The Holy Quran is the Word of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى). It is the sacred text revealed to our beloved Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). It is a Book that must be used as a guide if we live our lives as true Muslims. Reciting the Holy Quran is an essential component of showing respect and love for the Scripture.
Quranic recitation is also important because it is among the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (ﷺ). Many Muslims recite the Quran, yet many do not have Arabic as their native language. This means there may be mistakes with the recitation that may go unnoticed.
Common Tajweed Mistakes Made During Quranic Recitation
Here are the most common Tajweed mistakes people usually make:
Mispronouncing the Words
Even when people learn how to pronounce the individual Arabic alphabets, they can pronounce words incorrectly. Mispronunciations can occur even when you have learned to use accent marks. The Arabic language is quite unique and is among the toughest languages to master.
People who have studied the basics of Arabic may not be aware of the subtleties of pronouncing certain words or combinations of letters. Such understanding comes only when you learn an advanced version of the language. Some alphabets may change sound when used in combination with other specific alphabets.
The wrong pronunciation is a major problem since it can change the meaning of a word and the context in which it is being used. The Holy Quran is a sacred text preserved in its original form for over 1,400 years. This is why mispronunciations are a major issue that must be addressed.
Incorrect Pauses
Quranic recitation has very specific rules regarding when to stop and when to go on reciting. There are places where only a short pause is required, while in other places, you can either stop or keep on reading. Non-native speakers of Arabic frequently make these mistakes and stop at the wrong time to catch their breath.
The issue arises because when you do not understand the meaning of what you are reading, you may not realize that stopping or pausing at a certain word may change the meaning completely.
The length and timing of pauses are also used as a linguistic technique to emphasize certain words or phrases. Incorrect pausing or failing to pause makes the technique ineffectual. Failing to time the breath correctly also distorts the rhythm and flow of the verse being recited.
Mistakes with Vowel Elongation
Vowels in Arabic may be pronounced differently depending on the usage. This modification of the vowel sound is not unique to Arabic. In English, for example, the vowel sound may change when a consonant and another vowel follow it.
Arabic vowels should be elongated in some places and shortened in others. Most non-Arabic speakers simply learn the basic phonics and do not realize that the sounds of letters, especially vowels, have to be modified depending on their usage.
Failure to lengthen or shorten vowels leads to incorrect pronunciation of words. This leads to a change in the meaning of the recitation.
Incorrectly Applying Stress to Letters
Some letters in Arabic are always pronounced with a stress. This is also known as Tafkheem. These letters are pronounced with a heavy sound. These letters make use of the throat sound. Not adding the signature thickness or stress results in incorrect Tajweed and a flawed recitation of the Quran.
Not Maintaining the Flow
Proper Tajweed dictates that the flow of recitation is consistent throughout. A common mistake is variation in the speed of recitation. If you do not understand Arabic and are simply reciting it, there is a high chance that there are certain verses or chapters that you are more familiar with than others.
For example, most Muslims know Surah al-Fatiha by heart because it is an essential component of the five daily prayers. This may cause the person reciting The Quran to read verses they are familiar with quickly while slowing down on other verses. This causes unnecessary disruption in the slow of the recitation.
Inconsistent flow is not noticeable for those who do not understand Arabic. However, those who do know exactly why this is a major mistake. Just imagine talking with an inconsistent pace in the language you understand and see how strange it sounds.
How to Avoid Mistakes in Tajweed
Following are the ways that can help you avoid mistakes with Tajweed:
Proper Learning
Learn Arabic from a qualified teacher. Do not just get a person who knows Arabic or is a native speaker. A teacher will help you learn the language and key linguistic tools in a structured and organized manner. They will help you develop the basic foundation of language and grasp nuances that people are generally unaware of.
Learning through Listening
Aside from learning Quranic recitation from an expert teacher, you can develop and perfect your recitation by listening to Arabic recitations of the Quran. Free online resources are available in a variety of formats. Visit here to get audio and translations of all six Kalmas, for instance.
Listen to Tajweed and identify your mistakes. This self-learning must be an ongoing process. You will notice a significant improvement over time.
Pay Attention to Accent Marks
Diacritics or accent marks are found in most versions of the Holy Quran. These markings provide a guide to correct pronunciation of letters and prevent many of the common mistakes made during recitation. Many copies of the Holy Quran also contain Rumooz-e-Auqaf. These are symbols that indicate whether you need to stop, take a short pause, or keep on reading.
Keep on Reciting
Mastering Tajweed requires practice. It takes a long time to get the pronunciations just right. Constant practice is the only way to overcome mistakes. Recite and practice the correct Tajweed. Over time, the rules and pronunciations will become easy, and you will make fewer mistakes.
Perfecting Recitation
The Holy Quran is a book of infinite wisdom filled with Divine guidance. It is a gift from our Lord Almighty (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى). It is a Book that Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) has taken the responsibility to preserve and safeguard Himself. We must also treat it with respect.
Muslims are required to recite the Holy Quran in Arabic. We may not know the language, but we need to learn the basics just enough so we can recite the Holy Book. Mistakes and misconceptions are inevitable since learning a new language is never easy. However, we must learn to push through the challenges and learn proper Tajweed.
Mistakes with incorrect pronunciations can lead to changes in the meaning of words and verses. This should be avoided at all costs. Learning Tajweed is a continuous process. It is hard but worth the effort because Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) will provide us with a reward for our struggles.