Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh,
Welcome back to Be Qur’anic!
It’s Tuesday, and that means it’s time for Tajweed Tuesday, where we break down the recitation and pronunciation rules from the Ayat of the Week.
This is Week 2 of Term 2, and we’re continuing with Surah al-Wāqiʿah, focusing on verses 10 to 26. Don’t worry — although that’s 16 ayat, the verses are short and rhythmically structured, which makes them ideal for learning Tajweed.
Let’s begin with Isti‘ādhah:
أعوذ بالله من الشيطان الرجيم
This is not part of the Qur’an but an instruction from Allah — “When you recite the Qur’an, seek refuge in Allah from Shayṭān.” So make sure we recite it with presence and proper tajweed, not rushed.
Key Tajweed Highlights
1. Al-Madd (Elongation)
We notice several types of madd in these verses:
* Madd Aṣlī (natural elongation): e.g., Was-sābiqūna — stretch it for two counts.
* Madd Muttasil : Look for wavy signs — these must be stretched to 4 counts.
2. Gunnah (Nasalisation)
Whenever you see nun mushaddadah or meem mushaddadah, like in:
* Muqarrabūn or Waḥūrun ‘īn
There’s wājib al-ghunnah — nasal sound for two counts.
Pinch your nose slightly — you should feel it vibrate.
3. Idghām (Merging)
For tanwīn or nūn sākinah followed by letters of Yarmalūn, you’ll often get:
* Idghām bighunnah (merging with nasalisation), e.g. ‘alā sururin mawḍūnah
* If it’s followed by a non-Yarmalūn letter like sīn, we get ikhfā’ (partial hiding), as in qīlan salāman.
4. Ikhfā’ (Partial nasal concealment)
Found when nūn sākinah or tanwīn is followed by certain letters (like zāy, sīn, ṭā).
Example:
* Yanzifūn — here, nūn is hidden and flows into the sound of zāy with ghunnah.
5. Qalqalah (Bounce or echo)
Letters like qāf, ṭā, bā, jīm, dāl when sākina produce a light bounce.
E.g., lā yuqaddarūn — give the qāf a light bounce.
Important Letter-Specific Reminders
* Raw (ر) should be heavy (tafkhīm) when it has a fatḥah or ḍammah, and light (tarqīq) when it has a kasrah.
* Ṣād (ص) is a heavy letter. Don’t round your lips. The heaviness comes from lifting the back of your tongue, not your lips.
* Ḍād (ض) — sides of the tongue should press against upper molars. Avoid turning it into a “dal”.
* ‘Ayn (ع) — constrict the middle of your throat, not the top or bottom.
* Hamzah (ء) — is a glottal stop, don’t stretch or squeeze it.
Common Symbols
* A small circle above a letter means don’t pronounce it — it’s a silent or dropped letter.
* A wavy line (tilde shape) means long madd — usually 4 to 6 counts.
* A small alif means elongation for 2 counts — usually madd aṣlī.
Practice Advice
Don’t rush through all 16 ayat at once. If you’re just starting, take it one ayah at a time:
* Smooth out each word.
* Pay attention to the makhraj (point of articulation).
* Use a mirror or record yourself to check your pronunciation.
* Once you’re confident, try reciting the entire section with correct tajweed.
For example, start with:
Was-sābiqūna as-sābiqūn. Ulā’ikal muqarrabūn…
— repeat until you’re flowing smoothly with the right pace and rules.
That’s it for Tajweed Tuesday!
Keep practising the ayat, and take note of these Tajweed points as you recite.
See you on Thursday, inshaAllah, for Tafsir Thursday, where we’ll explore the meanings behind these powerful verses from Surah al-Wāqiʿah.
Wassalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.
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