Imalah in Hafs occurs in only one word in the entire Quran: مَجْر۪ىٰهَا (majreha) in Surah Hud, ayah 41. Imalah means tilting the fatha toward a kasra and the alif after it toward a ya, so the word sounds like “majrē-hā” rather than “majrā-hā”. The ra becomes light, the vowel keeps its normal two-count length, and the very next word, مُرْسَىٰهَا, is read without imalah. Because it appears once, it is easy to read wrongly for years, which is why teachers in online Tajweed classes check it specifically.
This guide explains what imalah is, how to pronounce this one word step by step, how the mushaf marks it and where students usually go wrong.
Key takeaways
- In Hafs ‘an ‘Asim via al-Shatibiyyah, imalah happens in one word only: majreha in Hud 11:41.
- It is imalah kubra: a strong tilt toward kasra and ya, but never a full “ee”.
- The ra is light in majreha, while the ra in the next word, mursaha, is heavy.
- The Madani mushaf marks it with a small filled mark under the ra, usually diamond-shaped.
What Imalah Means
Linguistically, imalah means inclining or tilting something. In Tajweed, it describes a vowel sound that leans away from a pure open fatha toward a kasra, and an alif that leans toward a ya. The result sits between the two sounds.
Scholars of qira’at describe two degrees:
| Degree | Arabic name | Sound | Used in Hafs? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Major tilt | Imalah kubra (also called imalah mahdah) | Strongly toward kasra and ya, but not a full kasra | Yes, in majreha only |
| Minor tilt | Imalah sughra, or taqlil (bayna bayna) | Halfway between fatha and imalah kubra | No |
Imalah is a matter of transmission, not personal taste. Hafs received this word from his teacher ‘Asim with imalah, and it has been passed down that way through the chains of teachers to this day.
The One Place: Surah Hud, Ayah 41
وَقَالَ ارْكَبُوا فِيهَا بِسْمِ اللَّهِ مَجْر۪ىٰهَا وَمُرْسَىٰهَا ۚ إِنَّ رَبِّي لَغَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
In this ayah, Nuh (peace be upon him) tells the believers to board the ark, declaring that its sailing (majreha) and its anchoring (mursaha) are in the name of Allah. You can read it with translation on quran.com.
The word majreha comes from the root ج ر ي, meaning to run or flow, which has a ya as its final root letter. Scholars often point out that the imalah reflects this ya, and the mushaf spelling with a ya-shaped letter after the ra also hints at it. Still, the reason we read it this way is that it was transmitted this way.
How to Pronounce Majreha Step by Step
- Read the meem with fatha and the jeem with sukun: “maj”.
- Read the ra with the tilted vowel. Instead of an open “ra”, lean the vowel toward “ri” without reaching it. The result is close to the “e” in “red”, stretched: “rē”.
- Hold that vowel for two counts, exactly as long as a natural madd. Imalah changes the color of the sound, not its length.
- Keep the ra light. Because of the kasra-like quality, the ra is pronounced with tarqeeq, never with a full, heavy mouth.
- Finish with “hā” as normal: majrēhā.
- Then read wa-mursāhā with no imalah. The ra here has a plain fatha, so it is heavy and open.
That contrast between a light ra and a heavy ra in two neighboring words is the best way to train your ear. Read the two words back to back slowly, then at your normal speed. If you want a refresher on why a ra with fatha is heavy, see our guide to the rules of ra in Tajweed.
Flip through the cards below to lock in the place, the sound and the rules around it.
Imalah Flashcards
Flip each card to test the place, the sound and the rules around it
How the Mushaf Shows Imalah
In the Madani mushaf used in most of the world today, the word is written مَجْر۪ىٰهَا: the ra is followed by a ya-shaped letter (alif maqsurah) with a small dagger alif, and a small filled mark, diamond-shaped in most printings, is placed under the ra. The mushaf uses that sign only here, to show imalah.
These small marks are easy to overlook. Our guide to reading small letters and signs in the mushaf explains how the dagger alif and other small signs work, so the rest of the page makes sense too. If your mushaf uses a different script, such as an Indo-Pak print, the sign may look different or may be explained in a note, but the reading of Hafs is the same.
Imalah Among Hafs’s Special Words
Imalah belongs to a small group of words where Hafs via al-Shatibiyyah reads in a way students would not expect from the general rules. Teachers usually check all of them together:
| Feature | Place | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Imalah | Hud 11:41, مَجْر۪ىٰهَا | Fatha and alif tilted toward kasra and ya |
| Tashil | Fussilat 41:44, ءَا۬عْجَمِيٌّ | Second hamza eased, between hamza and alif |
| Ishmam | Yusuf 12:11, تَأْمَ۫نَّا | Lips rounded on the merged noon (or the vowel partly pronounced) |
| Sakt | Al-Kahf 18:1, Ya-Sin 36:52, Al-Qiyamah 75:27, Al-Mutaffifin 83:14 | Brief pause without breath |
You can study the eased hamza in our sister guide on tashil in Hafs, and the four pauses in the places of sakt in Hafs.
Imalah in other readings. Some readers use imalah far more often. Hamzah and al-Kisa’i are known for it, and Warsh ‘an Nafi’ (through the route of al-Azraq) is known for frequent taqlil, the lighter tilt. Most students first complete Hafs, and you can ask about other narrations during your free assessment.
Common Mistakes With Imalah
- Reading a full “ee”. Saying “majreeha”, as if the word had a ya with kasra, overshoots the tilt.
- Ignoring it completely. Reading “majraha” with an open fatha is the most common error among self-taught readers.
- Making the ra heavy. If the ra is pronounced heavy, the imalah is lost even if the vowel is tilted.
- Spreading imalah to mursaha. Once students learn the rule, some tilt the next word too. In Hafs, mursaha has no imalah.
- Adding imalah elsewhere. Words with a similar spelling, such as those ending in alif maqsurah, are read with a plain fatha and alif in Hafs.
- Shortening the vowel. The tilted vowel still lasts two counts.
Because these errors are subtle, listening to a qualified reciter and then reciting back to a teacher is the reliable way to learn the sound. In our Tajweed rules course, teachers go through the special words of Hafs with you one by one until each sounds natural.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is imalah in Tajweed?
Imalah is tilting the fatha toward a kasra and the alif after it toward a ya sound. It has a major degree (imalah kubra) and a minor degree (taqlil). In Hafs via al-Shatibiyyah, only the major degree is used, and only in one word.
Where is imalah in the Quran for Hafs?
In Surah Hud, ayah 41, in the word مَجْر۪ىٰهَا (majreha). It is the only word with imalah in the narration of Hafs ‘an ‘Asim via al-Shatibiyyah.
Is the ra in majreha heavy or light?
It is light (tarqeeq). The imalah gives the ra a kasra-like quality, so it cannot be heavy. The ra in the next word, mursaha, has a plain fatha and is heavy.
Is mursaha also read with imalah?
No. In Hafs, وَمُرْسَىٰهَا is read with a normal fatha and alif: mursaha. Only majreha has imalah.
How can I learn to pronounce imalah correctly?
Listen to a trusted reciter at Hud 11:41, then practice reading majreha and mursaha back to back so you hear the light and heavy ra. Recite it to a teacher, who can tell you whether your tilt is too weak or too strong. Our online Tajweed classes begin with a free trial class.
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