Complete Guide to Tajweed Rules
Tajweed is the art of reciting the Quran correctly. The word “Tajweed” comes from the Arabic root meaning “to make better.” These rules ensure every letter of the Quran is pronounced from its correct articulation point with proper characteristics. Below you will find every Tajweed rule used in our colour-coded transliteration system.
What is Tajweed?
Tajweed (تجويد) literally means “proficiency” or “doing something well.” When applied to Quran recitation, it refers to the set of linguistic and phonetic rules used to recite the Quran in the way it was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Learning Tajweed is considered obligatory for every Muslim who recites the Quran.
The primary goal of Tajweed is to protect the reader from making mistakes in recitation that could change the meaning of the sacred text. There are two types of errors: clear errors (Lahn Jali) that change the meaning, and hidden errors (Lahn Khafi) that are more subtle.
Tajweed Colour Chart
Our transliteration uses a colour-coded system to visually indicate which Tajweed rule applies to each part of the text. Here is the complete chart:
Necessary Prolongation (المد اللازم)
Duration: 6 harakah
A prolongation of exactly 6 counts. Occurs when a letter of madd is followed by a sukoon or shaddah in the same word. Always elongated to its full length.
Obligatory Prolongation (المد الواجب المتصل)
Duration: 4-5 harakah
A prolongation of 4 or 5 counts. Occurs when a letter of madd is followed by a hamzah within the same word. Must be elongated — not optional.
Permissible Prolongation (المد الجائز المنفصل)
Duration: 2, 4, or 6 harakah
A prolongation of 2, 4, or 6 counts at the reader's choice. Occurs when a letter of madd at the end of one word is followed by a hamzah at the start of the next word.
Nasalisation (Ghunnah) (الغنة)
Duration: 2 harakah
A nasal sound held for 2 counts. Accompanies noon and meem with shaddah, idghaam with ghunnah, and ikhfaa. The sound resonates from the nasal passage.
Emphatic Pronunciation (التفخيم)
Letters pronounced with a full, heavy sound where the tongue rises towards the hard palate. Applies to the letters Saad, Daad, Taa, Dhaa, Khaa, Ghain, Qaf, and Laam in the name of Allah after fathah or dammah.
Silent Letters (الحروف غير الملفوظة)
Letters written in the Mushaf but not pronounced during recitation. Typically alif letters that serve grammatical purposes or historical spelling conventions.
Echoing Sound (Qalqalah) (القلقلة)
A slight bouncing or echoing when pronouncing the five Qalqalah letters (Qaf, Taa, Baa, Jiim, Daal) when they carry a sukoon. The echo is stronger at the end of a verse (Qalqalah Kubra) than in the middle of a word (Qalqalah Sughra).
Normal Prolongation (المد الطبيعي)
Duration: 2 harakah
The natural prolongation of 2 counts that occurs with every letter of madd (alif, waw, yaa) when not followed by a hamzah or sukoon. This is the baseline length for all prolongation.
Merging (Idgham) (الإدغام)
When noon saakinah or tanween is followed by Ya, Ra, Meem, Laam, Waw, or Noon. The noon merges into the following letter. With Ya, Noon, Meem, Waw: merging with ghunnah. With Ra, Laam: merging without ghunnah.
Concealment (Ikhfaa) (الإخفاء)
Duration: 2 harakah
When noon saakinah or tanween is followed by one of 15 specific letters, the noon is partially hidden (not fully pronounced and not fully merged). A nasal ghunnah of 2 counts accompanies it.
Why Tajweed Matters for Every Muslim
The Quran was revealed in Arabic with specific pronunciation rules that carry meaning. Without proper Tajweed, the meaning of words can change entirely. For example, the difference between a short and long vowel, or between an emphatic and non-emphatic consonant, can change one word into a completely different one.
Colour-coded Tajweed transliteration makes it possible for non-Arabic speakers to follow these rules visually. Each colour acts as a guide, telling the reader when to elongate a vowel, nasalise a sound, or apply other pronunciation rules. This is especially helpful for beginners who are learning to recite the Quran for the first time.
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