Frequently asked questions about Recitation Rules
Simple answers to understand the basics, progress with confidence and go further on Qalima.
The Quran is the sacred text of Islam, revealed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ over 23 years. Our quizzes cover surah content, tajwid rules, memorization, Quranic sciences and tafsir — for beginners and advanced learners alike.
What is tajwid?
Tajwid is the science of Quranic recitation rules. It teaches how to pronounce every Arabic letter correctly from its articulation point (makhraj) with its intrinsic qualities (sifat), following the tradition transmitted from Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
What is idgham?
Idgham is the merging of a non-vocalized letter (sakin) into the following vocalized letter, so they become a single doubled letter. It notably applies to nun sakin and tanwin before the six letters يَرْمَلُون.
How many rules apply to nun sakinah and tanwin?
Four rules govern nun sakin and tanwin: idgham (merging, with or without ghunna), iqlab (transformation into mim before ba'), ikhfa' (nasal concealment before 15 letters) and idhhar (clear pronunciation before the 6 throat letters).
What is ghunna?
Ghunna is a nasal resonance lasting two counts (haraka). It is mandatory for doubled nun and mim, and accompanies idgham with ghunna and ikhfa' of nun sakin and tanwin.
What is madd in tajwid?
Madd is the elongation of a vowel during recitation. Madd tabi'i (natural) lasts 2 counts, while madd far'i (secondary) lasts 4 to 5 counts depending on whether it is caused by a hamza or a sukun.
What are the articulation points (makharij) of Arabic letters?
The 28 Arabic letters have 17 articulation points across 5 areas: the jawf (oral cavity), the halq (throat, 3 levels), the lisan (tongue, 10 points), the shafatan (lips) and the khayshum (nasal cavity, seat of ghunna).
What is qalqala?
Qalqala is a reverberation produced when one of the five letters قطب جد is sakin. It is minor (sughra) in the middle of a word and major (kubra) at the end of a word.
Is learning tajwid obligatory?
Theoretical study of tajwid is a collective obligation (fard kifaya), but correctly applying the rules when reciting the Quran is an individual obligation (fard 'ayn) to avoid pronunciation errors (lahn).
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