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Tajweed Rules

Master the rules that govern beautiful Quranic recitation

Noon Sakinah & Tanween نون ساكنة و تنوين

Rules governing the pronunciation of Noon with a Sukoon or any form of Tanween when followed by specific letters.

Izhar
إظهار

Clear pronunciation

When Noon Sakinah or Tanween is followed by one of the six throat letters (ء ه ع ح غ خ), pronounce the noon clearly without any merging or nasalisation.

مَنْ أَعْطَى

whoever gives

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Idgham
إدغام

Merging

When Noon Sakinah or Tanween is followed by one of the letters (ي ر م ل و ن), the noon merges into the next letter. Idgham with Ghunnah occurs with (ي ن م و) and without Ghunnah with (ر ل).

مِنْ يَعْمَلْ

whoever does

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Iqlab
إقلاب

Conversion

When Noon Sakinah or Tanween is followed by the letter Ba (ب), the noon sound converts into a Meem (م) with a nasal sound (Ghunnah) held for two counts.

مِنْ بَعْدِ

from after

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Ikhfa
إخفاء

Hiding

When Noon Sakinah or Tanween is followed by one of the 15 remaining letters, the noon is hidden — pronounced between Izhar and Idgham with a nasal sound for two counts.

مِنْ قَبْلِ

from before

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Meem Sakinah Rules ميم ساكنة

Rules for pronouncing Meem with a Sukoon when followed by different letters.

Ikhfa Shafawi
إخفاء شفوي

Labial hiding

When Meem Sakinah is followed by the letter Ba (ب), the meem is hidden with a light nasalisation (Ghunnah) for two counts while keeping the lips slightly together.

تَرْمِيهِمْ بِحِجَارَةٍ

pelting them with stones

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Idgham Shafawi
إدغام شفوي

Labial merging

When Meem Sakinah is followed by another Meem (م), the two meems merge into one prolonged meem with Ghunnah held for two counts.

لَهُمْ مَا

for them what

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Izhar Shafawi
إظهار شفوي

Labial clarity

When Meem Sakinah is followed by any letter other than Ba or Meem, pronounce the meem clearly from the lips with no nasalisation or merging.

أَنْعَمْتَ

You have bestowed

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Madd (Elongation) Rules أحكام المد

Rules for stretching vowel sounds — the backbone of melodious Quran recitation.

Madd Tabee'i (Natural Madd)
مد طبيعي

2 counts

The natural elongation of a vowel by two counts. Occurs with Alif after Fathah, Waw after Dammah, or Ya after Kasrah when no Hamzah or Sukoon follows.

قَالَ

he said

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Madd Muttasil (Connected Madd)
مد متصل

4–5 counts

When a Madd letter is followed by a Hamzah in the same word. This is obligatory and must be elongated for 4 to 5 counts.

جَاءَ

he came

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Madd Munfasil (Separated Madd)
مد منفصل

4–5 counts

When a Madd letter at the end of one word is followed by a Hamzah at the beginning of the next word. Elongated for 4 to 5 counts.

بِمَا أُنْزِلَ

in what was revealed

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Madd Lazim (Necessary Madd)
مد لازم

6 counts

When a Madd letter is followed by a Shaddah or permanent Sukoon in the same word. Must be elongated for exactly 6 counts. Found in letters at the beginning of some Surahs.

الْحَاقَّةُ

the inevitable reality

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Madd 'Arid Lil-Sukoon
مد عارض للسكون

2, 4, or 6 counts

When a Madd letter is followed by a letter that becomes Sakin (silent) due to stopping at the end of a verse. May be elongated for 2, 4, or 6 counts.

نَسْتَعِينُ

we seek help

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Qalqalah, Heavy & Light Letters قلقلة وصفات الحروف

Additional essential rules including the bouncing sound of Qalqalah, letter thickness, and nasalisation.

Qalqalah
قلقلة

Echoing bounce

A slight bouncing or echoing sound produced when one of the five Qalqalah letters (ق ط ب ج د) has a Sukoon. The bounce is stronger at the end of a verse (Qalqalah Kubra) and lighter in the middle (Qalqalah Sughra).

خَلَقَ

He created

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Tafkheem (Heavy Letters)
تفخيم

Heaviness / Thickness

Seven letters are always pronounced heavy (full-mouth): خ ص ض غ ط ق ظ, remembered by the phrase (خُصَّ ضَغْطٍ قِظ). The tongue rises to the roof of the mouth, producing a thick, deep sound.

صِرَاطَ

the path

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Tarqeeq (Light Letters)
ترقيق

Lightness / Thinness

Most Arabic letters are pronounced light (thin) by default. The tongue stays low and does not rise to the palate. Lam and Ra have conditional rules — they can be heavy or light depending on surrounding vowels.

بِسْمِ

in the name of

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Ghunnah
غنّة

Nasalisation

A nasal sound that resonates from the nasal passage, held for approximately two counts. It accompanies Noon and Meem when they carry a Shaddah, and also appears in Idgham and Ikhfa rules.

إِنَّ

indeed

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Interactive Exercises Coming Soon

Practice quizzes, audio comparisons, and recitation feedback will be added in a future update.