Complete Tajweed Rules Reference

Connecting Hamza — silent when preceded by another word.

When you continue reciting without stopping, the Hamzat Wasl at the start of a word is skipped entirely — your voice flows straight into the next letter without a glottal stop.

Solar Lam — assimilated into the following letter, no pause.

The "al-" prefix loses its Lam sound and fully merges into the next letter. You hear a doubled first letter instead — so "al-shams" sounds like "ash-shams".

Natural elongation — hold for exactly 2 counts.

Every long vowel (alif, waw, ya) gets exactly 2 beat counts — no more, no less. Think of it as a steady, even stretch: one-two.

Separated Madd — may be elongated 2, 4 or 5 counts.

When a long vowel at the end of one word is followed by a Hamza at the start of the next word, you may stretch it 2, 4 or 5 counts. Pick one length and stay consistent throughout your recitation.

Connected Madd — must be elongated 4 or 5 counts.

When a long vowel and a Hamza appear inside the same word, the elongation is obligatory — you must hold it for 4 or 5 counts. Dropping to 2 is a mistake.

Obligatory Madd — must be held for exactly 6 counts.

When a long vowel is followed by a letter with a shaddah or sukoon in the same word, hold for exactly 6 counts — no flexibility. This is one of the strictest madd rules.

Nasalization — hold the nasal sound through the nose for 2 counts.

When Noon or Meem has a shaddah, vibrate the nasal passage for 2 full counts. Your mouth shape stays still — all the sound comes through your nose.

Concealment — between clear Noon and full Idgham, with light nasalization.

When a silent Noon or tanween meets one of 15 specific letters, you "hide" the Noon — tongue doesn't touch the roof, but a light nasal hum continues for 2 counts before moving to the next letter.

Labial concealment — conceal the Meem before Baa with light nasalization.

When a silent Meem is followed by Ba, keep your lips slightly apart (don't fully close for a Meem sound) and let a nasal hum pass through for 2 counts.

Conversion — change Noon/Tanween to Meem sound before Baa.

When a silent Noon or tanween meets Ba, convert it to a Meem sound and hold the nasalization for 2 counts. Your lips close briefly as if saying "m" before releasing into the Ba.

Merge Noon/Tanween into the next letter with nasalization.

When a silent Noon or tanween meets Ya, Nun, Meem or Waw at the start of the next word, completely merge into it with a 2-count nasal hum. The Noon disappears — only the merged letter with ghunnah remains.

Merge Noon/Tanween into Lam or Ra with no nasalization.

When a silent Noon or tanween meets Lam or Ra, merge completely and silently — no nasal hum at all. It should sound as though the Noon was never there.

Labial merging — Meem merges into following Meem.

When a silent Meem is followed by another Meem, merge them into one doubled Meem with a clear 2-count ghunnah. Think of it as one long "mmm" sound.

Merge two letters sharing the same articulation point.

Two letters that share the same point of articulation (like Ta into Dal, or Tha into Dhal) merge into one. The first disappears into the second — no double sound, just one smooth letter.

Merge two letters with close articulation points.

Two letters produced near the same point in the mouth (like Qaf into Kaf) merge together. The first letter blends smoothly into the second without a noticeable break.

Echo bounce — a slight vibrating echo when the letter has sukoon.

The 5 Qalqalah letters (ق ط ب ج د) produce a small vibrating echo when they carry a sukoon. Imagine a light "bounce" or release of air at the end — like a subtle pop.