Key Objectives of the Science of Tajwīd

[Al-Hanbali]

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
In the name of Allāh, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful


“Key Objectives of the Science of Tajwīd”
Extracted from Fath al-Kabīr al-Mut`āl Fī Sharh Tuhfat al-Atfāl
By Abū Usāmah Hamdi bin Sa`d [Teacher of Qur’ān & Tajwīd in the Prophet’s Mosque, Madīnah]

[I] Recitation of the Qur’ān without lahn al-jaliy (clear mistakes) or lahn al-khafiy (hidden mistakes). Allāh says,

وَرَتِّلِ الْقُرْآنَ تَرْتِيلًا
“And recite the Qur'an with measured recitation.”(1)

And He also says,

الَّذِينَ آتَيْنَاهُمُ الْكِتَابَ يَتْلُونَهُ حَقَّ تِلَاوَتِهِ أُولَٰئِكَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِهِ ۗ وَمَن يَكْفُرْ بِهِ فَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْخَاسِرُونَ
“Those to whom We have given the Book recite it with its true recital. They [are the ones who] believe in it. And whoever disbelieves in it - it is they who are the losers.”(2)

[II] Recitation of the Qur’ān with Tajwīd helps in tadabbur (contemplation), understanding the meanings and enjoying the recitation which leads to khusū` (humility).


[III] Preserving the Qur’ān from distortion, change and replacement since a lot of this occurs amongst those who are not proficient in the science of Tajwīd, and along with that they change the meaning (of the Qur’ān) in their mistakes. Examples:

عسى --- عصى
محظوراً --- محذوراً
مستوراً --- مسطوراً
كربة --- قربة
أبقاراً --- أبكاراً

[IV] Exercising the tongue in reciting the Qur’ān with proficiency also helps in its memorisation. Imam al-Jazari said,

لَـيْـسَ بَـيْـنَـهُ وَبَـيْـنَ تَـرْكِـهِ *** إِلاَّ رِيَـاضَــةُ امْـــرِئٍ بِـفَـكِّــهِ
“There exist nothing between the ability to read with Tajwīd and the lack thereof, other than for a person to practice (continuously) with his jaws.” (3)

This is reached by increasing in reciting to those firmly grounded in this science (i.e. the scholars of Tajwīd), sitting in the gatherings and classes of recitation and the Qur’ān etc.


[V] Reaching the level of proficiency which the Prophet informed us about, in his statement,

‏‏

الْمَاهِرُ بِالْقُرْآنِ مَعَ ‏ ‏السَّفَرَةِ ‏ ‏الْكِرَامِ الْبَرَرَةِ، وَالَّذِي يَقْرَأُ الْقُرْآنَ ‏وَيَتَتَعْتَعُ ‏‏فِيهِ وَهُوَ عَلَيْهِ شَاقٌّ لَهُ أَجْرَانِ
“The one who is proficient in the recitation of the Qur'an will be with the honourable and obedient scribes (angels) and he who recites the Qur'an and finds it difficult to recite, doing his best to recite it in the best way possible, will have a double reward.” (4)

[VI] Proficiency in Tajwīd is received from being under the tutelage of the proficient Scholars; those connected to the Prophet via a chain of narration. Their teaching is the correct teaching and their benefit to others materialises for them the statement of the Prophet,

خيركم من تعلم العلم وعلمه
“The best amongst you are those who learn the Qur’ān and teach it.” (5)

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1 - Muzzammil (73):4

2 - Baqarah (2):121

3 - Mandhūmah al-Jazariyyah

4 - Bukhāri and Muslim

5 - Bukhāri and Muslim

[ayesha.ansari]

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