Tajweed Rules Summary – Quran Learning for Elders at Bilal Masjid

# Rule Name Arabic Name Indo-Pak Name Symbol / Pattern Examples (Arabic) Transliteration Word Meaning Explanation
1 Harkat – Short Vowels الحركات Zabar (Fatha), Zer (Kasra), Pesh (Damma) ـَ, ـِ, ـُ بَ، بِ، بُ ba, bi, bu Letter ب with short vowels
  • Basic vowel marks in Arabic.
  • Appear above (ـَ/ـُ) or below (ـِ) the letter to guide pronunciation.
  • Fatha (ـَ): short “a” sound, Kasra (ـِ): short “i”, Damma (ـُ): short “u”.
  • They are not letters, but diacritical marks.
  • Essential for correct pronunciation and avoiding meaning errors.
  • Applied to consonants only.
2 Madd – Prolongation المدّ Madd ا, ي, و قَالَ، يَقُولُ، قِيلَ qaala, yaqoolu, qeela He said, He says, It was said
  • Madd means "to stretch" the vowel sound.
  • Occurs when Alif follows Fatha, Waw follows Damma, Ya follows Kasra.
  • Madd Asli (natural): stretched 2 counts (basic elongation).
  • Madd Far’i (secondary): depends on additional rules; 4–6 counts.
  • Types: Madd Muttasil (connected), Madd Munfasil (separated), Madd Lazim (necessary), Madd Aarid Lis Sukun (temporary).
  • Recognizing Madd helps apply proper Tajweed rhythm.
3 Leen – Soft Vowels اللين Leen وْ, يْ after Fatha خَوْف، بَيْت khawf, bayt Fear, House
  • Leen means softness or smoothness in pronunciation.
  • Occurs when Waw or Ya has Sukoon and the previous letter has Fatha.
  • Examples: خَوْف (khawf), بَيْت (bayt).
  • Sound flows gently, not stretched like Madd.
  • Improves fluency and musicality in recitation.
  • Different from Madd: Madd is stretched, Leen is soft.
4 Sukoon السكون Jazm (جزم) ْ يَذْهَبُ، قُلْ yadh-habu, qul He goes, Say
  • Sukoon (ْ) is a mark indicating a letter with no vowel sound.
  • It causes the letter to be read in a quick, resting manner.
  • Occurs in the middle or end of words.
  • Helps with correct joining of sounds in Tajweed.
  • Important for rules like Idgham, Ikhfa, and Iqlab.
  • May be temporary when stopping (waqf) at end of a verse.
5 Tashdeed / Shaddah التشديد Tashdeed ّ رَبِّ، اللَّهُ rabbi, Allahu My Lord, Allah
  • Shaddah (ّ) means the letter is doubled.
  • Pause briefly, then repeat the letter with emphasis.
  • Essential for clarity and meaning (e.g. رَبِّ = rabbi not rabi).
  • Also used in اللّٰه for emphasis in Divine Name.
  • Skipping tashdeed changes word meaning entirely.
6 Laam (Allah's Name) لام لفظ الجلالة Tafkheem of Laam اللّٰه اللَّهُ، بِاللَّهِ Allahu, billahi Allah, by Allah
  • Laam is pronounced heavily or lightly in Allah’s name.
  • Heavy (Tafkhīm) if preceded by Fatha or Dammah (e.g. اللهَ).
  • Light (Tarqīq) if preceded by Kasra (e.g. بِاللَّهِ).
  • It beautifies and perfects pronunciation of Allah’s name.
7 Raa – Heavy/Light تفخيم وترقيق الراء Tafkheem/Tarqeeq of Raa رَ، رُ، رِ رَحْمَٰن، قُرْآن، فِرْعَوْن Rahmaan, Qur’an, Fir'awn Merciful, Qur’an, Pharaoh
  • Raa is read heavy or light depending on surrounding vowels.
  • Heavy (Tafkhīm) when it has Fatha or Damma or preceded by them.
  • Light (Tarqīq) when it has Kasra or preceded by Kasra.
  • Affects tone and beauty of recitation deeply.
8 Temporary Madd المد العارض للسكون Aarid Madd ٓ ا, ي, و + ْ on next letter الْعَالَمِينَ (Stop) al-‘aalameen The worlds
  • Occurs when a long vowel is followed by a sukoon due to stopping (waqf).
  • Vowel is stretched: 2, 4, or 6 counts based on recitation style.
  • Applies only when ending on the word.
  • Helps in rhythm and beautification of Quranic recitation.
  • Very frequent in end of verses (ayaat).
9 Noon Saakin & Tanween Rules أحكام النون الساكنة والتنوين Noon ke 4 Qaide نْ , ـً ـٍ ـٌ مَنْ آمَنَ، أَنْبِئْهُمْ، مِّنْ رَبِّهِمْ man aamana, anbihum, min rabbihim Who believed, inform them, from their Lord
  • Noon Saakinah (نْ) and Tanween (ــً، ـٍ، ـٌ) follow four Tajweed rules based on the next letter. These rules help recite fluently and correctly.
  • 1. Izhaar (إِظْهَار) – Clear pronunciation:
    • Letters: ء، ه، ع، ح، غ، خ (Throat letters)
    • Rule: If a Noon Saakin or Tanween is followed by one of these throat letters, the Noon/Tanween is pronounced clearly without nasal sound.
    • 🔹 Example 1 (Arabic): مَنْ آمَنَ
    • 📖 Surah: Al-Baqarah (2:62)
    • Explanation: Noon Saakin (نْ) followed by Hamzah (ء) – pronounced clearly.
    • Meaning: “Who believed”
    • 🔹 Example 2 (Arabic): فِي هَذَا
    • 📖 Surah: Al-Baqarah (2:2)
    • Explanation: Tanween (ــٍ) followed by ه – pronounced clearly.
    • Meaning: “In this”
  • 2. Iqlab (إِقْلَاب) – Change to Meem sound:
    • Letter: ب (Baa)
    • Rule: If Noon Saakin or Tanween is followed by Baa, the Noon sound changes to a Meem (م) sound with nasalization (ghunna).
    • 🔹 Example 1 (Arabic): أَنْبِئْهُمْ
    • 📖 Surah: Al-Baqarah (2:33)
    • Explanation: Noon Saakin (نْ) followed by Baa – pronounced as Meem with nasal sound.
    • Meaning: “Inform them”
    • 🔹 Example 2 (Arabic): سَمِيعٌ بَصِيرٌ
    • 📖 Surah: Al-Hujurat (49:1)
    • Explanation: Tanween followed by Baa – pronounced as Meem with ghunna.
    • Meaning: “All-Hearing, All-Seeing”
  • 3. Idghaam (إِدْغَام) – Merging:
    • Letters: ي، ر، م، ل، و، ن
    • Rule: If Noon Saakin or Tanween is followed by any of these six letters, the Noon sound merges into the next letter.
    • ➡ With Ghunna (nasal): ي، ن، م، و
    • ➡ Without Ghunna: ل، ر
    • 🔹 Example 1 (With Ghunna): إِنَّا نَحْنُ
    • 📖 Surah: An-Naba (78:9)
    • Explanation: Noon merged into Noon – nasal sound heard.
    • Meaning: “Indeed We…”
    • 🔹 Example 2 (With Ghunna): غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ
    • 📖 Surah: Al-Baqarah (2:173)
    • Explanation: Tanween merged into ر – no separate Noon sound, no ghunna here.
    • Meaning: “Forgiving, Merciful”
    • 🔹 Example 3 (Without Ghunna): مَنْ لَمْ
    • 📖 Surah: Al-Kahf (18:105)
    • Explanation: Noon merged into Laam – no nasal sound.
    • Meaning: “Who did not…”
  • 4. Ikhfaa (إِخْفَاء) – Hidden/Nasal sound:
    • Letters: 15 letters: ت، ث، ج، د، ذ، ز، س، ش، ص، ض، ط، ظ، ف، ق، ك
    • Rule: When Noon Saakin or Tanween is followed by one of these 15 letters, the Noon is not fully pronounced nor merged — it’s hidden with a nasal sound (ghunna).
    • 🔹 Example 1 (Arabic): أَنْصَارًا
    • 📖 Surah: Al-Fath (48:22)
    • Explanation: Noon before Ṣād (ص) – nasal hidden sound.
    • Meaning: “Helpers”
    • 🔹 Example 2 (Arabic): مِنْكُمْ
    • 📖 Surah: Al-Baqarah (2:246)
    • Explanation: Noon before Kaaf (ك) – nasal hidden sound.
    • Meaning: “From you”
    • 🔹 Example 3 (Arabic): جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي
    • 📖 Surah: Al-Baqarah (2:25)
    • Explanation: Tanween before Taa (ت) – nasal hidden sound.
    • Meaning: “Gardens beneath which…”
  • 🎓 These rules are taught in Qā‘idah and Tajweed and are essential for proper Quranic recitation.
  • They help avoid mistakes and preserve the beauty and meaning of the Quran.
  • Reference: Riwaq Al Quran Blog
10 Types of Madd أنواع المدود Madd ke Iqsaam ا, و, ي + Hamza/Sukoon قَالَ، جَاءَ، الضَّالِّينَ qaala, jaa’a, ad-daalleen He said, came, the misguided
  • Madd is the elongation of vowel sounds in Quranic recitation.
  • Three letters: Alif (ا) after Fatha, Waw (و) after Dammah, Ya (ي) after Kasra.
  • Madd Asli/Tabi'y (Natural Madd): Basic elongation of 2 counts. No Hamzah or Sukoon follows.
  • Madd Far'ee (Secondary Madd): Occurs when Hamzah (ء) or Sukoon (ْ) follows. Extended 4–6 counts.
  • Subtypes:
    • Madd Muttasil (Connected) – Hamzah appears in the **same word** after a Madd letter.
    • Madd Munfasil (Separated) – Hamzah appears in the **next word**, not the same word.
    • Madd Lazim (Obligatory) – A **permanent Sukoon** follows the Madd letter in a word.
    • Madd ‘Arid Lis-Sukoon (Temporary Madd) – Occurs when stopping (waqf) on a word ending with Sukoon after a Madd.
    • Madd Badal – Hamzah is replaced by a Madd letter due to linguistic transformation.
    • Madd Lin – Occurs with **Waw or Ya** after a letter with **Fatha**, followed by a temporary Sukoon.
  • Crucial for correct rhythm and pronunciation of verses.
  • Examples of Madd Types:
    • Madd Muttasil (Connected):
      • Example: إِذَا جَاءَ رَبُّكَ
      • Surah: Al-Fajr (89:22)
      • Explanation: Hamzah appears **in the same word** after Madd letter (ا)
      • Stretch: 4–5 counts
      • Meaning: “Your Lord will come”
      • Another Example: وَجَاءَ رَبُّكَ – Surah Al-Fajr (89:22)
    • Madd Munfasil (Separated):
      • Example: إِنَّا أَعْطَيْنَاكَ
      • Surah: Al-Kawthar (108:1)
      • Explanation: Hamzah appears **in the next word** after Madd letter
      • Stretch: 4 counts
      • Meaning: “We have granted you”
      • Another Example: فِيٓ أَنْفُسِكُمْ – Surah Adh-Dhariyat (51:21)
    • Madd Lazim Kalimi (Obligatory - Word Level):
      • Example: الضَّآلِّينَ
      • Surah: Al-Fatiha (1:7)
      • Explanation: After Madd, a **permanent Sukoon** occurs in the same word
      • Stretch: 6 counts
      • Meaning: “Those who have gone astray”
      • Another Example: آلٓآنَ – Surah Yunus (10:91)
    • Madd ‘Arid Lis-Sukoon (Temporary):
      • Example: نَسْتَعِينُ
      • Surah: Al-Fatiha (1:5) – if stopped on it
      • Explanation: Sukoon appears **temporarily** at stopping
      • Stretch: 2, 4, or 6 counts (if stopping)
      • Meaning: “We seek help”
      • Another Example: نَخَافُ – Surah Al-Qasas (28:10)
    • Madd Badal (Substitution):
      • Example: آمَنُوا
      • Surah: Multiple occurrences
      • Explanation: A Hamzah is replaced by Madd letter (Alif)
      • Stretch: 2 counts
      • Meaning: “They believed”
      • Another Example: أُوتُوا – “They were given”
    • Madd Lin (Soft Madd):
      • Example: خَوْفٍ
      • Surah: Quraysh (106:4)
      • Explanation: Waw or Ya follows a letter with Fatha, followed by a temporary Sukoon
      • Stretch: 2, 4, or 6 counts (when stopping)
      • Meaning: “Fear”
      • Another Example: خَيْرٍ – Surah Al-Baqarah (2:273)
  • 🎓 Madd gives beauty, rhythm and prevents change in meaning.
  • Reference: Mishkah Academy Madd Guide