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Complete tajweed rules for reciting the Quran beautifully and correctly. With Arabic examples and color-coded explanations.
Tajweed (تَجْوِيد) literally means "to make better" or "to improve." In Islamic terminology, it is the science of reciting every letter of the Quran from its correct articulation point (makhraj) with its proper attributes (sifat).
Scholars agree that observing tajweed rules when reciting the Quran is wajib (obligatory). Allah says:
وَرَتِّلِ الْقُرْآنَ تَرْتِيلًا
Wa rattilil-Qur'ana tartila.
"And recite the Quran with measured recitation." (Surah Al-Muzzammil 73:4)
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The one who is proficient in the Quran is in the company of the noble and obedient recording angels. And the one who recites the Quran and finds it difficult, stumbling over it, will have a double reward." (Sahih Bukhari 4937)
Slowest speed. Full attention to every letter and rule. Best for beginners learning tajweed.
Moderate speed. Reciting at a medium pace while observing tajweed. Most commonly used level.
Fast speed. Reciting quickly while still maintaining tajweed. Only for experienced reciters who have mastered the rules.
Every Arabic letter has a specific point of articulation. These are divided into 5 main areas.
ء ه ع ح غ خ
6 letters from 3 parts of the throat
ت ث ج د ذ ر ز س ش ص ض ط ظ ك ل ن ي
Most letters — 18 in total
ب م و ف
4 letters
غُنَّة
Ghunnah sound — nasal cavity
ا و ي (مَدِّيَّة)
Madd letters (elongation)
Every Arabic letter has unique characteristics that give it its distinct sound. These are divided into opposite pairs and non-opposite characteristics.
Airflow is blocked when the letter is pronounced with a sukoon. Most letters are voiced. Hams (whispered) letters let air flow: ف ح ث ه ش خ ص س ك ت.
ب ج د ذ ر ز ض ط ظ ع غ ق ل م ن و ي ا
Sound is completely trapped then released. Remember: أَجِدْ قَطٍ بَكَتْ. Rakhawah letters let sound flow continuously. Between them (Bayniyyah): ل ن ع م ر.
أ ج د ق ط ب ك ت
The back of the tongue rises to the soft palate. These are the 7 heavy letters (same as Tafkheem letters). All other letters have Istifal — the tongue stays low.
خ ص ض غ ط ق ظ
The tongue presses against the palate. Only 4 letters have this quality — these are the 'heaviest' Arabic letters. All other letters have Infitah (opening between tongue and palate).
ص ض ط ظ
Letters that flow easily from the tip of the tongue or lips. Remember: فِرَّ مِنْ لُبّ. All other letters have Ismat — they require more effort to pronounce.
ف ر م ن ل ب
When a noon sakinah (نْ) or tanween (ـًـٍـٌ) is followed by another letter, one of 4 rules applies.
When noon sakinah or tanween is followed by any of the 6 throat letters, the noon is pronounced clearly without nasalization. The noon sound is distinct and separate.
ء ه ع ح غ خ
مَنْ آمَنَ · مِنْ عِلْمٍ · عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ
Man aamana — clear noon before hamza (ء)
The noon merges into the following letter. With ي ن م و (yanmu) — merge WITH ghunnah (nasalization). With ل ر (la, ra) — merge WITHOUT ghunnah. Idgham only applies when the letters are in two separate words.
ي ن م و ل ر
مَن يَعْمَلْ · مِن رَّبِّهِمْ · مِن نِّعْمَةٍ
Man ya'mal (with ghunnah) · Min Rabbihim (without ghunnah)
When noon sakinah or tanween is followed by the letter Ba (ب), the noon sound is converted to a Meem (م) sound, and held with a ghunnah (nasalization) of 2 counts.
ب
مِن بَعْدِ → مِم بَعْدِ · سَمِيعٌۢ بَصِيرٌ
Min ba'di — noon becomes meem before ba
When noon sakinah or tanween is followed by any of the remaining 15 letters, the noon is hidden (not fully pronounced and not fully merged). A ghunnah of 2 counts accompanies the hidden sound. The tongue does not touch the roof of the mouth.
ت ث ج د ذ ز س ش ص ض ط ظ ف ق ك
مِنْ قَبْلِ · أَنْتُمْ · مَنْ ذَا · عِنْدَ
Min qabli · Antum — hidden noon with ghunnah
3 rules based on what letter follows a meem sakinah (مْ).
When a meem sakinah is followed by another meem, the two meems merge with a ghunnah of 2 counts. The lips stay closed for the duration.
م
لَهُمْ مَا · كُنْتُمْ مُؤْمِنِينَ
Lahum ma — meem merges into meem
When a meem sakinah is followed by the letter Ba (ب), the meem is hidden with a slight ghunnah. The lips are slightly open (not fully closed as with meem, not fully open).
ب
تَرْمِيهِمْ بِحِجَارَةٍ · يَعْتَصِمْ بِاللَّهِ
Tarmeehim bihijarah — meem hidden before ba
When a meem sakinah is followed by any letter other than meem or ba, the meem is pronounced clearly. Be careful not to add extra nasalization or hide the meem.
أَلَمْ تَرَ · هُمْ فِيهَا · أَمْ لَمْ
Alam tara — clear meem before ta
Rules for stretching the madd letters (ا و ي) for a specific number of counts (harakat).
The basic elongation. A madd letter (alif, waw, ya) with no hamza or sukoon after it. Always exactly 2 counts — no more, no less.
قَالَ · يَقُولُ · فِيهِ
Obligatory madd. When a madd letter is followed by a hamza in the SAME word. Must be stretched 4-5 counts. This is the strongest madd after Madd Lazim.
جَاءَ · سُوءٌ · جِيءَ · السَّمَاءِ
Permissible madd. When a madd letter is at the end of one word and a hamza begins the next word. Can be 2, 4, or 5 counts depending on the recitation style (qira'ah).
يَا أَيُّهَا · فِي أَنفُسِكُمْ · قَالُوا آمَنَّا
When a madd letter is followed by a permanent sukoon or shaddah (not due to stopping). Always stretched exactly 6 counts. Found in Quranic openings like الم and in words like الْحَاقَّةُ and الضَّالِّينَ.
الٓمٓ · الْحَاقَّةُ · الضَّالِّينَ · الطَّامَّةُ
When a madd letter appears before the last letter of a word, and you stop on that word (making the last letter sakin). You may stretch 2, 4, or 6 counts. Only occurs when stopping.
الْعَالَمِينَ · نَسْتَعِينُ · الرَّحِيمِ
When a waw sakinah (وْ) or ya sakinah (يْ) appears after a letter with fathah, and you stop on the following letter. The waw/ya here is not a madd letter but a leen letter.
خَوْفٌ · قُرَيْشٍ · الْبَيْتِ
Special rules for the Lam of "Allah" and the Lam of Al (الـ / the definite article).
After fathah or dammah — the lam is pronounced heavy
قَالَ اللَّهُ · عَبْدُ اللَّهِ · رَسُولُ اللَّهِ
After kasrah — the lam is pronounced light
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ · لِلَّهِ · دِينِ اللَّهِ
Important indicators for where to stop and where not to stop during Quran recitation.
The sentence and meaning are complete, with no connection to what follows. Typically at the end of a verse.
Meaning is complete but there is a grammatical connection to what follows. Stopping is permissible.
Stopping where meaning is incomplete or distorted. This type of stopping must be avoided.
Ghunnah is a nasal sound produced from the nasal cavity that applies in various tajweed rules.
Ghunnah (غُنَّة) is a pleasant nasal sound produced from the nose. It is inherently present in the letters Noon (ن) and Meem (م). In tajweed, its duration is measured in counts (harakat).
غُنَّة
Ghunnah — nasal resonance, approximately 2 counts
Noon or Meem with a shaddah. This is the strongest and most prominent ghunnah. Duration: 2 counts.
إِنَّ · ثُمَّ
Ghunnah during merging (Idgham with ghunnah) and hiding (Ikhfa of noon or meem). Duration: 2 counts.
مَن يَعْمَلْ · أَنْتُمْ
The natural, lighter ghunnah in a clearly pronounced noon or meem sakinah. Duration: 1 count.
مَنْ آمَنَ · أَلَمْ تَرَ
Noon or Meem with a vowel (fathah, dammah, or kasrah). This is the lightest ghunnah.
نَ · مَ · نِ · مُ
To test your ghunnah: pinch your nose while pronouncing noon or meem. If the sound stops, your ghunnah is correct. If the sound remains the same, you are not directing sound through the nose and need to adjust.
5 specific letters produce a slight bouncing sound when they have a sukoon.
ق ط ب ج د
Remember: قُطْبُ جَدٍّ (Qutbu Jadd)
When a qalqalah letter has a sukoon in the middle of a word. The echo is subtle.
يَقْطَعُون · أَبْصَارِهِمْ · يَجْعَلُونَ
When stopping on a qalqalah letter at the end of a word. The echo is stronger and more pronounced.
الْفَلَقْ · مَسَدْ · مُحِيطْ · الْحَقّ
Practical advice for mastering tajweed.
Tajweed cannot be fully learned from books or videos alone. Learning from a qualified teacher face-to-face (or online) is essential. A teacher can listen to your recitation and correct your pronunciation — something no app or book can do.