Tajweed Glossary: Quran Recitation Terms Explained

Learning to recite the Quran comes with many Arabic terms. This glossary explains the most important ones in plain English, in the order learners usually meet them. Each term links to the program where you practise it with a teacher.

Tajweed · Makharij (articulation points) · Harakat (short vowels) · Sukun · Shaddah · Tanween · Noon Saakin · Izhar (clear pronunciation) · Idgham (merging) · Iqlab (conversion) · Ikhfa (concealment) · Ghunnah (nasalisation) · Meem Saakin rules · Madd (elongation) · Madd Tabi’i (natural elongation) · Madd Muttasil (connected) · Madd Munfasil (separated) · Madd Lazim (necessary) · Sifat (letter qualities) · Tafkhim and Tarqiq (heavy and light) · Qalqalah (echo) · Waqf (stopping) · Ibtida (starting) · Hamzat al-Wasl · Noorani Qaida · Mushaf · Juz · Hifz (memorization) · Ijazah · Sanad · Hafs an Asim

Basics of reading

Tajweed تجويد

The set of rules for reciting the Quran correctly, as it was revealed: how each letter is pronounced and how neighbouring letters affect one another. The word comes from an Arabic root meaning “to make excellent”.

Makharij (articulation points) مخارج الحروف

The places in the throat, tongue, lips and nasal cavity where each letter is produced. Mixing up close articulation points, for example ح and هـ, is one of the most common beginner mistakes.

Harakat (short vowels) الحركات

The three short vowel marks: Fatha (a short “a” sound, written above the letter), Kasra (a short “i”, written below) and Damma (a short “u”, written above as a small waw).

Sukun السكون

A small circle above a letter showing it has no vowel. The letter is pronounced and then the sound stops, as in the “m” of “lam”.

Shaddah الشدة

A mark showing that a letter is doubled: pronounced twice, first with Sukun and then with a vowel, held slightly longer.

Tanween التنوين

A doubled vowel mark at the end of a word, pronounced as the vowel followed by an “n” sound: -an, -in, -un.

Noon Saakin and Tanween

Noon Saakin النون الساكنة

A Noon (ن) carrying Sukun. Together with Tanween it follows four rules depending on the next letter: Izhar, Idgham, Iqlab and Ikhfa.

Izhar (clear pronunciation) الإظهار

Pronouncing the Noon Saakin or Tanween clearly, without nasal merging, when it is followed by one of the six throat letters: ء هـ ع ح غ خ.

Idgham (merging) الإدغام

Merging the Noon Saakin or Tanween into the following letter. It happens before the letters ي ر م ل و ن: with Ghunnah before ي ن م و, and without Ghunnah before ل and ر.

Iqlab (conversion) الإقلاب

Changing the Noon Saakin or Tanween into a hidden Meem sound with Ghunnah when it is followed by the letter ب.

Ikhfa (concealment) الإخفاء

Pronouncing the Noon Saakin or Tanween in a concealed way, between clear and merged, with Ghunnah, before the remaining fifteen letters.

Ghunnah (nasalisation) الغنة

A nasal sound produced from the nose, held for about two counts. It is always present in a Noon or Meem with Shaddah, and in several Noon and Meem rules.

Meem Saakin

Meem Saakin rules الميم الساكنة

A Meem (م) with Sukun follows three rules: Ikhfa Shafawi (concealed with Ghunnah) before ب, Idgham Shafawi (merged) before another م, and Izhar Shafawi (clear) before all other letters.

Elongation (Madd)

Madd (elongation) المد

Lengthening a long vowel (ا و ي). The basic length is two counts; certain conditions require longer elongation.

Madd Tabi’i (natural elongation) المد الطبيعي

The natural two-count elongation of a long vowel that is not followed by a Hamza or a Sukun.

Madd Muttasil (connected) المد المتصل

A long vowel followed by a Hamza in the same word. In the narration of Hafs it is lengthened beyond the natural two counts, commonly four or five.

Madd Munfasil (separated) المد المنفصل

A long vowel at the end of a word followed by a Hamza at the start of the next word. In Hafs it is commonly lengthened four or five counts when reading continuously.

Madd Lazim (necessary) المد اللازم

A long vowel followed by a permanent Sukun or Shaddah, lengthened six counts, as in some of the letters that open certain surahs.

Letter qualities and pronunciation

Sifat (letter qualities) صفات الحروف

The characteristics of a letter beyond its articulation point, such as heaviness or lightness, whisper or voice. Two letters from nearby points are often told apart by their Sifat.

Tafkhim and Tarqiq (heavy and light) التفخيم والترقيق

Tafkhim is pronouncing a letter with a full, heavy sound, as with ص ض ط ظ ق غ خ; Tarqiq is pronouncing it lightly. The letters ر and the ل in the word Allah can be heavy or light depending on the vowel before them.

Qalqalah (echo) القلقلة

A slight echoing bounce given to the letters ق ط ب ج د when they carry Sukun, so that they do not sound cut off.

Stopping and starting

Waqf (stopping) الوقف

Pausing at the end of a word to take a breath. Where you stop, and how the last letter is pronounced, follow rules; the stopping signs printed in the Mushaf guide the reader.

Ibtida (starting) الابتداء

Resuming recitation after a pause, from a place where the meaning is complete and correct.

Hamzat al-Wasl همزة الوصل

A connecting Hamza at the start of some words, pronounced when you begin from it and silent when it is joined to the word before.

Learning the Quran

Noorani Qaida القاعدة النورانية

A step-by-step primer that teaches beginners to read the Quran: letters, joined forms, vowels, Sukun, Shaddah and elongation, leading to fluent reading in the Mushaf.

Mushaf المصحف

A printed or written copy of the Quran. Learners usually keep to one Mushaf so they remember the layout of each page.

Juz الجزء

One of the thirty roughly equal parts of the Quran. Juz Amma, the thirtieth part, is where most children start memorizing.

Hifz (memorization) الحفظ

Memorizing the Quran. A Hafiz is someone who has memorized all of it. Successful Hifz relies on daily revision as much as on new memorization.

Ijazah الإجازة

A licence granted by a qualified teacher certifying that the student recites the Quran correctly, often after reciting the whole Quran to the teacher.

Sanad السند

The chain of teachers through which an Ijazah is transmitted, each having learned from the one before, reaching back to the Prophet (peace be upon him).

Hafs an Asim رواية حفص عن عاصم

The most widely read narration (riwayah) of the Quran today, transmitted by Hafs from his teacher Asim. Most printed copies of the Quran follow it.

Practise these rules with a teacher in our online Tajweed classes, explained in English. Two free trial lessons.