Supplement: Hamza
In Arabic, when the alif is pronounced (that is, when it has a vowel or sukun on it), it has a hamza on it (or under it, incase of a kasra). However, sometimes this isn’t the case. Additionally sometimes the hamza is on a ya without dots, known as a nabira (for example: ئ ) and sometimes it is on a و , for example: ؤ.
The alif with a hamza is known as همزة القطة hamzatul qata . while a pronounced alif (not an elongated alif) without a hamza is called همزة الوصل .
Generally, the elongated alif is called an alif (this is the alif which makes the previous letter’s vowel longer) while the pronounced alif is called a hamza. It is an alif with a sound of its own.
An example of an (elongated) alif: the alif at the end of دُنيا (dunya – world) or دعا (prayer). This alif makes the previous letter’s vowel sound longer but it doesn’t have a sound of its own.
An example of a hamza: the hamza at the end of بدَأ . this alif (hamza) has a sound of its own. It doesn’t affect the previous letter’s vowel.
The hamza (pronounced alif) may be on an alif أ – إ or on a wow ؤ or a yaئ . no matter which letter the hamza is on, the sound of the letter is always of alif. For example, ؤ has the sound of alif and not a wow.
Guidelines to placing a hamza on an alif, a wow, or a ya.
Vowel strengths are from strongest to weakest as follows: the kasra (being the strongest), then the damma, then the fathha, then the sukun (being the weakest).
To know which letter to place the hamza on, see whether the hamza is in the middle of the word or at the end. So if the vowel on the hamza is a kasra (the strongest vowel) while the vowel preceding it is a damma or fathha or sukun, place the vowel on a nabira (ئ).
If the vowel on the hamza is a sukun or fathha while on the letter preceding it is a damma, place the hamza on a و . If one of the vowels is a fathha while the other is a sukun, the hamza is placed on an alif.
In general, place the hamza on the letter appropriate for the stronger vowel.
Learning these guidelines will also help you read words containing a hamza if there are no vowels on the letters. You will know how to pronounce a word by looking at the letter that the hamza is on.
Checklist of rules for the Hamza in the Middle of the Word:
If the hamza is in the middle of the word, look at the vowel on it and the vowel on the letter preceding it. Then use the letter (alif, wow, or ya) appropriate for the stronger of the two vowels.
If one of the two vowels is a kasra, place the hamza on a ya (nabira) ئ.
If one of the two vowels is a damma and the other is either a fathha or a sukun, place the hamza on a wowؤ .
If one of the two vowels is a fathha and the other is a sukun, place the hamza on an alifإ – أ .
Here are some words containing the hamza in the middle of the word.
أؤمن ُ – I believe- the letter preceding the hamza has a damma while the hamza (second hamza) has a sukun on it. since the damma is stronger than the sukun, the hamza is placed on a wow. (note these rules are only for the hamza that comes in the middle or end of the word, not for the hamza at the beginning of the word. The hamza at the beginning of the word is always on an alif, as in this word.
مُؤمنون - believers - here the case is the same as in the above word. The hamza has a sukun while the letter preceding it has a damma. Since the damma is stronger than the sukun, the hamza is placed on a wow.
سَألَ - asked - here both the hamza and the letter before it contain a fathha. Therefore, the hamza is on an alif.
سُئلَ – was asked - this word is the same as the previous word except that it is used in the passive sentenceجملة مبني للمجهول. (the form of the verb in the passive sentence is different from the form used in the active sentence – and you thought that the language couldn’t get more complicated! ) however, the rules for changes within the word (know as sarf صرف ) are the same. Here the vowel on the hamza is a kasra and the vowel on the letter preceding it is a damma. Since the kasra is stronger than the damma, the hamza is placed on a ئ.
(An example of a sentence using this verb. سُئلَ الرجلُ السُؤالَ – The man was asked a question.) as you can see, by knowing the rules of the hamza help you know how to pronounce the word.)
سُؤال - question - here the hamza contains a fathha but the letter before it contain a damma, so the hamza is placed on a wow which is the letter appropriate for the stronger vowel.
يَسْألُ – to ask - this is the present tense of the verb سأل . in يسْألُ the hamza contains a fathha and the letter preceding it contains a sukun. Since the fathha is stronger than the sukun, the hamza is placed on an alif.
Note: these rules are for all words and not just verbs.