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Unit: The letters that look alike
Four pairs of sisters: س ش, ص ض, ط ظ and ع غ. In each pair, the second letter has dots.
Today, four pairs of sisters. In each pair: a letter with no dot, and its sister with dots.
The teeth: س ش 12. س Siin: three little teeth. Example: سَمَكَة samaka, the fish 🐟 13. ش Shiin: three little teeth and three dots above. Example: شَمْس shams, the sun ☀️
The big loops: ص ض 14. ص Ṣaad: an "s" with a deep voice. Example: صَقْر ṣaqr, the falcon 🦅 15. ض Ḍaad: the same shape, with a dot above. Example: ضِفْدَع ḍifda', the frog 🐸
The loops with a stick: ط ظ 16. ط Ṭaa: a "t" with a deep voice. Example: طَائِرَة ṭaa'ira, the airplane ✈️ 17. ظ Ẓaa: the same shape, with a dot. Example: ظَرْف ẓarf, the envelope ✉️
The little open mouths: ع غ 18. ع 'Ayn: a sound from the middle of the throat. Listen carefully to your teacher! Example: عَيْن 'ayn, the eye 👁️ (yes, the letter and the word have the same name!) 19. غ Ghayn: the same shape, with a dot. It sounds a bit like a French "r", or like gargling softly. Example: غَيْمَة ghayma, the cloud ☁️
The "deep voice" letters (ص ض ط ظ) are said with a round mouth and the tongue a little further back, as if you were talking with a giant's voice!
Little activity: say "sa" (س) with a tiny mouse voice, then "ṣa" (ص) with a big giant voice. Can you hear the difference?
Understanding the lesson
Explanation Each letter has its own sound, just like each person has their own name. س and ص sound a bit alike, but they are not the same letter: if we mix them up, the word changes. It is Allah who gave us what we need to make all these sounds. He says: "Have We not given him two eyes, a tongue and two lips?" (meaning of verses 90:8-9). And the sound ض is so special that Arabic is sometimes called "the language of ḍaad". One surah of the Qur'an even begins with just one of these letters: ص (38:1).
Lessons to draw from it • I thank Allah for my tongue, my lips and my voice. • I use my tongue for beautiful things: reading, saying thank you, saying kind words. • I take my time to say each letter well, without rushing.
Key points to remember • Four pairs: س ش, ص ض, ط ظ, ع غ. • ص ض ط ظ have a "deep voice". • Allah gave us a tongue and two lips (90:8-9). • Surah Ṣaad begins with the letter ص (38:1).
The main message Allah gave me a tongue and lips to say every letter well: I thank Him by speaking well.
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