What is correct recitation (tajweed)?
The meaning of correct recitation (tajweed), the two kinds of recitation mistake (obvious, lahn jali, and subtle, lahn khafi), and when to say the seeking of refuge (isti'adhah) and the basmalah.
Tajweed means saying each letter of the Qur'an the right way: from the exact spot in your mouth or throat it comes from, with its own special sound. It's the set of rules for reading the Qur'an correctly and beautifully.
If you read the Qur'an in a way that breaks these rules, that's called a mistake, or lahn. There are two kinds.
| Kind | What it means | How serious |
|---|---|---|
| Lahn jali (clear mistake) | You change a letter, add or remove one, or change a vowel so the meaning of the word changes. | Haram: not allowed. It can even spoil your prayer. |
| Lahn khafi (hidden mistake) | The meaning doesn't change, but the recitation isn't as beautiful or correct as it should be. | Makruh: better to avoid, though not as serious. |
The Qur'an must be read with each letter said clearly from its right place. Changing, adding or dropping a letter or a vowel so that the meaning changes is a clear mistake, which is not allowed and can even spoil your prayer.
12Before you start reading the Qur'an you say "A'udhu billah", and at the start of a surah you say "Bismillah", except before Surah At-Tawbah, where Bismillah is never said.
123Tajweed literally means to beautify, refine, or perfect. In technical usage it refers to pronouncing each letter of the Qur'an from its correct point of articulation (makhraj) and giving it its proper qualities: the science that allows the letters and words of the Qur'an to be recited correctly and beautifully, following the rules of pronunciation.
اَوْ زِدْ عَلَيْهِ وَرَتِّلِ الْقُرْاٰنَ تَرْتِيْلًا ٤ؕ
Wa rattili'l-Qurʾāna tartīlā
Or make it a little more than that and recite Quran slowly and thoughtfully.
Qurʼan 73:4, Al-Muzzammil, from Zujajah.org
Lahn refers to mistakes made in reciting the Qur'an, whether by reading it incorrectly or against the rules of tajweed. There are two kinds: lahn jali (a clear mistake) and lahn khafi (a hidden mistake).
| Kind | Definition | Ruling |
|---|---|---|
| Lahn jali (clear mistake) | The meaning of the words changes through mispronunciation: substituting one letter for another, adding or removing a letter, or altering the vowelling (zabar, zer, pesh) or a letter's pronunciation (as with jazm). | Haram, and in some cases can invalidate the prayer. |
| Lahn khafi (hidden mistake) | The meaning does not change, but the beauty and quality of pronunciation is affected: reciting contrary to the prescribed rules, though less seriously than lahn jali. | Makruh, and important to avoid even though it is not haram. |
The Qur'an must be recited with each letter pronounced clearly from its correct articulation point. A clear mistake (lahn jali), where a letter or vowel is changed, added or removed so that the meaning changes, is haram and can in some cases invalidate the prayer.
12The isti'adhah is necessary before beginning any recitation of the Qur'an, and the basmalah is required at the start of a surah, including a new surah begun partway through a session, but is never recited before Surah At-Tawbah. When resuming from the middle of a surah, the basmalah is preferable but not obligatory.
123Tajwīd, lexically, is to beautify, refine, or bring to perfection. Technically it denotes the pronunciation of each letter from its correct makhraj (articulation point) together with its due ṣifāt (qualities): the science governing the correct and beautiful recitation of the Qurʼān's letters and words according to the rules of pronunciation.
اَوْ زِدْ عَلَيْهِ وَرَتِّلِ الْقُرْاٰنَ تَرْتِيْلًا ٤ؕ
Wa rattili'l-Qurʾāna tartīlā
Or make it a little more than that and recite Quran slowly and thoughtfully.
Qurʼan 73:4, Al-Muzzammil, from Zujajah.org
Laḥn denotes error in Qurʼānic recitation, whether from misreading or from departure from the rules of tajwīd, and divides into laḥn jalī and laḥn khafī.
| Kind | Definition | Ruling |
|---|---|---|
| Laḥn jalī (manifest error) | A change in the meaning of a word through mispronunciation: substituting a letter, adding or omitting one, or altering the ḥarakāt (zabar, zer, pesh) or a letter's realisation (as with jazm). | Ḥarām; in some cases sufficient to invalidate the ṣalāh itself. |
| Laḥn khafī (concealed error) | No change of meaning, but the beauty and correctness of the recitation are diminished: a departure from the prescribed rules that is less severe than laḥn jalī. | Makrūh: not ḥarām, but still to be guarded against. |
The Qur'an is to be recited with each letter articulated distinctly from its makhraj. Lahn jali, an error that alters meaning through substitution, addition or omission of a letter or a change of harakah, is haram, and in some cases suffices to invalidate the salah.
12The isti'adhah is obligatory before beginning recitation in every case, and the basmalah is required at the opening of a surah, including a fresh surah begun mid-session, but is never recited before Surat at-Tawbah. Where recitation resumes mid-surah, the basmalah is preferable but not obligatory.
123This is the English translation of Nisab Ahle Khidmaat Sharia, exactly as the book has it, for the passages this page was written from. About 334 words. Switch back to Guide for the rewritten version.
Appendix Definition of Tajweed
The word "Tajweed" in the dictionary means to beautify, refine, or make something perfect. In technical terms, Tajweed refers to pronouncing each letter from its correct articulation point (Makhraj) and giving it its proper qualities. In other words, Tajweed is a science that helps in correctly and beautifully pronouncing the letters and words of the Qur'an, following the rules of pronunciation. This ensures the proper recitation as Allah Almighty says: "And recite the Qur'an with measured recitation" (Surah Al-Muzzammil, Ayah 4).
Appendix Lahn (Mistakes in Recitation)
Lahn refers to mistakes made while reciting the Qur'an, either by reading it incorrectly or against the rules of Tajweed. There are two types of Lahn:
- Jali (Clear Mistake)
- Khafi (Hidden Mistake)
Appendix Lahn Jali (Clear Mistake)
A clear mistake occurs when the meaning of the words changes due to mispronunciation, such as substituting one letter for another, adding or removing a letter, or making changes to the vowels (Zabar, Zer, Pesh) or the pronunciation of the letter (like in cases of Jazm). This type of mistake is forbidden (Haram) and can even invalidate prayers in some cases.
Appendix Lahn Khafi (Hidden Mistake)
A hidden mistake does not change the meaning, but it affects the beauty and quality of the pronunciation. This mistake occurs when someone recites contrary to the prescribed rules, but it is not as severe as a clear mistake. It is not Haram, but it is considered Makruh (discouraged).(However, it is still important to avoid it).
Appendix Seeking Refuge and Bismillah
Before starting the recitation of the Qur'an, it is necessary to say "A'udhu billahi min ash-shaytan ir-rajim" (I seek refuge with Allah from the accursed devil). As for Saying "Bismillah ir-Rahman ir-Rahim," this is required when starting a Surah. Similarly, if in the middle of recitation you begin a new Surah, you must also say "Bismillah." However, "Bismillah" should not be recited before Surah At-Tawbah, whether it starts the recitation or occurs in the middle of it. If starting from the middle of a Surah, Saying "Bismillah" is better, but it is not obligatory. However, Saying "A'udhu billahi" in this case is still necessary.
Terms on this page
Related
- The articulation points of the letters (makharij) The seventeen points in the mouth, throat and nose from which the twenty-nine Arabic letters are pronounced, and how to find a letter's own point of articulation (makhraj).
- Disliked ways of giving the call to prayer (adhan), and who may not give it The acts that make a call to prayer (adhan) disliked, whose adhan does not count at all, and whose adhan counts but should ideally be repeated.
- The characteristics of the letters (sifat) The qualities of sound that distinguish letters sharing a point of articulation (makhraj): necessary and occasional, and the five pairs and seven single qualities among the necessary ones.
- The rules for lam, ra, silent (sakin) mim and nun, lengthening (madd) and hamzah When lam and ra are pronounced heavy or light, how a silent mim and a silent nun behave before the next letter, the letters of prolongation, and two rules for hamzah.