What is Tajweed, Tajweed Importance, and Virtues of Tajweed in the Holy Quran
Introduction
Tajweed, within the framework of Islamic teachings, is a noble science and a communal obligation upon the Muslim Ummah. It is concerned with the recitation of the Holy Quran exactly as it was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), in its most perfect form and with a sound, precise performance. It is not merely about beautifying the voice, but about mastering the pronunciation of each letter from its correct articulation point (makhraj), while giving it all its inherent and acquired attributes (sifaat and ahkam). The word “Tajweed” itself is derived from the Arabic verb “jawwada”, which means to perfect, to improve, and to master. Therefore, Tajweed represents the highest level of mastery in the recitation and beautification of the Word of Allah.
What is tajweed
Linguistically, Tajweed means to make something good or to perfect it. One would say, “jawwadtu al-shay’,” meaning, “I made the thing good or perfected it.” This meaning perfectly aligns with the purpose of Tajweed, which is to recite the Quran in the most complete manner.
Technically, scholars of Quranic recitation have defined it as: “The act of pronouncing every letter from its correct articulation point, while giving it its due rights and its deserved attributes.”
Its rights: Refers to the inherent, permanent attributes of the letter that never change, such as the sound being strong or weak, Heavy or light, etc.
Its deserved attributes: Refers to the temporary attributes that affect a letter due to its proximity to other letters, such as its state of being emphasized or lightened, being hidden (ikhfa), being merged (idgham), or being elongated (madd).
The Implementation of Allah’s Command and the Prophetic Methodology
Tajweed is the implementation of Allah’s command for tarteel, and it is a methodology of instruction that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) received directly from the Angel of Revelation, Jibril (Gabriel) (peace be upon him).
The noble companions of the Prophet (may Allah be pleased with them) were diligent in receiving the Quran from him orally. They learned the exact pronunciation of each letter, the rules of elongation (mudood), nasalization (ghunnah), merging (idgham), and other rules directly from his blessed mouth. This oral transmission, known as “sanad al-muttasil” (the continuous chain of narrators), is what has preserved the recitation of the Quran from error and corruption throughout the centuries, reaching us today exactly as it was revealed.
For this reason, Tajweed is considered a science that must be learned from the mouths of qualified teachers (shuyookh), not just from books. A book can explain a rule, but it cannot accurately describe the correct vocal performance, such as the sound of a ghunnah or the proper articulation of letters with whispering (hams) or loudness (jahr).
The Importance and Virtues of Tajweed in a Muslim’s Life
Tajweed holds immense importance and great virtues that cannot be overlooked:
1- Protecting the Quran from Obvious and Subtle Mistakes: Tajweed scholars divide mistakes into two types:
- Obvious Mistakes (Lahn Jali): These are clear errors that alter the structure of the word or letter and may change the meaning. They are forbidden by the consensus of scholars. Examples include substituting one letter for another (e.g., saying “kul” instead of “qul”) or changing the grammatical vowels, etc.
- Subtle Mistakes (Lahn Khafi): These are errors that do not change the meaning of the word but detract from the perfection of the recitation, such as neglecting a ghunnah or failing to give a madd its full length. The reciter should strive to eliminate it. Tajweed is the safeguard that protects recitation from both types of errors.
2- Glorifying the Word of Allah and Honoring It: The Quran is the Word of the Lord of all creation, and reciting it in the most beautiful manner possible is a sign of respect and veneration. Allah commanded us to recite the Quran with tarteel (measured recitation), saying: “or make it a little more; and recite the Qur’ān clearly with tartīl” (Surah Al-Muzzammil, 73:4). Tarteel is essentially Tajweed in its most excellent form.
3- Great Reward and Immense Virtue: Allah The Almighty has promised His servants a great reward for reciting His book. What about those who strive to perfect it? The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “The one who is proficient in the recitation of the Qur’an will be with the honourable and obedient scribes (angels) and he who recites the Qur’an and finds it difficult to recite, doing his best to recite it in the best way possible, will have two rewards” This noble hadith shows that the effort to learn Tajweed is an act of worship in itself, for which a Muslim receives a great reward.
4- Realizing Servitude to Allah and Respect for His Word: A well-recited tarteel, based on careful and deliberate recitation, helps the reciter show respect for the word of Allah and reflect on its verses, which increases their faith and servitude to Allah The Almighty.
The Essential Components of Tajweed
To achieve proper Tajweed, one must be familiar with its foundational elements:
- Makharij al-Huroof (Articulation Points): These are the specific locations from which letters are pronounced, of which there are seventeen.
- Sifaat al-Huroof (Attributes of Letters): These are the characteristics that distinguish each letter from another, such as emphasis (isti’la), non-emphasis (istifal), loudness (jahr), whispering (hams), strength (shiddah), softness (rakhawah), and more.
- Practical Rules of Tajweed (Ahkam al-Tajweed): These are the rules applied when letters are combined, including:
- The Rules of Noon Sakinah and Tanween: Which include Ith’har (clear pronunciation), Idgham (merging), Iqlab (changing), and Ikhfa (hiding).
- The Rules of Meem Sakinah: Which include oral hiding (ikhfa), oral merging (idgham), and oral clarity (ith’har).
- The Rules of Madd (Elongation): Which involves stretching a vowel sound, and is divided into original and secondary types.
- The Rules of Ra’s: Regarding their emphasis or non-emphasis.
- The Rules of Lam: Especially the Lam of the word “Allah.”
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Conclusion
Tajweed is a noble science, a great act of worship, and a path to glorifying the Word of Allah and reciting it as it was revealed. It is not merely a theoretical science, but a practical act of the heart and tongue that strengthens the bond between a servant and their Lord, and opens doors to understanding and contemplation. A Muslim who perfects Tajweed attains a high rank and feels the sweetness of Allah’s words in their heart and on their tongue.
