Makharij al-Huruf — Points of Articulation

Makharij means the places from which Arabic letters are pronounced. These places include the throat, tongue, lips, mouth, and nasal passage. Correct Makharij is the foundation of Tajweed because a later rule cannot fully correct a letter that is being produced from the wrong place.

Beginners should pay special attention to letters such as ع، ح، خ، غ، ق، ص، ض، ط. These letters may not have an exact equivalent in English or Urdu pronunciation.

Sifaat al-Huruf — Characteristics of Letters

Sifaat are the qualities that belong to Arabic letters. They help explain whether a letter is heavy or light, strong or soft, whispered or voiced, and how it should sound after leaving its articulation point.

Some letters are naturally pronounced with heaviness, while others are light. Students should not make every Arabic letter heavy or every letter soft. The quality must match the letter and the rule being studied.

Noon Sakinah and Tanween

Noon Sakinah is a noon with sukoon, while Tanween is the double vowel sound at the end of a word. When Noon Sakinah or Tanween is followed by another letter, one of four main rules may apply: Izhar, Idgham, Iqlab, or Ikhfa.

Meem Sakinah

Meem Sakinah is a meem with sukoon. It has three important rules: Ikhfa Shafawi, Idgham Shafawi, and Izhar Shafawi. These rules are connected with the lips because the letter meem is pronounced using both lips.

Students should learn to identify when meem is clearly pronounced, when it merges with another meem, and when it is hidden before ب.

Ghunnah — The Nasal Sound

Ghunnah is a nasal sound that is especially noticeable with Noon and Meem carrying Shaddah. In many beginner lessons, students learn to hold this sound for approximately two counts.

The sound should come through the nasal passage without turning into an exaggerated humming noise. The exact application should be demonstrated by a teacher because listening and imitation are important parts of Tajweed.

Madd — Rules of Elongation

Madd means stretching a vowel sound. The three basic Madd letters are Alif, Waw, and Yaa when they appear with their required vowel conditions.

Madd Asli, also called natural Madd, is commonly practised for two counts. Other types of Madd may require different lengths, so students should not stretch every long vowel to the same duration.

Qalqalah — The Echoing Sound

Qalqalah is a slight echo or bounce that occurs with five letters when they carry sukoon or meet the conditions of the rule.

A helpful way to remember the letters is the phrase قُطْبُ جَدٍّ. The echo should be clear but controlled. It should not become an extra vowel or an exaggerated sound.

Tafkheem and Tarqeeq — Heavy and Light Sounds

Tafkheem means making a letter heavy, while Tarqeeq means pronouncing it lightly. The well-known heavy letters are:

Students must also learn that the letter Raa and the Laam in the name of Allah may be heavy or light depending on the surrounding vowels and specific conditions.

Waqf and Ibtida — Stopping and Starting

Waqf means stopping during recitation, while Ibtida means beginning again. A student should learn to stop at suitable places so that the meaning of the verse is not disturbed.

Stopping signs in the Mushaf provide guidance, but students should also understand the meaning of the passage and follow their teacher's instructions.