Resources for your journey
A gentle introduction to the words you’ll hear in Tajweed lessons, simple habits for practising at home, and trusted places to read and listen.
A beginner’s Tajweed glossary
Don’t worry about memorizing these — your teacher will introduce each one step by step.
Makharij al-Huruf
مَخَارِجُ الْحُرُوفThe articulation points — where each letter is produced: the throat, tongue, lips, nasal passage and the open space of the mouth.
Sifat al-Huruf
صِفَاتُ الْحُرُوفThe characteristics of letters — qualities such as heaviness, softness or breathiness that keep similar letters distinct.
Tafkhim & Tarqiq
تَفْخِيم وَتَرْقِيقHeavy (full-mouthed) and light pronunciation. Some letters are always heavy, some always light, and a few change.
Ghunnah
غُنَّةThe nasal sound, heard most clearly on a noon or meem with shaddah, usually held for about two counts.
Izhar
إِظْهَارPronouncing a noon sakinah or tanween clearly, without ghunnah, when followed by one of the throat letters.
Idgham
إِدْغَامMerging a noon sakinah or tanween into the letter that follows it.
Iqlab
إِقْلَابChanging the sound of a noon sakinah or tanween into a meem when it is followed by the letter baa.
Ikhfa
إِخْفَاءPartly hiding a noon sakinah or tanween, with ghunnah, before certain letters.
Madd
مَدّProlonging a vowel sound. Natural madd is held for two counts; other kinds are held longer.
Qalqalah
قَلْقَلَةA slight echoing or bouncing sound on the letters ق ط ب ج د when they carry a sukoon.
Waqf & Ibtida’
وَقْف وَابْتِدَاءHow to stop at the right place and how to begin again, so the meaning is carried correctly.
Tajweed
تَجْوِيدLiterally “to make excellent” — reciting the Qur’an by giving every letter its right and due.
Practising at home
Little and often
Ten focused minutes a day does more than an hour once a week.
Listen, then repeat
Listen to a skilled reciter, then repeat slowly. Accuracy first, speed later.
Record yourself
A short recording helps you hear what to bring to your next lesson.
Recite to someone
Reciting to a teacher or family member builds confidence and catches mistakes early.
Trusted places to read & listen
Quran.com
Read the Qur’an with translations and listen to many reciters.
Sunnah.com
Search hadith collections with references and translations.
Alim.org
Qur’an, tafsir and hadith resources in one place.
These are independent websites; USTADAH is not affiliated with them.
اقرأ
Learn with a teacher by your side
Resources help — but nothing replaces a patient teacher who listens to you recite.