It is not the same thing as reading a book when it comes to reciting the Quran. It is a word of Allah and it should be recited with accuracy, reverence and sweetness. The science by the aid of which this is possible is tajweed.
It establishes the guidelines according to which the pronunciation of each letter should be, how long the sound is to be maintained, or a pause to be made or not. By not employing Tajweed, there is a possibility of distorting the meaning behind what Allah has words- not to mention, that it can be done unintentionally.
Tajweed is not only a system of rules, but a journey to come closer to Quran. It improves the emotional and spiritual reciting efficacy.
Whether a Muslim is just starting out or they have been reading the Quran all their lives, Tajweed makes it possible to find the beauty and richness of the Quran. As more and more resources get available such as through sites of online Quran academy and others learning Tajweed is going to be easier than ever.
What is Tajweed and Why so?
Tajweed is an Arabic word that means to make better or to improve, it is made up of the word “jayyid.” In the context of the Quran, it refers to pronouncing every letter correctly, from its origin point (makhraj), and applying the correct rules of elongation, nasalization, and pauses. These norms have been retained and have been continued down the generations of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ himself.
The significance of Tajweed is that the exact wording of the Quran given must be maintained. Mispronunciation may alter meanings and in extreme cases it can even alter to a huge extent. The Tajweed is a way of making every reading of the message of God honorable and clear.
History of Tajweed
Scholars did not invent the rules of Tajweed: they were noted down on the basis of the way the Prophet ﷺ used to recite the Quran. His friends listened carefully and tranferred this technique by word of mouth. With the expansion of Islam, the rules were codified by scholars in a formal science to maintain consistency.
Such wealth of tradition preserved the Quran undistorted. Tajweed saved the purity of the Quran in Arabian deserts and African, and Asian mosques. It is still an existing science, which is researched and applied in Muslim world today.
Tajweed guards meaning and error evasion.
Recitation that is wrong, although a little, can result in great errors. A verse may take on a different meaning through a small vari mal pronunciation. As an example, misinterpreting a light letter and a heavy one can alter the real message. Tajweed has protection against such mistakes.
Implementing Tajweed allows a reader not to offend or communicate meaninglessly with the words of Allah unintentionally. It is no longer a language activity, but also a spiritual duty. Understanding Tajweed will enable a person to read with confidence and in a proper way according to the reverence.
Sacred Gains of Tajweed
Tajweed makes the Quran come alive when the Quran is read. The emotion tone of the message is translated into pauses, flaws, and the rhythm. Verses that speak of mercy are tender when read in the right way, whereas the verses that speak of punishment are harsh. This gives this recitation an emotional potency.
It also helps in khushu (humble focus) during prayers. Listening and the recitation makes the listener and the reciter have a stronger relation with the verses. So Tajweed is not all about rules it is about experience and feeling the Quran the way it should be.
These are just a few of the common errors that can be avoided when you learn Tajweed.
Tajweed helps Muslims to evade the regular and oftentimes slightest errors:
- Mixing up similar sounding letters like ‘س’ (seen) and ‘ص’ (saad)
- Ignoring nasal sounds (ghunnah)
- Misapplying rules of elongation (madd)
- Forming a wrong pause, varying the “meaning”
- Omission of letters, or spelling out words together
It is through dexterity in such matters that reciters preserve the integrity of the Quran and capture its initial reading. It too brings improvement in memorizing and rhythmical recitation.
Tajweed and Non-Arabic Speaking People
A significant percentage of the Muslims today are people who do not speak Arabic. To them, Tajweed becomes even more important. It fills the gap between the letters that we have never seen and correct pronunciation. Tajweed helps the learners to know the source of each sound, and how they should be shaped.
One way to correct the accent based mistakes and to pronounce the words according to the way they are expected to be said is by learning Tajweed.
Integrating online learning has enabled international students to get access to professional teaching in which the geographical distance has been dissolved and a systematic way of learning Tajweed has been provided.
Tajweed in the Modern World
Due to technology, a person can learn Tajweed without attending physical classes. Digital tooling, apps and top-notch teachers are available to students, and they can access them regardless of location.
An example of this is a reliable web-based Quran school that has organized lessons in Tajweed study of the Quran to the learners at all level of learning.
Video explanations, live classes, and audio feedback are some of the most common components of this contemporary approach.
These devices can be used to make personal processions and corrections, which are fundamental aspects when one is learning minute details of pronunciation and fluency.
Inspiration by the Words of the Prophet ﷺ
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ spoke highly of the perfection of the Quran recitation. He said, “The one who is proficient in the recitation of the Qur’an will be with the honorable and obedient scribes (angels), and he who recites it and finds it difficult, yet strives to recite it in the best way possible, will have a double reward.” (Bukhari and Muslim)
This Hadith informs us that Tajweed is not exclusive to experts. Success is rewarded even by those who are newbies. The journey of Tajweed is not locked to a certain number of people but any individual can walk the path with an intention and devotion.
Conclusion
The pronunciation is not the only thing, but tajweed. It is an art and a science as well as an act of devotion. With the skill of Tajweed, Muslims recite the Quran revealed with power, purity and precision as it is and as it should be. This conserves its meaning, as well as, its spiritual impact.
Muslims living in all parts of the world have the chance, and even the responsibility, to learn Tajweed, be it in conventional classroom lecture or at the comfort of their own homes via virtual education. By so doing they not only preserve the purity of the words of Allah they also derive the fullest beauty of the Allah message. Tajweed is a step-by-step bringing Quran to life.
