‫مقدمة يف علم التجويد‬

Introduction To
The Science of Tajweed
RULES GOVERNING THE CORRECT
RECITATION OF THE QUR-AAN
Definition of at-Tajweed )‫(التجويد‬
 The word Tajweed linguistically means ‘proficiency’ or
‘doing something well’.
 When applied to the Qur’an, it means: The correct
recitation of the Qur'an that is achieved by articulating
every letter from its correct Makhraj (articulation point)
and giving it its full rights )‫ (حقّه‬and dues )‫(مستحقّه‬
regarding its Sifaat (characteristics), and observing the
rules that apply to those letters in different situations.
 We give the letters their rights by observing the essential
characteristics of each letter that never leave it.
 And we give them their dues by observing the
characteristics of each letter that are present in them at
some times and not present at other times.
 Importance of Tajweed
 The Qur’an was revealed with Tajweed rules applied
to it: Angel Jibreel (AS) recited the Words of Allah to
the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) in the correct way
according to the rules of Tajweed.
 Rasoolullah (saw) taught his companions in the same
way, and likewise, they taught the Taabi’een.
 Its Recitation was transmitted to us through Isnaad
(chains of reciters) from generation to generation,
each teacher teaching his student in the same way,
until it reached us.
 It is therefore incumbent upon us to observe those
rules so that we recite it in the way it was revealed
and transmitted to us.
 Ruling of Applying Tajweed
 Allah (swt) says:
()‫)( َوَرتِّ ِّل الْ ُق ْرآ َن تَ ْرتِّيال‬
((…And recite the Qur’an with (Tarteel)
measured recitation)) [Surah Muzzammil: 4]
 The Scholars have agreed that reciting the
Quran correctly by applying the rules of
Tajweed is compulsory (Fard Ein) on every
Muslim according to his/her ability
 However, learning the detailed rules is Fard
Kifaayah, so if some Muslims of the community
learn it the others will not be sinners.
Ruling of Applying Tajweed cont’d
 Imam Muhammad bin Al-Jazaree the great
Qur’an Scholar (died 833 AH/1429 CE) says in his
famous poem (al-Jazariyyah), detailing the rules
of Tajweed:
‫يد َح ْت ٌم الَ ِّزُم *** َم ْن َلْ َُُ ِّو ِِّ الْ ُق َرآ َن آِِّ ُم‬ِّ ‫واألَ ْخ ُذ ِِّبلتَّج ِّو‬
ْ َ
‫ال‬ َ ‫و‬
َ َ َ َْ ُ ْ ‫ن‬ ‫ي‬َ‫ل‬ ِّ
ِ ‫ه‬ ‫ن‬ ‫م‬ِّ ‫ا‬ ‫ذ‬
َ ‫ك‬
َ ‫ه‬ ‫و‬ *** ‫ال‬
َ ‫ز‬ ْ‫ن‬َ‫أ‬ ‫ه‬ ‫ل‬
َ ِّ
‫اإل‬ ِّ
‫ه‬ ِّ
‫ألَنَّهُ ب‬
ََ َ ُ
“And applying Tajweed is an issue of absolute
necessity, whoever doesn’t apply Tajweed to the
Qur’an, then a sinner is he, Because with it
(Tajweed) Allah has sent it down, and that is how
from him (Rasoolullah) it has reached to us”
 The goal of learning tajweed: is preserving the
tongue from making mistakes in the recitation of
the Glorious Qur'an.
 ‫ – مخارج الحروف‬The Makhaarij
(Articulation points) of the Arabic letters
 The articulation point (Makhraj) of a letter is the place
from which the letter is emitted. The Plural is
Makhaarij.
 Knowing the correct Makhraj of a letter is necessary
to utter the letter correctly.
 There are 29 letters in the Arabic alphabet.
 They are pronounced from FIVE main Makhaarij,
which are subdivided into SEVENTEEN detailed ones.
 To learn the Makhraj of a letter, pronounce the letter
with a Sukoon preceeded by a hamzah with a fatha.
 E.g. for the makhraj of the letter (‫ )ف‬we say: ‫أَف‬
Main Articulation Points of Arabic Letters
The First Makhraj: al-Halq (The Throat)

The Three Makhaarij of the Throat

The Second Makhraj: al-Lisaan

Main Parts of the Tongue

Letters of The Tongue
 The tongue has TEN makhaarij, from which
EIGHTEEN letters are pronounced. They are:

‫ك‬ ‫ق‬
‫ض‬ ‫ج ش ي‬
‫ن‬ ‫ل‬
‫ط ِ ت‬ ‫ر‬
‫ص س ز‬ ‫ظ ذ ث‬
The Third Makhraj: ash-Shafataan
The Fourth Makhraj: al-Jawf

The Three Letters of Madd

The Fifth Makhraj: al-Khaishoom (The Nasal Passage)

Ghunnah

Note: Ghunnah is a sound which is emitted from the nasal passage

accompanying the pronunciation of ‫ ن‬and ‫ م‬and is lengthened for two beats.
Summary of Makhaarij al-Huroof
(Points of Articulation of the Letters)
Letters Of Madd
‫الغنة‬