Dr. Sarmad Adel Sahib Harbi – University of Karbala – College of Islamic Sciences – Department of Arabic Language
The terminological approach in this article arises from the study of the concept of terminology, which is based on a philosophical framework that explores the preliminary (principle) conceptualizations logically preceding the formation of the term concept. It seeks to uncover the mental structure created by the specialized knowledge of the scholar, then applies it to a specific linguistic sign (term) formed lexically according to the rules governing the linguistic system in Arabic.
The term “شوائب الحروف” (impurities of letters) belongs to the conceptual field of Tajweed, as evidenced in the writings of scholars in this field. For example, Abu Muhammad Maki bin Abi Talib (d. 437 AH) mentioned in the section on the letter “Qaf”: “When the letter ‘Kaf’ is placed adjacent to or before it, it should be clarified to avoid confusion with the sound of ‘Kaf’ due to their proximity” ([i]). Similarly, Abdul Wahhab al-Qurtubi (d. 461 AH) addressed the sound of “Thal” saying: “Likewise, if it follows the ‘Kaf’ in words such as [يَذْكُرُونَ] [Aal Imran 191] … it must be preserved from being confused with the sound of ‘Thaa’, since ‘Thaa’ shares the same articulation point with ‘Thal’, and both ‘Thal’ and ‘Kaf’ are whispered sounds, with ‘Thal’ being voiced. Thus, there is a risk that the breathiness of ‘Kaf’ might influence ‘Thal’ in terms of articulation and breathiness” ([ii]).
The concept of “شوائب الحروف” in our interpretive tradition concerning the articulation of Quranic sounds seems to have been established based on the principle of proximity. This principle emerged when Tajweed scholars alerted beginner reciters to two key issues ([iii]):
- Ensuring the accurate pronunciation of each sound independently, respecting its articulation and characteristics. This concern is primarily phonetic and considers the sound in isolation.
- Ensuring the accurate pronunciation within a word or sentence, to prevent sounds from being confused with others. Scholars recognized that when sounds are adjacent within a word or connected speech, their qualities and points of articulation could be altered, partially or entirely. This concern is more structural, viewing the sound within its phonetic context ([iv]).
The goal of this approach was:
- To preserve the recitational form as transmitted by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
- To protect the sounds of the Quran from mispronunciation or deviation into colloquial dialects.
The examination of the second issue—accurately pronouncing sounds within the structure, to avoid confusion or overlap with other sounds—led to the development of a preliminary concept. This concept gave rise to a specialized term for the mixing of sounds, eventually termed “شوائب الحروف” (impurities of letters). This term reflects the cognitive processes that shaped the concept within the specialized field of Tajweed ([v]).
“شوائب الحروف” is a compound term formed by combining “شوائب” (impurities) with “الحروف” (the letters). The term “شوائب” is a general linguistic unit that can relate to a broad range of meanings, which is why it needed further specification to refer to the emerging performance concepts related to adjacent Quranic sounds. Thus, the term was confined by adding “الحروف” (letters), and then this compound term emerged in the linguistic usage as “شوائب الحروف.”
The structure of “شوائب الحروف” can be understood as a compound term formed through the following linguistic changes:
The original cognitive structure of the compound is: “شوائبٌ للحروف.” Then, following the rule of semantic addition in Arabic grammar, the indefinite noun “شوائبٌ” was changed to a definite one by removing the tanween (nunation), and the “lam” that would be implied in the addition relationship was omitted. Therefore, “شوائب” was added to “الحروف,” signifying the intended connection, and thus this term was formed through the conceptual process from the initial ideas to the linguistic and terminological creation of this specialized term.
([i]) Al-Rayaah for Perfecting the Reading and Correcting the Pronunciation of the Recitation, p. 171.
([ii]) Al-Mudhah in Tajweed, p. 181.
([iii]) See: Al-Rayaah for Perfecting the Reading and Correcting the Pronunciation of the Recitation, p. 155; Al-Tahdid fi Al-Ittqan wa Tajweed, pp. 78-79; A Book on Tajweed and the Articulation Points of Letters, pp. 356-357; An-Nashr in the Ten Readings, vol. 1, pp. 214-215.
([iv]) See: Phonetic Studies by Tajweed Scholars, p. 329; Phonology and Its Relation to the Structure in the Quranic Text by Dr. Muhammad Rizq Sha’ir, p. 18; The Word: A Linguistic Lexical Study by Dr. Helmi Khalil, p. 33.
([v]) See: Al-Mudhah in Tajweed, pp. 176-177; Phonetic Studies by Tajweed Scholars, p. 342; Language Sounds, Their Articulation Points, Characteristics, and Impurities Between Phonetic Studies and Quranic Performance by Firas al-Tai, p. 25.
([vi]) See: The Creation of Phonetic Terminology Among Tajweed Scholars, p. 100-101.
([vii]) See: Al-Misbah al-Muneer in the Glossary of the Major Explanation, p. 125.
