Articulation 1
Al-Jawf
ا و ي
The empty space of the mouth and throat. The letters of Madd are associated with this articulation area when they occur in their appropriate conditions.
Quran Education · Tajweed
Learn to recite
with precision.
A structured introduction to Tajweed — from the articulation points of Arabic letters to the rules that shape beautiful, accurate Quranic recitation.
Begin here
What is
Tajweed?
Tajweed is the study of how Quranic letters and words are pronounced according to their correct articulation and characteristics.
Learning Tajweed helps a reader recognize the rules within the Mushaf and apply them during recitation. It begins with the individual letters and gradually develops into understanding how letters interact with one another.
The sections below are arranged as a learning journey. Start with Makharij, then progress through the major rules used during Quranic reading.
Lesson 01
Makharij al-Huruf
مَخَارِجُ الْحُرُوفِ
Makharij means the points of articulation. Knowing where a letter originates is one of the foundations of correct pronunciation.
Remember
Do not treat Arabic letters as if they all come from the same place. Each letter has its own articulation characteristics.
الْجَوْفُ
Articulation 2
Al-Halq
ء هـ ع ح غ خ
The throat. Its letters are divided into three areas: the deepest part, the middle part, and the upper part of the throat.
Articulation 3
Al-Lisan
ق ك ج ش ي ض ل ن ر ط د ت
The tongue. A large number of Arabic letters are articulated from different positions of the tongue with the teeth, gums, and palate.
Articulation 4
Ash-Shafatayn
ف ب م و
The two lips. Several Arabic letters depend on contact or proximity between the lips and surrounding teeth.
Articulation 5
Al-Khayshum
نّ مّ
The nasal passage. The nasal sound known as Ghunnah is connected to this articulation area.
Lesson 02
Characteristics
of the letters
صِفَاتُ الْحُرُوفِ
Makharij tells us where a letter comes from. Sifat describes qualities associated with how that letter is pronounced.
Hams
الهَمْسA flow of breath accompanying the pronunciation of its letters.
Letters
ف ح ث ه ش خ ص س ك ت
Jahr
الجَهْرThe remaining letters have the quality of Jahr, in which the breath is not allowed to flow in the same way as Hams.
Letters
All letters other than the letters of Hams
Shiddah
الشِّدَّةA strong stopping of the sound at the point of articulation.
Letters
أ ج د ق ط ب ك ت
Rikhawah
الرِّخَاوَةA quality in which the sound continues to flow when the letter is pronounced.
Letters
The letters other than Shiddah and Tawassut
Tawassut
التَّوَسُّطA middle quality between Shiddah and Rikhawah.
Letters
ل ن ع م ر
Isti‘la
الِاسْتِعْلَاءThe tongue rises toward the upper palate during pronunciation, producing the characteristic heaviness of these letters.
Letters
خ ص ض غ ط ق ظ
Istifal
الِاسْتِفَالThe tongue remains lower in the mouth during pronunciation.
Letters
The remaining letters
Lesson 03
Noon Sakinah
& Tanween
أَحْكَامُ النُّونِ السَّاكِنَةِ وَالتَّنْوِينِ
One of the most important Tajweed topics. The pronunciation of Noon Sakinah and Tanween changes according to the letter that follows.
1إِظْهَار
Izhar
Clear pronunciation
Letters
ء هـ ع ح غ خ
Example
مَنْ آمَنَ
When Noon Sakinah or Tanween is followed by one of the six throat letters, the Noon or Tanween is pronounced clearly.
2إِدْغَام
Idgham
Merging
Letters
ي ر م ل و ن
Example
مَنْ يَقُولُ
The Noon Sakinah or Tanween is merged into the following letter according to the applicable Idgham rule.
3إِقْلَاب
Iqlab
Conversion
Letters
ب
Example
مِنْ بَعْدِ
When Noon Sakinah or Tanween is followed by Baa, the Noon sound changes into a concealed Meem sound with Ghunnah.
4إِخْفَاء
Ikhfa
Concealment
Letters
15 letters
Example
مَنْ صَبَرَ
The Noon sound is concealed between Izhar and Idgham while maintaining the required Ghunnah.
Lesson 04
Meem Sakinah
أَحْكَامُ الْمِيمِ السَّاكِنَةِ
Meem Sakinah has three principal rules. The following letter determines how the Meem is pronounced.
Ikhfa Shafawi
إِخْفَاء شَفَوِي
Trigger
ب
Example
تَرْمِيهِمْ بِحِجَارَةٍ
When Meem Sakinah is followed by Baa, the Meem is concealed with a nasal sound.
Idgham Shafawi
إِدْغَام شَفَوِي
Trigger
م
Example
لَهُمْ مَا
When Meem Sakinah is followed by another Meem, the two Meems merge with Ghunnah.
Izhar Shafawi
إِظْهَار شَفَوِي
Trigger
All other letters
Example
عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ
When Meem Sakinah is followed by any letter other than Baa or Meem, it is pronounced clearly.
Lesson 05
Madd
Elongation
أَحْكَامُ الْمَدِّ
Madd refers to extending a vowel sound. Different circumstances determine the type and length of the elongation.
Important
Exact Madd lengths can depend on the recitation tradition. These examples follow common Hafs teaching conventions.
Madd Asli
مَدّ أَصْلِي
Example
قَالَ
The natural elongation. It occurs when a Madd letter is not followed by a Hamzah or Sukoon that would create another type of Madd.
Madd Wajib Muttasil
مَدّ وَاجِب مُتَّصِل
Example
جَاءَ
A Madd letter followed by a Hamzah in the same word. Its precise length follows the recitation tradition being used.
Madd Jaiz Munfasil
مَدّ جَائِز مُنْفَصِل
Example
إِنَّا أَعْطَيْنَاكَ
A Madd letter at the end of one word followed by a Hamzah at the beginning of the next word.
Madd Lazim
مَدّ لَازِم
Example
الضَّالِّينَ
A Madd letter followed by a permanent Sukoon or a Shaddah. In the standard teaching of Hafs, it is prolonged for six counts.
Madd ‘Arid lis-Sukoon
مَدّ عَارِض لِلسُّكُون
Example
الْعَالَمِينَ
This occurs when stopping on a word causes the final letter to become temporarily sakin. The reciter may use an applicable length according to the recitation method.
Lesson 06
Qalqalah
الْقَلْقَلَةُ
Qalqalah is a recognizable echoing quality associated with five Arabic letters when they are sakin. The sound should be produced without adding an extra vowel.
Easy way to remember
قُطْبُ جَدٍ
This phrase is commonly used by students to remember the five Qalqalah letters.
قQaaf
طTaa
بBaa
جJeem
دDaal
Key idea
Keep the echo distinct without turning it into a separate vowel.
Lesson 07
The rules of
Laam
أَحْكَامُ اللَّامِ
Laam appears in several important Quranic structures. Learning these patterns makes reading more natural and accurate.
Laam
Laam Shamsiyyah
اللَّيْل
The Laam of the definite article is not pronounced distinctly before the Shamsiyyah letters; the following letter receives emphasis through Shaddah.
Laam
Laam Qamariyyah
الْقَمَر
The Laam of the definite article is pronounced clearly before the Qamariyyah letters.
Laam
Laam in the Name of Allah
اللَّه
The Laam in the name of Allah may be pronounced heavily or lightly depending on the vowel immediately preceding it.
Lesson 08
Rules of
Raa
أَحْكَامُ الرَّاءِ
Raa has important heavy and light pronunciation rules. Start with the basic patterns before studying the more detailed exceptions.
رَ — رُ
Heavy Raa
Raa is generally pronounced with a heavier quality when it carries Fathah or Dammah, with additional rules applying in some surrounding-letter situations.
رِ
Light Raa
Raa is generally pronounced lightly when it carries Kasrah, with additional conditions governing some cases involving Sukoon.
رْ
Raa with Sukoon
When Raa is sakin, its ruling depends on the preceding vowel and, in some cases, the letter before that vowel.
Lesson 09
Waqf
& Ibtida
الْوَقْفُ وَالِابْتِدَاءُ
Correct recitation is not only about pronunciation. Knowing where to stop and where to begin again helps preserve the intended meaning of the passage.
Study tip
When learning the stopping signs in the Mushaf, study them together with the surrounding words rather than memorizing symbols in isolation.
م
Waqf Lazim
A sign indicating a strong need to stop to preserve the intended meaning.
لا
Do Not Stop
Generally indicates that stopping at this point should be avoided.
ج
Permissible Stop
Stopping or continuing may both be permissible.
قلى
Stopping Preferred
Stopping is generally preferred at this sign.
صلى
Continuing Preferred
Continuing is generally preferred at this sign.
Put it into practice
Learn the rule.
Then see it in the Quran.
Tajweed becomes meaningful when you can recognize the rules while actually reading. Use the Quran reader to practice the concepts you have studied.
A simple study routine
01
Learn
Understand one Tajweed rule at a time.
02
Recognize
Find the rule in actual Quranic verses.
03
Practice
Repeat the example slowly and carefully.
04
Recite
Apply the rule naturally during reading.
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