1) It is mentioned that al jawf is a place and a makhraj at the same time...

Question
Assalaamu 'alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu

InshaAllah you are all well in iman and health.


1) It is mentioned that al jawf is a place and a makhraj at the same time. Is this simply saying that unlike the tongue or throat which are composed of flesh, al jawf isn't?

2) Why is it mentioned that the alif is saakin? Is it possible for the alif to be in other than a saakin state?

Jazakallahu khairan

Wassalamu 'alaikum wa rahamatullahi wa barakatuh

Answer
Wa alaikum assalaam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatu
Al-hamdu lillah for the blessing of good health and we ask Allah to keep us, you, and all Muslims firm in faith until we meet Him and He is pleased with us.

1.  There are articulation points which are specific, and those which are approximate.  The letters emitted from are from an approximate place, meaning you cannot put your finger on a specific area which these letters come from, instead it is a general area. Since it is the general empty space, it does not use a specific part of the throat or mouth.  That seems more appropriate than using the term fleshy versus not fleshy.  Allah knows best.

2. The true alif is always saakinah and preceded by a fath.  It cannot be in any other state. 
Some mistakenly call the hamzah written on an alif an alif, but it is really a hamzah. 

Wa iyyaakum
Wa assalaam alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh