📖 Some Tajweed Rules & Mahrajz

Tajweed is the art of proper pronunciation of Quranic letters. It ensures each letter is pronounced from its correct Makharij (articulation point) and with its proper Sifaat (attributes), preserving meaning, beauty, and reward. Below is a detailed guide.

1. Mahraj (Makharij) – Articulation Points of All Letters

Arabic letters are categorized according to where they are pronounced:

• Throat (الحلق): 6 letters
  • أ (Alif Hamza) – deepest part of throat
  • هـ (Ha) – throat, slightly higher
  • ع (‘Ayn) – middle throat
  • ح (Ha) – middle throat, softer
  • غ (Ghain) – back throat, voiced
  • خ (Kha) – back throat, unvoiced
• Tongue & Oral Cavity (لسان والفم):
  • ر (Ra) – tip of tongue against alveolar ridge
  • ل (Lam) – tip of tongue against upper teeth ridge
  • ن (Noon) – tip of tongue against ridge
  • ت (Ta) – tip of tongue behind upper teeth
  • د (Dal) – tip of tongue behind upper teeth
  • ط (Ta) – tip of tongue behind teeth, strong
  • ظ (Dha) – tip of tongue touching upper teeth, emphatic
  • ص (Sad), س (Seen), ز (Zay) – middle tongue near teeth ridge
  • ج (Jeem), ش (Sheen), ي (Ya) – middle tongue, slightly back
• Lips (الشفتان):
  • م (Meem) – closed lips
  • ب (Ba) – closed lips, burst sound
  • و (Waw) – rounded lips
• Nasal Cavity (Hidden Articulation):
  • غunnah letters: ن, م – nasal sound

2. Sifaat (Attributes) – Characteristics of Letters

Letters have specific qualities:

• Hams (Whispered): e.g., ف, ت, ث, ك, ش
• Jahr (Vocal): e.g., ب, د, ج
• Shiddah (Strengthened): e.g., ص, ط, ظ
• Rikhwah (Soft): e.g., و, ي, ن
• Ghunnah (Nasalization): ن, م when prolonged
• Istifal & Isti’laa (Elevation): letters pronounced with tongue raised (ظ, ص, ط, ق, ض)
• Istiqlaal & Istifaal (Lowered/Depressed): letters pronounced softly (ل, ن, ر)

3. Madd (Prolongation)

Madd is elongation of vowels:

• Madd Asli (Natural): 2 counts — e.g., قَالَ
• Madd Far’i (Secondary): 4–6 counts depending on hamzah or sukoon — e.g., الْهُدَى
• Madd Badal: When hamzah follows madd at word beginning — e.g., آمَنَ
• Madd Munfasil: separated madd at word junction — 4–5 counts — e.g., قَآلَ
• Madd Muttasil: connected madd in same word before hamzah — 4–5 counts — e.g., ءَامَنَ

4. Noon Sakinah & Tanween Rules

• Idgham with Ghunnah: Merge noon into next letter with nasal sound: مَنْ يَعْمَل → مَـيَعْمَل
• Idgham without Ghunnah: merge without nasalization: مَنْ لَهُ → مَلَهُ
• Ikhfa: hide noon slightly, nasalized: مَنْ شَاءَ → مِنشَاءَ
• Izhar: pronounce clearly when followed by throat letters: مَنْ أَمَرَ → pronounced clearly

5. Meem Sakinah Rules

• Idgham Shafawi: merge meem into next meem — مَمَّا
• Ikhfa Shafawi: hide meem slightly before non-m — مَنْ فَعَلَ → pronounced slightly nasal
• Izhar Shafawi: pronounce meem clearly — مَنْ بَعْد

6. Qalqalah (Echoing Sound)

Letters ق ط ب ج د have echo when in sukoon or word end: قُرْآن → echo on ق, بَدْ → echo on ب

7. Laam in "Allah"

• Pronounce clearly if preceded by vowel — الرَّحْمَن
• Merge or hide depending on preceding letter in recitation

8. Waqf & Wasl (Stopping & Joining)

• Waqf: stop at end of ayah, maintaining meaning
• Wasl: connect without breaking pronunciation mid-ayah
• Incorrect stopping changes meaning — e.g., وَمَا أَدْرَاكَ → stop wrongly may confuse meaning

9. Common Mistakes

• Changing Makharij of letters
• Skipping Ghunnah
• Incorrect Madd elongation
• Breaking words incorrectly at waqf
• Failing to apply Noon & Meem Sakinah rules

🌸 Proper Tajweed preserves Quranic beauty, reward, and closeness to Allah. Practice daily. Ameen.