23

Define the attribute of līn and list the letters

Answer 23

Literal: softness
Technical: an easy pronunciation in its letters, without much exertion or difficulty.

Two letters: و and ي (with the condition that both have a sukūn and are preceded by a fathah)

Question 24

Define the attribute of inhirāf and list the letters

Answer 24

Literally: inclination

Technically: the makhraj of these letters incline towards the makhraj of another letter

2 letters: ل and ر

Question 25

Define the attribute of takrīr and list the letters

Answer 25

Literal: it means to repeat.

Technical: it is the shuddering of
the tongue since it repeatedly “knocks” against the palate when
pronouncing this letter.

It is in one letter: ر

Question 26

Define the attribute of tafashshī and list the letters

Answer 26

Literal: it means to spread out

Technically: it is the spreading of the breath throughout the mouth when pronouncing this letter

It is one letter: ش

Question 27

Define the attribute of istitalah and list the letters

Answer 27

Literal: means to lengthen

Technical: it is the lengthening of the sound (in the ض), from the beginning of its makhraj till the end of its makhraj i.e. from the beginning of the side of the tongue (by the wisdom teeth or the back molars) till its end (the pre-molars, by the makhraj of the
letter ل).

One letter: ض

Question 28

How many sifāt ‘āridah (temporary attributes) does Ibn al-Jazarī later outline in his muqaddimah?

Answer 28

11 sifāt ‘āridah (temporary attributes)