- Tuhfatul Atfaal Explained -

**Silver Pearl** · 01-27-2009

I don't think I need to state the importance of tajweed or cover what has already been stated by so many before me. Inshaa'Allaah I'll use this thread to go through the famous text, Tuhfatul Atfaal by Imaam Jamzoori (rahimahullaah). I have extracted the translation from ahlaam wordpress for ease and I'll explain it bi'idnillaah.

- Tuhfatul Atfaal Explained -

Introduction

يَقُـولُ رَاجِـي رَحْمَـةِ الْغَـفُـورِ ** دَوْمًـا سُلَيْمَـانُ هُـوَ الجَمْـزُوري

Says he who is always hoping for the mercy of the oft-forgiving, he is Sulaymaan Al-Jamzoori.

So the Imaam (rahimahullaah) starts his text with the bismillaah and then follows it with the above verses. He used the present verb (yaqoolu) because seeking the mercy of Allaah is not something only restricted to a short period of time, rather the present word indicates the author's need for Allaah's mercy always. After that he clarifies who he is. Jamzoor is a village outside tanta, egypt and hence why he is known as Imaam Al-Jamzoori (The Imaam from Jamzoor). He was also known as 'Afendi', a turkish term that is used for respect.

الْحَمْـدُ لـلَّـهِ مُصَلِّـيًـا عَـلَـى ** مُحَـمَّـدٍ وَآلــهِ وَمَــنْ تَــلاَ

All praise is due to Allaah, whilst sending salutation upon Muhammad (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa salam), his family, and those who follow him.

Above the word 'wa aalihi' has been translated to mean and 'his family' which is correct but in this term, the companions are also included.

وَبَعْـدُ هَــذَا النَّـظْـمُ لِلْمُـرِيـدِ ** فِـي النُّـونِ والتَّنْوِيـنِ وَالْمُـدُودِ

As to what proceeds, this poem is for the one who seeks it (students), regarding the letter noon, the nunation and the rules of elongation.

The Imaam here only mentioned three elements present in tajweed, this does not mean that this will be the only things covered in the text but rather it is a taster for the student, a summary as to some of the things that the poetry/text will include.

سَمَّيْـتُـهُ بِتُحْـفَـةِ الأَطْـفَــالِ ** عَنْ شَيْخِنَـا الْمِيهِـىِّ ذِي الْكَمـالِ

I have named it ‘A gift for the children’, on the authority of our Shaykh, Al-Mihiy, the perfect one (mastery in the art of tajweed).

Although the text is called 'Tuhfatul atfaal' (A gift for the children), the term 'atfaal' should not be taken in the literal sense. The author is referring to the state of an individual who does not know the science, they are like 'children'. But what is meant here is beginner. Imaam Jamzoori also clarifies his teacher the same way as he made himself known, Mihi is also a village outside tanta, Egypt. In addition he (the author) refers to his teacher as 'dil kamaal' the perfect one. The reader needs to understand what is meant by this term here, no human is perfect, however, as this text is about tajweed. The Imaam says that his teacher was the perfected one, in the science of tajweed and of what he has gained from his teacher. Indeed Allaah is the only perfect one and one should not confuse that with figurative terms used for humans.

أَرْجُـو بِـهِ أَنْ يَنْـفَـعَ الطُّـلاَّبَـا ** وَالأَجْــرَ وَالْقَـبُـولَ وَالثَّـوَابَـا

I hope with it (this poem) that it benefits the students and (I hope for) reward, acceptance and retribution.

Imaam Jamzoori then concludes his introduction by hoping for reward. The term 'ajar' is translated as reward and 'tawaab' as retribution but as english speakers, these two words mean the same thing to us. However, why did the author use two words that carry the same meaning? Actually they don't have the same meaning. 'Ajar' refers to a reward that an individual receives due to an effort they have made, for example they have written something beneficial and Allaah rewards them. However, 'thawaab' refers to a reward that one receives due to the mercy of Allaah. They have not done nor made any effort worthy of reward but rather out of Allaah's rahma (mercy) he increases them in reward. So the author says that not only does he hope for the reward for writing this text but he hopes that out of the bounty of Allaah that he is increased in reward.

May Allaah raise his rankings to those of the anbiyaa!

Wabillaahi tawfeeq.

**Al-Hanbali** · 03-31-2009

*bump*

Originally Posted by Silver Pearl

- Revision -

Questions about Idh-haar

1) What does idh-haar mean?

2) What are the letters of idh-haar

3) Pick out the rule of idh-haar in Suraah At-Takathur and state how you know it is the rule of idh-haar

4) Pick out the rule of idh-haar in Suraah Al-fajr and state how you know it is the rule of idh-haar

1) Idhaar comes from the word Dhahara, which means 'back', because it is something clear and obvious. Likewise dhuhr also orginates from same word, since it is at the time of day when it is clear. In tajweed terminology idhaar is to make the sound of noon saakin and tanween clear, without merging it into other letters, when followed by the letters of idhaar.

2) The letters of Idhaar are: hamzah, haa, 3ayn, 7aa, ghayn & khaa

3) ثُمَّ لَتُسْأَلُنَّ يَوْمَئِذٍ عَنِ النَّعِيمِ "..yawma-idhin 'anin-na'eem" - you know it is idhaar since after the tanween (i.e. kasratayn), the letter 3ayn follows, and 3ayn is from the letters of idhaar.

4) وَلَيَالٍ عَشْرٍ - "wa laayaalin 'ashr" - again, same as above, after the tanween (i.e. kasratayn), the letter 3ayn follows.

**Silver Pearl** · 03-31-2009

Mumtaaz! There are all correct. Just one error, dhahara bima3na bayaan (dhahara means clear), dhahr means back.

**chacha_jalebi** · 04-01-2009

Aaaaa great thread sista

Jazakhallah, keep it up

**Al-Hanbali** · 04-07-2009

Originally Posted by Silver Pearl

Mumtaaz! There are all correct. Just one error, dhahara bima3na bayaan (dhahara means clear), dhahr means back.

BarakAllaah feeki...

Here is a recording of Sa'ad al-Ghamedi reciting the nadhm: http://www.khayma.com/tajweed/tohfa/002.rm

^ maybe it can help, for those memorising it, inshaAllaah.

Look forward to the next lesson...

**Silver Pearl** · 04-25-2009

Originally Posted by chacha_jalebi

Aaaaa great thread sista

Originally Posted by chacha_jalebi

Jazakhallah, keep it up

Wa iyyak

Originally Posted by Saifur-Rahmaan

BarakAllaah feeki...

Originally Posted by Saifur-Rahmaan

Here is a recording of Sa'ad al-Ghamedi reciting the nadhm: http://www.khayma.com/tajweed/tohfa/002.rm

^ maybe it can help, for those memorising it, inshaAllaah.

Look forward to the next lesson...

Wa feek barakallaah

that should really aid with the hifdh of the matn! Jazaakallaah khayr.

- Revision -

1) How many rules are governed by Noon saakinah and tanween?

2) What is idh-haar?

3) What is idghaam?

4) How many letters of idghaam are there? and how many types are they
divided into?

5) What is meant by takreer?

6) Give an example of idh-haar and idghaam in Surah Al-'Alaa

7) Give two examples of idh-haar and idghaam in a Surah of your own choice.

- New Lesson -

- Iqlaab -

وَالثَّالـثُ الإِقْـلاَبُ عِنْـدَ الْـبَـاءِ ** مِيمًـا بِغُـنَّـةٍ مَــعَ الإِخْـفَـاءِ

And the third (rule) is Iqlaab (meaning to change something), in the case of (the letter) ba (and turning it into) meem with ghunnah whilst applying Ikhfaa.

Iqlaab is from qalb (heart) but it actually means to flip/change something on its face, much like the heart because one day you like something, the next day you don't and so forth. Likewise this rule is called iqlaab because the letter ba changes into a meem saakinah.

You must also remember to make ghunnah whilst making iqlaab and we have mentioned what ghunnah is in previous lessons. Also, you need to cover/conceal (ikhfaa) the noon saakinah/tanween.

As for how you do this, then there is ikhtilaaf amongst the quraa', some say you completely close your mouth whilst making the transition. Whilst others say you keep your mouth slightly open and this is the opinion of the Imaam of Qira'at, namingly Imaam Hosry (rahimahullaah).

Example

كَلَّا لَيُنبَذَنَّ فِي الْحُطَمَةِ

مِن بَيْنِ فَرْثٍ

كُلُوا وَاشْرَبُوا هَنِيئًا بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ

Any error is from myself and the shaytaan and I seek Allaah's guidance.

Wabillaahi tawfeeq.

**Ummu Sufyaan** · 04-26-2009

Originally Posted by Silver Pearl

Mumtaaz! There are all correct. Just one error, dhahara bima3na bayaan (dhahara means clear), dhahr means back.

actually, to be precise lol dhahara means to become apparent

cos remeber its the root and roots are (most of the time) masculine past tense (which the word "dharaha: is)

The author says that the only time you do not make idghaam is when the noon saakinah and the letters of idghaam are present in one word. In order for idghaam to occur, they need to be in two words and not one. In addition this will only happen with noon saakinah simply because tanween does not occur in the middle of a word so it is not relevant. Although the author does not state, when a word like دنيا and صنـوانٍappears then you make idh-haar instead.

so why is that rule under the rules of ihthaar... why is it mentioned under the rules of idghaam....i've never understood that

and also, just to expand on what you've said, the ithaar referred to above is called اظهار مطلق Ithaar Mutlaq.

the quran contains only 4 words which contain ithaar Mutlaq . the two stated above (i.e دنيا -Dunya& صنـوانٍ-Sinwaan) and also قنوان Qinwaan& بنيان bonyaan

also sis, i was wondering how much emphasis (if any) did your teacher put on you studying/knowing the makharij and sifaat of the letters?

and which reciters do you think are the best to help someone learn/improve their tajweed?

**Silver Pearl** · 04-26-2009

actually, to be precise lol dhahara means to become apparent

cos remeber its the root and roots are (most of the time) masculine past tense (which the word "dharaha: is)

You're right lol. It should be dhahara bima3na bayaan (dhahara means to make something clear/apparent) but I was too lazy lol.

so why is that rule under the rules of ihthaar... why is it mentioned under the rules of idghaam....i've never understood that

I didn't quite get your question, if you mean, why is it mentioned in section of idghaam, then simply for more clarity and its more appropriate then. If you haven't covered the topic of Idghaam with your teacher then you won't understand. Its about introducing a topic or an aspect in a place where the student will understand well. I'm not sure if I even answered your question lol.

Jazaakillaah khayr on the extra notes!

also sis, i was wondering how much emphasis (if any) did your teacher put on you studying/knowing the makharij and sifaat of the letters?

They are a very important aspect of learning tajweed and becoming better in recitation. Rarely do teachers embark their students on the journey of teaching them ahkaam when their makhaarij and sifaat are not good. Yeah my teacher did place great emphasis on it.

and which reciters do you think are the best to help someone learn/improve their tajweed?

Teachers always recommend Hosry and Minshawi. I personally am in love with Minshaawi so I'm biased lol. But after a while, when you know the ahkaam well and are confident, you read in your own style.

Wallaahu'3llam

**Al-Hanbali** · 04-26-2009

^ One of the teachers told us that it is absolutely pivotal that a person first learns the makhaarij, and then after the sifaat of the letters. He gave an analogy:

If you want to propose to someone, you need to first know their father/mother (i.e. al-makhraj). Then you need to know about his/her characteristics and qualities (i.e. as-Sifaat).

Regarding the reciters; almost everyone recommends:

1) al-Qari' Mahmood Khaleel al-Husary
2) al-Qari' Muhammad Siddeeq al-Minshaawi

^ although I prefer Minshaawi; just 'cos he has a little bit more 'tune'.

**Ummu Sufyaan** · 04-27-2009

barakallahu feekumaa

Originally Posted by Silver Pearl

I didn't quite get your question, if you mean, why is it mentioned in section of idghaam, then simply for more clarity and its more appropriate then. If you haven't covered the topic of Idghaam with your teacher then you won't understand. Its about introducing a topic or an aspect in a place where the student will understand well. I'm not sure if I even answered your question lol.

lol nah that was cool. i think i get it now

Jazaakillaah khayr on the extra notes!

wa iyyaki

They are a very important aspect of learning tajweed and becoming better in recitation. Rarely do teachers embark their students on the journey of teaching them ahkaam when their makhaarij and sifaat are not good. Yeah my teacher did place great emphasis on it.

what if your already an Arabic speaker. i mean they would come naturally right, so would it still be necessary? and also if you dont have a teacher, how do you know that you're pronouncing the ahkaam right? or dont you lol

**MinAhlilHadeeth** · 04-27-2009

what if your already an Arabic speaker. i mean they would come naturally right, so would it still be necessary? and also if you dont have a teacher, how do you know that you're pronouncing the ahkaam right? or dont you lol

I'm afraid that isn't at all true. The Qur'aan is not the same as the Arabic spoken today, in it's various forms and accents. Sometimes, you may find that the foreigners can catch on quicker with the sifaat than the Arabs, as they haven't been preconditioned to saying it a certain way all their life. Allaahu A'lam.

And yeah, knowing a7kaam at-Tajweed does not mean that you can recite the Qur'aan correctly. Rather, you need to be taught, and corrected by someone who can recite the Qur'aan correctly themselves. I remember this one sister who teaches tajweed told me that a lot of her students know a7kaam at-tajweed, and believe themselves to have good tajweed. Then they are quite surprised to find that they are reciting the isti'aadha incorrectly, let alone anything else, wAllaahu A'lam.

**Silver Pearl** · 04-27-2009

Wa feeki barakallaah

I wouldn't say it comes naturally because then all arabs would be good at tajweed which they are not but they have an advantage so to speak. lol You won't know, it has to be verified and the way you read needs to be correct and that can only be done if you have a teacher.

The ahkaam isn't usually so much a problem, its makhaarij and sifaat. When I was younger, I was never corrected on my tajweed but I would get corrected on Makhaarij, simply because the ahkaam, you can mimick, you don't need to know the rules to be able to recite with tajweed. But the makhaarij is essential, its the backbone, you need to know.

Wallaahu'3llam

**Al-Hanbali** · 04-27-2009

^

Ukhtee, do you know anything regarding something called 'khunnah' :s The ustaadh had told us that it is basically when a person nasalise the letters when reciting, and apparently a lot of the Saudi reciters do it. Obviously you nasalise on meem/noon ghunnah, but other than that, he was saying it must come purely from the throat.

He said one way you can check is, hold your nose close and recite, for example, al-isti'aadhah. If you nose vibrates other than meem/noon, then your not reciting properly. So yh, is there this principle known as 'khunnah' (not 'ghunnah') ?

**...** · 04-28-2009

If there's anyone who wants to learn the poem off by heart:

http://tadjweed.com/audio/Jamzoory.rm

**Al-Hanbali** · 04-28-2009

Wa 'alaykum salaam wa rahmatullaah wa barakaatuh,

^ MashaAllaah really beautiful...do you know the name of the reciter ?

**Silver Pearl** · 05-02-2009

Originally Posted by Saifur-Rahmaan

^

Ukhtee, do you know anything regarding something called 'khunnah' :s The ustaadh had told us that it is basically when a person nasalise the letters when reciting, and apparently a lot of the Saudi reciters do it. Obviously you nasalise on meem/noon ghunnah, but other than that, he was saying it must come purely from the throat.

He said one way you can check is, hold your nose close and recite, for example, al-isti'aadhah. If you nose vibrates other than meem/noon, then your not reciting properly. So yh, is there this principle known as 'khunnah' (not 'ghunnah') ?

I don't know anything about it except that it is a characteristic found in Saudi reciters as you mentioned, you won't find it in the recitation of the likes of Husry and AbdulBaasit. Its just nasal sound exaggerated and obvious which is surpressed with other recitators. Where this opinion raises from, I don't know but it sounds interesting, perhaps ask your teacher again and share what you learn Inshaa'Allaah.

Jazaakillaah khayr Rose!

It says the recitor is: Ahmad Aadil Umran.

**Mujahidah4Allah** · 05-08-2009

just adding in to the Izhaar Mutlaq, correct me if i'm wrong, but i think the following four words:
دنيا -Dunya& صنـوانٍ-Sinwaan) and also قنوان Qinwaan& بنيان bonyaan

have idghaam bi ghunna letters after nun saakin, because there maybe some words you may come across which have idghaam bi ghunna letters after nun saakin/tanween in one word that can be pronounced... i'll try and give an example next time inshaAllah

wa/salam