Sun and moon letters are one of the first rules a beginner needs in order to read Arabic, and therefore the Quran, correctly. The rule answers a simple question: when a word begins with the Arabic definite article al-, do you pronounce the l or not? You say al-qamar for the moon, but ash-shams for the sun, even though both are written with the same two letters at the front.
This guide explains the rule, lists the letters, shows how the Quran marks it in writing, and gives you easy ways to remember it.
What Is the Definite Article?
Arabic makes a noun definite by attaching ال (alif and lam) to the front of it, much like the word the in English. Kitab means a book; al-kitab means the book. The alif and lam are always written. What changes is whether the lam is pronounced, and that depends entirely on the letter that comes immediately after it.
The Rule in One Sentence
If the letter after al- is a moon letter, the lam is pronounced clearly. If it is a sun letter, the lam is silent and the sun letter is doubled.
The names come from the two standard examples. In al-qamar (the moon), the lam is heard, so qaf and the letters like it are called moon letters. In ash-shams (the sun), the lam disappears into the sheen, so sheen and the letters like it are called sun letters.
The Fourteen Moon Letters
With these letters, the lam of al- carries a sukoon and is pronounced clearly. In Tajweed this is called izhar qamari, clear pronunciation of the lam.
ا ب ج ح خ ع غ ف ق ك م ه و ي
They are traditionally gathered in the phrase ابغ حجك وخف عقيمه, in which every letter is a moon letter.
Examples you already know from the Quran:
- al-hamd (the praise)
- al-kitab (the Book)
- al-falaq (the daybreak)
- al-baqarah (the cow)
- al-mulk (the dominion)
- al-yawm (the day)
- al-jannah (the Garden)
- al-insan (the human being)
The Fourteen Sun Letters
With these letters, the lam is written but not pronounced. It merges into the following letter, which is read doubled, with a shaddah. In Tajweed this is called idgham shamsi, the merging of the lam.
ت ث د ذ ر ز س ش ص ض ط ظ ل ن
Examples from the Quran:
- ar-rahman (the Most Merciful), not al-rahman
- an-nas (mankind), not al-nas
- as-salah (the prayer)
- ad-deen (the religion)
- at-tawbah (repentance)
- adh-dhikr (the remembrance)
- az-zakah (the obligatory charity)
- al-layl (the night), where the lam of the article merges into the lam of the word, giving one doubled lam
Why Does the Lam Disappear?
The explanation is in the mouth. Lam is pronounced with the front of the tongue. All the sun letters are also pronounced with the front part of the tongue, close to where lam is made. Saying a lam with sukoon and then immediately one of these letters is awkward, so the lam naturally merges into the next letter. The moon letters come from further away, in the throat, the lips, or the middle and back of the tongue, so the lam can be pronounced comfortably before them.
Once you understand this, the rule stops being a list to memorise and becomes something your tongue does almost by itself. If you would like to know exactly where each letter is produced, read our guide to Makharij al-Huruf.
How the Mushaf Shows You Which Is Which
You do not need to stop and recall the lists while reading the Quran. The writing tells you:
- Moon letter: the lam has a sukoon sign above it, and the next letter has a normal vowel.
- Sun letter: the lam has no sign at all, and the next letter carries a shaddah.
So the practical rule for reading is: a lam with a sukoon is pronounced; a bare lam followed by a shaddah is skipped.
What About the Alif at the Beginning?
The alif of al- is a connecting hamzah. It is pronounced only when you begin with the word. When the word is joined to what comes before it, the alif is dropped and you go straight from the previous sound to the lam, or to the doubled sun letter.
- Starting: al-qamar. Joined: wal-qamar (and the moon).
- Starting: ash-shams. Joined: wash-shams (and the sun).
You hear this in every recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah: al-hamdu lillahi rabbil-aalameen, ar-rahmanir-raheem. The alif of the article is heard at the beginning of a phrase and vanishes in the middle.
Easy Ways to Remember
- Remember the two key words. Al-qamar and ash-shams each demonstrate their own rule.
- Learn the moon phrase. ابغ حجك وخف عقيمه contains all fourteen moon letters. Any letter not in it is a sun letter.
- Use the tongue test. If the letter is made with the front of the tongue near the teeth and gums, it is very likely a sun letter.
- Look for the shaddah. In the Quran the marks do the work for you.
- Practise with familiar words. The names of surahs are a ready-made exercise: Al-Fatihah, Al-Baqarah, An-Nisa, Ar-Rad, Ash-Shams, Al-Layl, Ad-Duha, At-Teen, Al-Qadr, An-Nasr.
Common Mistakes
- Pronouncing the lam before a sun letter. Saying al-shams or al-rahman. The lam must disappear.
- Forgetting to double the sun letter. The following letter has a shaddah and must be held: ash-shams, not a-shams.
- Bouncing the lam before a moon letter. The lam has a plain sukoon. It should be clear but without any added echo or vowel, as in al-hamd, not ala-hamd.
- Pronouncing the alif in the middle of a phrase. When joining, the connecting hamzah drops.
- Applying the rule to a lam that is part of the word itself. The rule is only for the lam of the definite article.
Does This Rule Matter for Speaking Arabic Too?
Yes. It is a feature of the Arabic language, not only of Quran recitation. Every Arabic speaker says ash-shams and al-qamar without thinking about it. Learning it now helps both your recitation and any Arabic you study later. If you are interested in understanding the language of the Quran, see our Standard Arabic course.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many sun and moon letters are there?
Fourteen of each, making up the twenty-eight letters of the Arabic alphabet.
Is lam itself a sun letter?
Yes. When a word beginning with lam takes the article, the two lams merge into one doubled lam, as in al-layl.
Is the lam still written when it is silent?
Yes. It is always written and simply not pronounced before a sun letter.
Is this the same as the rule for the lam in the name of Allah?
No. Whether the lam in the name of Allah is read heavy or light is a separate rule of Tajweed that depends on the vowel before it.
When do students learn this rule?
Early, usually while learning to read through a beginner course, because it appears on every page of the Quran.
Learn to Read It Right From the Start
Rules like this are easiest to absorb with a teacher listening as you read. Beginners can start with our Noorani Qaida course, and readers who want to perfect their recitation can join the Tajweed course. Lessons are one-to-one and live, with male and female tutors who are graduates of Al-Azhar. Book a free trial class today.
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