Tajweed cheat sheet (تجويد)
1. Noon sakinah and tanween
| Rule | When | What happens | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Izhar (clear) | Noon sakinah or tanween before a throat letter: ء ه ع ح غ خ | Say the noon clearly, with no merging and no extra nasal sound. | مِنْ هَادٍ |
| Idgham with ghunnah | Before ي ن م و, when the noon and the letter are in two different words | The noon merges into the next letter, with a nasal sound (ghunnah). | مَنْ يَقُولُ |
| Idgham without ghunnah | Before ل ر, when the noon and the letter are in two different words | The noon merges completely into the next letter, with no ghunnah. | مِنْ رَبِّهِمْ |
| Iqlab (changing) | Before ب | The noon sound changes to a meem sound, lips lightly closed, with ghunnah. | مِنْ بَعْدِ |
| Ikhfa (hiding) | Before the other 15 letters: ت ث ج د ذ ز س ش ص ض ط ظ ف ق ك | The noon is half-hidden with ghunnah, the tongue not touching its usual place. | مِنْ قَبْلُ |
2. Meem sakinah
| Rule | When | What happens | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Idgham shafawi | Meem sakinah before م | The two meems merge, with ghunnah. | لَهُمْ مَا |
| Ikhfa shafawi | Meem sakinah before ب | The meem is hidden with ghunnah, lips lightly closed. | تَرْمِيهِمْ بِحِجَارَةٍ |
| Izhar shafawi | Meem sakinah before any other letter | The meem is clear. Take care before و and ف not to merge or hide it. | لَكُمْ دِينُكُمْ |
Ghunnah is the nasal sound held for about 2 counts on a noon or meem with shaddah, for example إِنَّ and ثُمَّ.
3. Qalqalah (echo)
The five letters ق ط ب ج د (remembered as قطب جد), when they carry a sukoon, are released with a slight echoing bounce. In the middle of a word, for example اقْرَأْ, it is lighter. When you stop on the letter at the end of a verse, for example أَحَدْ, it is strongest.
4. Madd (lengthening)
| Type | When | Length | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madd tabii (natural) | A madd letter (ا و ي) with no hamzah or sukoon after it | 2 counts | قَالَ |
| Madd muttasil (connected) | A madd letter followed by hamzah in the same word | Usually 4 or 5 counts | السَّمَاءِ |
| Madd munfasil (separated) | A madd letter at the end of a word, hamzah at the start of the next | Usually 4 or 5 counts (varies by recitation method) | إِنَّا أَعْطَيْنَاكَ |
| Madd lazim (necessary) | A madd letter followed by a permanent sukoon or shaddah in the same word | 6 counts | الضَّالِّينَ |
| Madd arid lil-sukoon | A madd letter before the last letter, when you stop on it | 2, 4 or 6 counts | الْعَالَمِينَ |
| Madd leen | ي or و sakinah after fatha, before the last letter, when you stop | 2, 4 or 6 counts | خَوْفٍ |
| Madd badal (substitute) | Hamzah followed by a madd letter in the same word | 2 counts | آمَنُوا |
One count is about the time to say one short vowel. Lengths for some types differ between recitation methods: follow your teacher.
5. Heavy and light letters
Heavy (tafkhim): خ ص ض غ ط ق ظ. The back of the tongue rises towards the roof of the mouth, giving a full sound. Light (tarqiq): the other letters. The letters ر and ل (in the word Allah) and the alif follow detailed rules: learn these with a teacher.
6. Makharij (where letters come from)
| Area | Letters |
|---|---|
| Al-Jawf (the open space of the mouth and throat) | The three madd letters when they are long vowels: ا و ي |
| Al-Halq (the throat) | Deepest: ء ه. Middle: ع ح. Nearest the mouth: غ خ |
| Al-Lisan (the tongue), 18 letters | Back of the tongue: ق ك. Middle: ج ش ي. Side: ض. Tip and nearby: ل ن ر ط د ت ص ز س ظ ذ ث |
| Ash-Shafatayn (the lips) | ف (lower lip with the upper teeth), و ب م (both lips) |
| Al-Khayshum (the nasal passage) | The nasal sound of ghunnah |
Scholars count the exact places slightly differently; 17 places in 5 areas is the commonly taught count.
Learn with a teacher. This sheet is an educational summary and does not replace listening to correct recitation. Rules, counts and examples can differ slightly between recitation methods, so follow your teacher.