What is Tajweed?
Tajweed (تجويد) comes from the Arabic root 'jawwada' (جوّد), meaning to make something excellent or to do it well. As a science, Tajweed refers to the set of rules governing the correct pronunciation of the Quran, giving each letter its due right (حق الحرف) from its proper articulation point (مخرج), and applying the necessary attributes (صفات) of lengthening, merging, or concealment.
The science of Tajweed developed formally in the 3rd century of the Islamic calendar, as scholars sought to preserve the exact recitation of the Quran as taught by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to his Companions. In Morocco, the predominant riwayah (transmission) is Warsh 'an Nafi' (ورش عن نافع), one of the seven authentic recitations of the Quran.
The Quranic Command to Recite with Tarteel
وَرَتِّلِ الْقُرْآنَ تَرْتِيلًا
“And recite the Quran with measured recitation.”
The Ruling on Tajweed
Scholars of Islamic jurisprudence distinguish between two types of recitation errors (لحن). Avoiding major errors that distort the meaning is obligatory (واجب) upon every Muslim who recites the Quran. Perfecting the subtler rules is a collective obligation (فرض كفاية) and highly recommended for all reciters.
Two Categories of Recitation Errors
Major Error (اللحن الجلي)
A clear mistake in pronunciation that changes the meaning of the word, e.g., changing a letter, a vowel, or a lengthening. Avoiding this is obligatory (واجب) on every reciter.
Minor Error (اللحن الخفي)
A subtle error that does not change the meaning but violates Tajweed rules, e.g., failing to apply Ghunna or incorrect Madd length. Avoiding this is highly recommended (مستحب).
Noon Saakinah & Tanween Rules
When the letter Noon carries a sukoon (نْ), or a word has tanween (nunation: ً ٌ ٍ), four rules apply depending on the letter that follows.
Izhar (الإظهار): Clear Pronunciation
When followed by any of the six throat letters (حروف الحلق), the Noon is pronounced clearly without any nasal sound (Ghunna).
مَنْ آمَنَ
Al-Baqarah 2:62
مِنْ حَيْثُ
Al-Baqarah 2:150
عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٌ
Al-Hujurat 49:13
Idgham (الإدغام): Merging
When followed by one of these six letters, the Noon merges into the following letter. With Ghunna (ي و م ن), and without Ghunna (ر ل).
مِنْ نِعْمَةٍ
An-Nahl 16:53
مَن يَقُولُ
Al-Baqarah 2:8
مِن رَّبِّكَ
Al-Baqarah 2:147
Iqlab (الإقلاب): Conversion
When followed by the letter Baa (ب), the Noon is converted to a Meem sound (م) and pronounced with Ghunna.
مِنْ بَعْدِ مِيثَاقِهِ
Al-Baqarah 2:27
سَمِيعًا بَصِيرًا
Al-Insan 76:2
مُحِيطٌ بِالْكَافِرِينَ
Al-Baqarah 2:19
Ikhfa (الإخفاء): Concealment
When followed by any of these 15 letters, the Noon is concealed, pronounced between clarity and full merging, with Ghunna held for two counts.
أَنْتُمْ
Al-Baqarah 2:85
مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ
Al-Baqarah 2:25
عَن صَلَاتِهِمْ سَاهُونَ
Al-Ma'un 107:5
Meem Saakinah Rules
When the letter Meem carries a sukoon (مْ), three rules apply based on the following letter.
Idgham Shafawi (الإدغام الشفوي)
When followed by another Meem, the two Meems merge into one with a doubled Ghunna. This is a labial (shafawi, شفوي) merging.
لَكُمْ مَا
Al-Baqarah 2:134
مِنهُم مَّن يُؤْمِنُ
Yunus 10:40
عَصْفٍ مَّأْكُولٍ
Al-Fil 105:5
Ikhfa Shafawi (الإخفاء الشفوي)
When followed by Baa (ب), the Meem is concealed with Ghunna. The lips are not fully closed when pronouncing the Meem before transitioning to the Baa.
تَرْمِيهِمْ بِحِجَارَةٍ
Al-Fil 105:4
أَنفُسَكُمْ بِاتِّخَاذِكُمُ
Al-Baqarah 2:54
وَأَمَدَّكُم بِأَنْعَامٍ
Ash-Shu'ara 26:133
Izhar Shafawi (الإظهار الشفوي)
When followed by any letter other than Meem or Baa, the Meem is pronounced clearly without Ghunna.
وَهُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ
Al-Baqarah 2:39
عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ
Al-Fatiha 1:7
عَلَيْهِمْ أَأَنذَرْتَهُمْ
Al-Baqarah 2:6
Ghunnah (الغنة): Nasal Resonance
Ghunnah is a nasal resonance produced from the nasal cavity, independent of the lips or tongue. It is inherent in Noon Mushaddad (نّ) and Meem Mushaddad (مّ), always two counts in duration.
Ghunnah on Noon Mushaddad (نّ)
Every doubled Noon (نّ) carries a full Ghunna of two counts, wherever it appears in a word. The nasal resonance must be clearly heard when reciting.
إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
Al-Baqarah 2:20
إِنَّ الْإِنسَانَ لَفِي خُسْرٍ
Al-'Asr 103:2
Ghunnah on Meem Mushaddad (مّ)
Every doubled Meem (مّ) carries a full Ghunna of two counts. The nasal quality must be sustained and clear before releasing into the following letter.
ثُمَّ يُمِيتُكُمْ ثُمَّ يُحْيِيكُمْ
Al-Baqarah 2:28
عَمَّ يَتَسَاءَلُونَ
An-Naba 78:1
Madd Rules (المد): Lengthening
Madd refers to the elongation of a vowel sound using one of the three Madd letters (ا و ي). The duration of lengthening varies by type and is measured in counts (harakaat).
Madd Tabee'i (المد الطبيعي): Natural Madd
The natural lengthening of 2 counts that occurs whenever a Madd letter appears without a hamzah or sukoon after it. This is the foundation of all Madd types.
قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ
Al-Ikhlas 112:1
رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ
Al-Fatiha 1:2
Madd Wajib Muttasil (المد الواجب المتصل): Obligatory Connected
Occurs when a Madd letter is followed by a Hamzah within the same word. Lengthening is obligatory at 4–5 counts.
أَفَكُلَّمَا جَاءَكُمْ رَسُولٌ
Al-Baqarah 2:87
وَسَاءَ سَبِيلًا
Al-Isra 17:32
Madd Jaiz Munfasil (المد الجائز المنفصل): Permissible Separated
Occurs when a Madd letter at the end of a word is followed by a Hamzah at the beginning of the next word. In Warsh, this is extended to 4–6 counts.
إِنَّا أَعْطَيْنَاكَ الْكَوْثَرَ
Al-Kawthar 108:1
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ
Al-Baqarah 2:21
Madd Lazim (المد اللازم): Necessary Madd
Occurs when a Madd letter is followed by a sukoon that is fixed (not pausal). This is lengthened for 6 counts and is obligatory.
الم
Al-Baqarah 2:1
يس
Ya-Sin 36:1
Qalqalah (القلقلة): Echo Pronunciation
Qalqalah is a slight bouncing or echoing sound applied to five specific letters when they carry a sukoon. The five Qalqalah letters are easily remembered by the phrase: قُطُبُ جَدٍّ (qutbu jadd).
قُطُبُ جَدٍّ
ق ط ب ج د
Minor Qalqalah (الصغرى)
Occurs when the Qalqalah letter has a sukoon in the middle of a word. The echo is light and brief.
اقْتَرَبَتِ السَّاعَةُ
Al-Qamar 54:1
يَقْطَعُونَ مَا أَمَرَ
Al-Baqarah 2:27
أَجْدَرُ أَلَّا يَعْلَمُوا
At-Tawbah 9:97
Major Qalqalah (الكبرى)
Occurs when the Qalqalah letter falls at the end of a word when pausing. The echo is stronger and more pronounced.
وَالْفَجْرِ
Al-Fajr 89:1
وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ
Al-Ikhlas 112:4
قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ الْفَلَقِ
Al-Falaq 113:1
How to Learn Tajweed
The scholars of Tajweed have always emphasised that this science cannot be properly learned from books alone; it requires a living teacher (شيخ) who can model correct pronunciation and correct your mistakes.
Practical Steps
- 1
Find a qualified Quran teacher (قارئ معلم) who has a connected chain of transmission (سند) back to the Prophet ﷺ; this is the authentic way Tajweed has been transmitted.
- 2
In Morocco, seek teachers trained in Warsh 'an Nafi' (ورش عن نافع), the riwayah used in Moroccan mosques and Quranic schools (kuttab).
- 3
Listen extensively to experienced reciters such as Sheikh Mahmoud Khalil al-Husary, Sheikh Ibrahim al-Akhdar, or Moroccan reciters trained in Warsh.
- 4
Practice reciting slowly (tarteel), focusing on one rule at a time, before increasing speed.
- 5
Record your recitation and compare it with a master reciter to identify areas for improvement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Applying Tajweed to avoid major errors (لحن جلي) that distort meaning is obligatory (واجب) on every Muslim reciter. Perfecting the finer rules to avoid minor errors (لحن خفي) is a highly recommended act. The scholars of Tajweed said: 'Reciting the Quran with Tajweed is an obligation; whoever does not apply it is sinful.'