Qalqalah in Tajweed: Letters, Levels and Examples
Qalqalah is the light echo of ق ط ب ج د when they have a sukoon. Learn the letters, the difference between sughra and kubra and examples from the Quran.
What is qalqalah?
Qalqalah (قلقلة) means “to shake” or “disturb”. When one of five letters has a sukoon, it is released with a small bounce or echo, so that it does not sound swallowed.
Remember them with قُطْبُ جَدٍّ (qutbu jad), as in al-Jazariyyah, verse 24, and Madani Qa‘idah, lesson 11.
Qalqalah sughra: in the middle of reading
A qalqalah letter with sukoon in the middle of a word, or at the end of a word when you carry on reading. The echo is light.
| Example | Where | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| وَيَقْطَعُونَ | Al-Baqarah 2:27 | Qaaf with sukoon |
| قَدْ أَفْلَحَ | Al-Mu'minun 23:1 | Daal with sukoon, then carry on |
| وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُمْ | Al-Baqarah 2:155 | Baa with sukoon |
Qalqalah kubra: when you stop
When you stop on a word that ends in a qalqalah letter, the letter takes a sukoon and the echo is stronger. This happens at the end of many short surahs.
| Example | Where | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| الْفَلَقِ | Al-Falaq 113:1 | Stopping: “al-falaq” |
| أَحَدٌ | Al-Ikhlas 112:1 | Stopping: “ahad” |
| خَلَقَ | Al-Alaq 96:1 | Stopping: “khalaq” |
| مَسَدٍ | Al-Masad 111:5 | Stopping: “masad” |
How to pronounce qalqalah
Practise in short surahs
Short surahs are the easiest place to practise. Read these with a teacher or alongside a recitation you trust:
| Example | Where | Listen for |
|---|---|---|
| الْفَلَقِ | Al-Falaq 113:1 | Kubra when you stop |
| وَقَبَ | Al-Falaq 113:3 | Kubra on baa when you stop |
| الصَّمَدُ | Al-Ikhlas 112:2 | Kubra on daal when you stop |
| وَتَبَّ | Al-Masad 111:1 | Echo on baa when you stop |
Common mistakes
- Adding a vowel, so أحد sounds like “ahada”.
- No echo at all, so the letter is swallowed.
- Qalqalah on letters with a vowel. It is only for letters with sukoon.
- Qalqalah on other letters, such as ك or ت.
Frequently asked questions
What are the qalqalah letters?
Five letters: ق ط ب ج د, remembered by the phrase قُطْبُ جَدٍّ (qutbu jad).
When does qalqalah happen?
Only when one of these letters has a sukoon, either written in the mushaf or because you stop on it.
What are qalqalah sughra and kubra?
Imam Ibn al-Jazari says qalqalah is made clear when the letter has a sukoon, and clearer still when you stop on it (al-Jazariyyah, verse 39). Teachers call the first sughra and the second kubra.
Is qalqalah a vowel?
No. It is a short bounce or echo as the letter is released. It must not sound like a fatha, kasra or damma.
Sources
- al-Muqaddimah al-Jazariyyah, Imam Ibn al-Jazari, verses 24 and 39.
- Madani Qa‘idah, Dawat-e-Islami, English edition, lesson 11.
- Quran examples: the Tanzil Quran text (Hafs), each with its surah and verse.
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Last updated: October 2026