How to Improve My Recitation?

Last Updated on November 4, 2024

The Quran was revealed by Allah (SWT) as a book of kindness, guidance, and light to free people from blind misguidance and ingrained ignorance. The Quran is the last book that Almighty Allah has revealed. It is a never-ending source of knowledge, a miracle of a message, and a source of light and insight into Allah’s way and the hereafter.

What is Tajweed?

Tajweed in the context of the Quran refers to the set of rules governing the correct pronunciation during the recitation of the Quran. The word “Tajweed” comes from the Arabic root word “j-w-d,” meaning to improve or to make better. In the context of Quranic recitation, Tajweed is the art of reciting the Quran in a melodious and accurate manner as taught by the Prophet Muhammad.

The purpose of Tajweed is to ensure the Quran is recited as accurately and beautifully as possible, preserving its original pronunciation and meaning as revealed to the Prophet Muhammad.

What is Eklab?

In the context of Tajweed, which refers to the set of rules governing the correct pronunciation during the recitation of the Quran, “Iqlab” (or “Eklab”) is a rule that involves the transformation of a “Noon Sakinah” (نْ) or “Tanween” (a double vowel mark) into a “Meem” (م) when followed by the letter “Baa” (ب).

This transformation occurs to facilitate smoother pronunciation and involves a nasal sound known as “Ghunnah.” The term “Iqlab” itself means “to turn over” or “to change.” For example, in the Quranic phrase “من بعد وصية” (min ba’di wasiyyah), the Noon Sakinah in “min” changes to a Meem sound due to the following “Baa”【 (Iman Update –) (Bayan Al Quran Academy)

In printed Qurans, this transformation is often indicated by a small “Meem” above the Noon or the Tanween to remind the reciter of this rule【 (Iman Update –)

What about Ekhfaa?

Ekhfaa, which means “to conceal” or “to hide,” is a rule applied when the letter ن (noon) sakinah (نْ) or tanween (an, in, un) is followed by one of the 15 specific letters. When this occurs, the noon sound is concealed, and it is pronounced somewhere between an “n” and the following letter, with a nasal sound.

The 15 letters that trigger Ekhfaa are:

ت, ث, ج, د, ذ, ز, س, ش, ص, ض, ط, ظ, ف, ق, ك

These letters are usually memorized with the help of mnemonic devices or poems by students of Tajweed.

Pronunciation

To correctly apply Ekhfaa, the following steps are observed:

Conceal the Noon Sound: The sound of the noon (ن) should not be clearly pronounced. Instead, it is hidden or merged with the following letter.
Nasalization: The concealed sound should be accompanied by a nasal sound (ghunnah) that lasts for two counts (harakah).
Blend with the Next Letter: The sound should smoothly transition into the pronunciation of the next letter, without a clear stop or separation.

What is Edgham?

Idgham (also spelled Idghaam) is another important rule in Tajweed. The term “Idgham” means “merging” or “assimilation.” In the context of Tajweed, it refers to the merging of one letter into another, resulting in the omission of the first letter and the elongation or emphasis of the second letter.

Types of Idgham

There are two main types of Idgham in Tajweed:

Idgham with Ghunnah
Idgham without Ghunnah

1. Idgham with Ghunnah

Ghunnah means a nasal sound. Idgham with Ghunnah occurs when a noon sakinah (نْ) or tanween (an, in, un) is followed by one of the following letters:

ي, ن, م, و

These letters can be remembered with the mnemonic “ينمو” (Yarmaloon).

When Idgham with Ghunnah is applied:

The noon sound is merged into the following letter.
A nasal sound (ghunnah) is produced, lasting for two counts (harakah).

Example:

In the phrase مِنْ يَشَاءُ (min yashaa):

مِنْ ends with a noon sakinah.
يَشَاءُ begins with the letter ي.

Applying Idgham with Ghunnah:

The noon sound is merged with the ي.
A nasal sound is produced.

It is pronounced as: [miy yashaa], where y represents the nasalized sound.

2. Idgham without Ghunnah

Idgham without Ghunnah occurs when a noon sakinah (نْ) or tanween (an, in, un) is followed by one of the following letters:

ل, ر

When Idgham without Ghunnah is applied:

The noon sound is merged into the following letter without any nasalization.

Example:

In the phrase مِنْ رَبِّهِمْ (min rabbihim):

مِنْ ends with a noon sakinah.
رَبِّهِمْ begins with the letter ر.

Applying Idgham without Ghunnah:

The noon sound is merged with the ر.
No nasal sound is produced.

It is pronounced as: [mir rabbihim]

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What is Ezhar?

Izhar (also spelled Izhaar or Ezhar) is another fundamental rule of Tajweed, which refers to the clear and distinct pronunciation of the noon sakinah (نْ) or tanween (an, in, un) without merging, nasalization, or concealment. The term “Izhar” means “clarity” or “manifestation.”

Letters of Izhar

Izhar occurs when the noon sakinah or tanween is followed by one of the six throat letters. These letters are:

أ, ه, ع, ح, غ, خ

Application of Izhar

When Izhar is applied:

The noon sound (ن) or tanween, is pronounced clearly and distinctly.
There is no nasalization (ghunnah).
The noon sakinah or tanween,, is not merged with the following letter.

Why it’s important to hear the Holy Quran in the Arabic tongue?

Listening to the Quran in its original language ensures linguistic authenticity and appreciation of its literary excellence, making it the pinnacle of Arabic literature.

Accurate Recitation: Arabic speakers, especially those trained in Tajweed, can correctly pronounce the letters and sounds of the Quran, which is crucial because Arabic has many sounds not present in other languages.
Tajweed Rules: Proper application of Tajweed rules ensures that the recitation follows the traditional methods, preserving the sound and rhythm of the Quran.
Subtle Nuances: Arabic is a rich and nuanced language. Many words have deep, layered meanings that can be lost or altered in translation. Hearing the Quran in Arabic preserves these nuances.
Avoiding Misinterpretation: Translations can sometimes lead to misinterpretations or loss of the original message. Listening to the Quran in Arabic helps avoid this.
Spiritual Impact: Muslims believe the Quran is the literal word of God (Allah) revealed to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in Arabic. Hearing it in the original language can provide a more profound spiritual experience.

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