Tajwîd
Tajwîd is the art of reciting the Qur’an correctly, observing the rules of pronunciation, rhythm and intonation laid down by Islamic tradition. Below is a detailed explanation of the main aspects of tajwîd, with practical examples.
Definition
The word tajwîd means, in Arabic, “to embellish” or “to make excellent”. Applied to the Qur’an, it designates the rules that allow each letter to be recited correctly and according to its phonetic characteristics.
“And recite the Qur’an with care.” (Sûrah Al-Muzzammil, 73:4)
Main rules of tajwîd, with examples
Ṣifât al-ḥurûf (characteristics of the letters) — letters have their own attributes, such as:
- Iẓhâr (clarity): pronouncing a letter clearly, without excessive nasalisation. Example: pronouncing قُلْ (Qul) with clear emphasis on the ق.
- Ghunnah (nasalisation): a nasal resonance applied, for example, to the letters ن and م under certain conditions. Example: in إِنَّا أَعْطَيْنَاكَ (Innā a’ṭaynāka), the نّ is pronounced with nasalisation.
Rules of Nûn Sâkinah and Tanwîn — the Nûn Sâkinah (نْ) and the Tanwîn (a doubled vowel: ـً ـٍ ـٌ) follow four main rules:
- Iẓhâr (clarification): pronouncing the ن clearly. Example: مِنْ أَمْرِهِ (Min amrihi).
- Idghâm (merging): merging the ن into the following letter. Example: مَن يَعْمَلْ is recited as مَيَعْمَلْ (without pronouncing the ن distinctly).
- Iqlâb (transformation): turning the ن into an م when followed by ب. Example: مِن بَعْدِ becomes مِم بَعْدِ (with nasalisation).
- Ikhfâ’ (concealment): making the ن sound light and nasal, between its point of articulation and the following letter. Example: مِن قَبْلِ (Min qabli), where the ن is lightly concealed.
Madd (prolongation) — the madd consists of lengthening the sound of the vowels under certain conditions:
- Madd Ṭabî‘î (natural): a prolongation of 2 counts. Example: قَالَ (Qâla).
- Madd Muttaṣil (joined): 4 to 5 counts when the madd is followed by a hamza (ء). Example: جَاءَ (Jâ’a).
- Madd Munfaṣil (separated): 4 counts when the madd precedes a hamza in another word. Example: فِي أَنْفُسِكُمْ (Fî anfusikum).
Qalqalah (echo) — the qalqalah consists of making a letter “bounce” when it bears a sukûn (no vowel), for the letters ق ط ب ج د. Example: in أَقْسَمَ (Aqsama), the قْ produces a slight bounce.