Question

Assalamoalaikum:
 
I want to know if the letters  and   have the effect of the English letter 'd' or 'z'. I am not saying that they sound like d or z i just want to know that along with their Arabic characteristics does the sound they produce have the component of a 'd' or a 'z'. Similarly does ''have the effect of an 's' or the 'th' in the word 'thin'? Please respond. May Allah bless you for your work.

 

Answer

Wa alaikum assalaam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh.

It is always best not to compare the Arabic letters to English letters, unless they have the exact same sound or are from the exact same articulation point.  Instead, their articulation points and characteristics should be studied and applied and then the correct sound will be emitted.  Having said that, it is difficult to answer the first part of the question. 

There are different characteristics and articulation points between the  and  and the English “D” and “Z”, and the two should not be compared. 

The  however has the same sound as the “th” in the English word “thin”. 

Jazakum Allahu khairan.

Wa assalaam alaikum.