Core tajwid rules

Idgham means merging the pronunciation of one letter into the next so that the two sound as a single, doubled letter. It applies most commonly to a silent noon (ن ساكنة) or tanwin followed by one of six specific letters: ي، ر، م، ل، و، ن.

Ikhfa means hiding the noon sound — pronouncing it partially, without full articulation, while adding a nasal ghunna. It applies when a noon sakinah or tanwin is followed by one of fifteen 'ikhfa letters'.

Iqlab means converting the noon sound into a meem sound with a ghunna. It applies in exactly one situation: a noon sakinah or tanwin immediately followed by the letter ب.

Izhar means clear, unhindered pronunciation of the noon — no ghunna, no merging, no hiding. It applies before the six throat letters (ء، ه، ع، ح، غ، خ).

Madd means lengthening a vowel sound. The three long-vowel letters (ا ي و) create a natural madd of two counts whenever they follow a matching short vowel. Additional counts apply when a hamza or sukoon follows.

Qalqalah is a small echo or bouncing sound added when one of five specific letters carries a sukoon (silence). The five qalqalah letters are ق، ط، ب، ج، د — commonly memorised as 'quṭbu jaddin'.

Ghunna is a nasal hum held for approximately two counts. It is produced through the nasal cavity while the mouth is closed for a meem or noon.

Waqf is the practice of stopping at a permissible point during recitation. The Mushaf marks these with small symbols (ه، ط، ج، ز، ص، لا) indicating whether the stop is mandatory, recommended, permitted or forbidden.