tajweed

Tajweed is the set of rules governing the correct pronunciation of the Quran in Arabic. Its aim is to preserve the phonetic qualities of the Prophet Muhammad’s recitation and to prevent changes in meaning that can arise from mispronunciation. Tajweed covers both how letters should be articulated and how sounds should be lengthened, paused, or coordinated with neighboring letters.

Central to tajweed are makharij (points of articulation) and sifat (characteristics) of letters. These determine where in the vocal tract a letter is produced and how it should sound. The science also prescribes when and how vowels are lengthened (madd), how to pause or continue in recitation (waqf and wasl), and how letters interact across word boundaries.

Key rules of recitation include categories such as idgham (merging with assimilation), ikhfa (concealed pronunciation with partial nasalization), and izhar (clear pronunciation). Other features include qalqalah (a small echoing effect on certain consonants) and ghunnah (nasalization) in prescribed contexts. Noon sakinah and tanween rules regulate nasalization and pronunciation of noon and tanween before specific letters. The madd (elongation) rules specify the length of vowel prolongation in different contexts.

Teaching Tajweed is traditionally done by qualified instructors in a teacher–student setting, at mosques, in madrasas, and in modern schools. It is often taught alongside memorization of the Quran and is considered essential for accurate recitation. Modern resources include textbooks, audio materials, and digital courses that illustrate the rules with examples and practice.