In Arabic, Qalqalah (القلقلة) means to shake or disturb. In Tajweed (the rules of Quranic recitation), it refers to bouncing or echoing the sound when pronouncing specific letters.
It happens when the sound of a letter is not allowed to flow freely, due to its strong characteristics: “Jahr” (vocal strength) and “Shiddah” (pressure). This causes a kind of sharp vibration or bounce when pronouncing the letter, especially in a state of sukoon (no vowel).
🔤 The Five Qalqalah Letters
All Qalqalah letters are found in the Arabic phrase:
قُطْبُ جَدّ
The five letters are:
- ق (Qaaf)
- ط (Taa’)
- ب (Baa’)
- ج (Jeem)
- د (Daal)
These letters share strong articulation traits that cause a bounce in sound when recited without a vowel.
🔺 Levels of Qalqalah (مراتب القلقلة)
The strength of Qalqalah changes depending on the letter and its position in the word.
1. Strongest Qalqalah (أقواها)
Letter: ط (Taa’)
Why? Combines both elevation (Isti‘laa’) and sealing (Itbaaq).
Example:
﴿الْحَقُّ﴾
“Al-Ḥaqq”
[Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:26]
2. Medium Strength (أوسطها)
Letter: ق (Qaaf)
Why? It has Isti‘laa’ but lacks Itbaaq.
3. Lightest Qalqalah (أدناها)
Letters: ب، ج، د (Baa’, Jeem, Daal)
Why? These are letters of softness (Istifaal).
🧱 Types of Qalqalah (أنواع القلقلة)
Qalqalah also varies based on the position of the letter in the word.
🔸 1. Qalqalah Kubra (Strongest Bounce)
Occurs when a Qalqalah letter is at the end of a word, has sukoon, and the reader stops on it — especially when shaddah is present.
Example:
﴿الْحَقُّ﴾
“Al-Ḥaqq”
[Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:26]
🔸 2. Qalqalah Wusta (Moderate Bounce)
Occurs at the end of a word with no shaddah, and the reciter stops.
Example:
﴿الْعَذَابِ﴾
“Al-‘Adhaab”
[Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:49]
🔸 3. Qalqalah Sughra (Light Bounce)
Occurs in the middle of a word or when the letter is not the final stop.
Examples:
- ﴿يَقطَعونَ﴾
“Yaqṭa‘oon”
[Surah At-Tawbah, 9:121] - ﴿قَدْ أَفْلَحَ﴾
“Qad Aflaha”
[Surah Taha, 20:64]
🔸 4. Qalqalah Asghar (Smallest Bounce)
Occurs when the letter of Qalqalah is not static (i.e., it has a vowel).
Example:
﴿الدَّارُ﴾
“Ad-Daar”
[Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:94]
🔍 Why Is It Called Qalqalah?
There are two primary scholarly views:
- Ibn al-Jawzi explained that these letters were weak when silent and could be confused with others. So, a sharp, echoing sound was introduced to make them clearer.
- Shaykh Zakariya Al-Ansari noted that these letters tend to vibrate when pronounced with sukoon, making a distinct bouncing sound due to the letter’s intensity.
🎯 How to Pronounce Qalqalah Correctly
Scholars have offered different opinions on how to perform Qalqalah. Here are the main views:
- It leans toward the vowel of the previous letter:
- If the letter before it is fatha, it slightly opens.
- If it’s dhamma, it rounds.
- If it’s kasra, it leans toward a softer, closed sound.
- It leans toward the vowel of the next letter, adjusting the bounce accordingly.
- It always leans toward fatha, regardless of the vowels around it. This is a common view among many reciters for clarity and consistency.
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📚 References
- ‘Ala Allah Abu Al-Wafa (2003). Al-Qawl As-Sadeed fi ‘Ilm at-Tajweed, 3rd ed. Dar Al-Wafaa.
- Feryal Zakariya Al-‘Abd. Al-Meezan fi Ahkam Tajweed al-Qur’an. Dar Al-Iman.
- Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:26
- Ibrahim Al-Jarmi (2001). Mu‘jam ‘Uloom al-Qur’an, 1st ed. Dar Al-Qalam.
- Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:49
- Surah At-Tawbah, 9:121
- Surah Taha, 20:64
- Feryal Al-‘Abd. Al-Meezan fi Ahkam Tajweed al-Qur’an, p. 80.
- Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:94
- Mahmoud Abdul-Mun‘im Al-‘Abd (2001). Ar-Rawdah An-Nadiyyah Sharh Matn Al-Jazariyyah. Al-Maktabah Al-Azhariyyah.
- Mahmoud Ali Bissah (2004). Al-‘Ameed fi ‘Ilm At-Tajweed, 1st ed. Dar Al-‘Aqeedah.