Tajweed · Lesson

المُتماثلان والمُتقاربان والمُتجانسان

When Two Letters Meet

When one letter ends and another begins, what is their relationship? Compare their makhraj and their sifaat — and you’ll know whether they merge or stay clear.

See letters meet → Jump to practice Builds on the Makhārij & Sifaat lessons

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Four relationships, one comparison

Whenever two letters sit side by side, we judge them by what you already know: where each comes from (makhraj) and how each is pronounced (sifaat). The closer they are, the more likely they merge. Just compare the two letters and follow the ladder.

Are they the same letter — identical makhraj and sifaat?
المُتماثلان
IDENTICAL · Mutamāthilān
Same makhraj, but different sifaat?
المُتجانسان
HOMOGENEOUS · Mutajānisān
Makhraj or sifaat merely close — neighbours, not twins?
المُتقاربان
CLOSE · Mutaqāribān
Far apart in both makhraj and sifaat?
المُتباعدان
DISTANT · Mutabāʿidān
The first three can merge (idgham) in certain words. The distant pair always stays clear (izhar).

The signature

Watch two letters meet

Each example is a real meeting point from the Qur’an. Filter by relationship or tap any one to see the two letters, why they relate, and the Hafs ruling.

One more layer

The three degrees

Each relationship also has a “degree” based on the vowels of the two letters. Only one of them is where merging actually happens.

Minor صَغِير

The first letter is saakin, the second is voweled. This is where idgham happens.

قَد دَّخَلُوا

Major كَبِير

Both letters are voweled. Read clearly in Hafs.

فِيهِ هُدًى

Absolute مُطْلَق

The first is voweled, the second is saakin. Read clearly.

قَوْمٌ

Your turn

Name the relationship

Two letters meet in each phrase. Are they identical, homogeneous, or close?

Question 1 of 10 Score: 0

Keep it close

Quick reference

RelationshipMakhraj & sifaatHafs ruling (minor degree)
Identical
المُتماثلان
Same makhraj and same sifaat (the same letter)Obligatory idgham — except madd letters (قَالُوا وَهُمْ)
Homogeneous
المُتجانسان
Same makhraj, different sifaatIdgham in set pairs: ت د ط · ث ذ ظ · ب م
Close
المُتقاربان
Makhraj or sifaat merely closeMostly izhar — idgham in ل→ر, ق→ك, and noon’s rules
Distant
المُتباعدان
Far in both makhraj and sifaatAlways izhar (clear)