Tajweed rules for beginners can be grouped into six areas: pronouncing each letter correctly, the rules of Noon Sakinah and Tanween, the rules of Meem Sakinah, Ghunnah, Qalqalah and Madd. Learn these and you will recite most of the Quran correctly. This guide explains each one in plain language.
Tajweed rules summary chart
| Rule | When it applies | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Izhar | Noon Sakinah or Tanween before ء ه ع ح غ خ | Pronounce the Noon clearly |
| Idgham | Before ي ر م ل و ن | Merge into the next letter |
| Iqlab | Before ب | Change the Noon sound to Meem |
| Ikhfa | Before the remaining 15 letters | Hide the Noon with a nasal sound |
| Ghunnah | Noon or Meem with Shaddah | Nasal sound for two counts |
| Qalqalah | ق ط ب ج د with Sukoon | Slight echo |
| Madd | Alif, Waw or Ya of lengthening | Stretch two counts or more |
1. Makharij: say each letter correctly
Every Arabic letter has an exact place it comes from: the throat, a part of the tongue, the lips or the nose. Beginners most often confuse these pairs:
- ح and ه
- ع and ء
- ق and ك
- ص and س
- ط and ت
- ض, ظ, ذ and ز
A teacher will show you where each sound is made. This step takes patience and is worth every minute.
2. Noon Sakinah and Tanween
A Noon with Sukoon (نْ) or a Tanween is read in one of four ways depending on the next letter.
- Izhar (clear). Before the six throat letters, say the Noon clearly with no extra nasal sound. Example: مِنْ خَوْفٍ.
- Idgham (merging). Before the letters of يرملون, the Noon merges into the next letter. With ي ن م و the nasal sound is kept; with ل and ر it is not. Example: مَن يَعْمَلْ.
- Iqlab (changing). Before ب, the Noon becomes a Meem sound with Ghunnah. Example: مِنۢ بَعْدِ.
- Ikhfa (hiding). Before the other fifteen letters, the Noon is hidden between Izhar and Idgham with a nasal sound for two counts. Example: مِن قَبْلُ.
3. Meem Sakinah
A Meem with Sukoon (مْ) has three rules:
- Ikhfa Shafawi. Before ب, hide the Meem with Ghunnah.
- Idgham Shafawi. Before another م, merge with Ghunnah.
- Izhar Shafawi. Before any other letter, pronounce it clearly.
4. Ghunnah
Ghunnah is the sound from the nose. Whenever Noon or Meem carries a Shaddah (نّ or مّ), hold the nasal sound for two counts. Example: إِنَّ and ثُمَّ.
5. Qalqalah
Five letters, remembered by the phrase قُطْبُ جَدٍّ, are pronounced with a light bounce when they have Sukoon or when you stop on them. Example: the final د in أَحَدْ in Surah al-Ikhlas.
6. Madd
Madd means lengthening. The natural Madd is two counts: an Alif after Fathah, a Ya after Kasrah or a Waw after Dammah. When a Hamzah or a Sukoon follows, the Madd becomes longer, four to six counts. The wavy sign (~) in the Mushaf tells you to lengthen.
Stopping correctly
When you stop at the end of a verse, drop the final vowel and stop on a Sukoon. A Tanween with Fathah becomes an Alif, and the round Ta (ة) is read as a Ha.
How to practise these rules
- Learn one rule at a time.
- Find examples of it in Juz Amma.
- Recite them to a teacher and take correction.
- Listen to a skilled reciter and copy.
Wondering how long this takes? Read how long it takes to learn Tajweed. To study these rules properly with a teacher who listens to you, see our course to learn Tajweed online.