Tajwīd means giving every letter its right. It protects the Qur’an from being mispronounced.
1. Makharij al-Ḥurūf (Articulation Points)
Each letter has a specific place it comes from.
Main areas:
Throat (ء هـ ع ح غ خ)
Tongue (most letters)
Lips (ف ب م و)
Nasal passage (ghunnah)
2. Ṣifāt al-Ḥurūf (Characteristics of Letters)
Letters have qualities like:
Heavy (tafkhīm): خ ص ض غ ط ق ظ
Light (tarqīq): rest of letters
Example:
اللَّهُ
The ل in “Allah” is heavy when preceded by fatḥah or ḍammah.
3. Nūn Sākinah and Tanwīn Rules
Idh-hār (Clear Pronunciation)
Letters: ء هـ ع ح غ خ
Example:
مِنْ هَادٍ
The nūn is pronounced clearly.
Idghām (Merging)
Letters: ي ر م ل و ن
Example:
مَن يَقُولُ
The nūn merges into the next letter.
Iqlāb (Conversion)
Letter: ب
Example:
مِن بَعْدِ
The nūn changes to a hidden م sound.
Ikhfā (خفاء)
Letters: remaining 15 letters
Example:
مِن شَرِّ
The nūn is hidden with nasal sound.
4. Mīm Sākinah Rules
Idghām Shafawī
If م meets م
Example:
لَكُم مَّا
Merge with ghunnah.
Ikhfā Shafawī
If م meets ب
Example:
تَرْمِيهِم بِحِجَارَةٍ
خفاء with nasal sound.
Idh-hār Shafawī
If م meets any other letter
Example:
أَنْعَمْتَ
Clear pronunciation.
5. Qalqalah (Echoing Sound)
Letters: ق ط ب ج د
Example:
قَدْ
A slight bounce sound when letter has sukoon.
6. Madd (Elongation)
Natural Madd (2 counts)
Example:
قَالَ
Stretch 2 counts.
Extended Madd (4–6 counts)
When madd is followed by hamzah or sukoon.
Example:
السَّمَاءِ
Longer stretch.
7. Ghunnah (Nasal Sound)
Occurs in:
نّ
مّ
Example:
إِنَّ
Hold nasal sound for 2 counts.
8. Stopping Rules (Waqf)
When stopping at end of āyah:
Drop vowel endings
Add sukoon
Example:
الرَّحِيمِ → الرَّحِيمْ
Pause correctly to preserve meaning.
9. Rules of Rā (ر)
Rā is:
Heavy with fatḥah/ḍammah
Light with kasrah
Example:
مدثر → light
رَحْمَة → heavy
10. Madd Types (More Detail)
Madd Munfaṣil (Separated Madd)
When a madd letter is at the end of a word and the next word starts with hamzah.
Example:
فِي أَنفُسِكُمْ
Length: 4–5 counts
Madd Muttasil (Connected Madd)
When madd letter is followed by hamzah in the same word.
Example:
جَاءَ
Length: 4–5 counts
Madd Lāzim (Necessary Madd)
When madd is followed by a permanent sukoon.
Example:
الضَّالِّينَ
Length: 6 counts
11. Rules of Lām (ل)
Lām in “Allah”
Heavy if before it is:
Fatḥah
Ḍammah
Example:
قَالَ اللَّهُ
Light if before it is kasrah:
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ
Lām in Words (Lām Qamariyyah and Shamsiyyah)
Lām Qamariyyah (clear)
Example:
الْقَمَرُ
Lām is pronounced.
Lām Shamsiyyah (merged)
Example:
الشَّمْسُ
Lām is not pronounced.
Qamariyah: أ ب ج ح خ ع غ ف ق ك م و هـ ي | Shamsiyah: ت ث د ذ ر ز س ش ص ض ط ظ ل ن
12. Rules of Hamzah (ء)
Hamzah must be clearly pronounced from the throat.
Example:
أَأَنتُمْ
Do not soften or drop it.
Stopping Signs in the Qur’an (Waqf Signs)
These symbols guide you where to stop or continue.
1. م (Waqf Lāzim – Must Stop)
You must stop here.
Stopping preserves meaning.
2. لا (Do Not Stop)
Do not stop unless necessary.
Stopping may break meaning.
3. ج (Permissible Stop)
You can stop or continue.
Both are acceptable.
4. ص (Better to Stop)
Stopping is better.
5. س (Short Pause)
Pause briefly without breathing.
6. ∴ (Three Dots)
Stop at one of the two signs, not both.
Choose one.
Tajwīd is not decoration.
It is protection of the Qur’an.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
خَيْرُكُمْ مَنْ تَعَلَّمَ الْقُرْآنَ وَعَلَّمَهُ
“The best of you are those who learn the Qur’an and teach it.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 5027]
