Tajweed · Lesson
The Rules of Raa · Heavy & Light
The letter ر has two voices — a full, heavy sound and a thin, light one. The vowels around it decide which voice you use.
The two voices → Jump to practice Part of the Tajweed letter-rules seriesStart here
Unlike most letters, the raa can be pronounced two ways. Tafkheem (تَفْخِيم) is heavy — the back of the tongue lifts and the mouth fills with a round, full sound. Tarqeeq (تَرْقِيق) is light — the tongue stays forward and the sound is thin. The vowel on the raa, or the vowel just before it, tells you which to use.
“Lord” — the raa has a fat-ha, so it is full and round.
“provision” — the raa has a kasra, so it is thin and light.
The decision
Tap any case to see a real Qur’anic word, how the raa sounds, and why. The heavy cases are on the left, the light cases on the right.
Full, round, mouth-filling.
Thin, slim, tongue forward.
When you pause on a word that ends in raa, the raa becomes saakin — so judge it by the letter right before it.
The rules in full
Tap each rule to open the complete set of cases with verified Qur’anic examples.
Your turn
Read each word. Is the raa pronounced heavy (مُفَخَّمة) or light (مُرَقَّقة)?
Keep it close
| Voice | When | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Heavy مُفَخَّمة |
Raa with fat-ha or damma · saakin raa after fat-ha or damma · saakin raa after a temporary (joining) kasra. | رَبّ · رُحَمَاء · مَرْيَم · القُرْآن · ارْجِعِي |
| Light مُرَقَّقة |
Raa with kasra · saakin raa after an original kasra · saakin raa after a still yaa. | رِزْق · فِرْعَوْن · خَيْر |
| Both جَوَاز الوَجْهَيْن |
When stopping on a saakin raa that comes after a saakin elevation-letter preceded by a kasra. | مِصْر · القِطْر |