Madd — the gentle stretch
المد
When you see a long vowel (ا و ي), stretch the sound for two little beats. Like ba… not just ba.
قَالَ
تجويد للأطفال
Learn Tajweed for Kids
Tajweed means "to make beautiful." It's how we say each letter of the Qur'an the right way — so the words come out clean and pretty, the way Prophet Muhammad ﷺ heard them from Jibrīl. Tap any card to listen.
Step 1
The 28 Arabic letters (Ḥurūf)
Every letter has a home in your mouth — the lips, the tongue, the throat. Tap and listen.
- اAlifa
- بBaab
- تTaat
- ثThaath (as in think)
- جJeemj
- حḤaadeep h
- خKhaakh (throat)
- دDaald
- ذDhaalth (as in this)
- رRaar (rolled)
- زZayz
- سSeens
- شSheensh
- صṢaadheavy s
- ضḌaadheavy d
- طṬaaheavy t
- ظẒaaheavy th
- ع'Aynthroat 'a
- غGhayngargled gh
- فFaaf
- قQaafdeep k
- كKaafk
- لLaaml
- مMeemm
- نNoonn
- هHaasoft h
- وWaaww / oo
- يYaay / ee
Step 2
The little marks (Ḥarakāt)
These tiny signs above and below letters tell you how to say them.
- بَFatḥaA short 'a' — like ba.
- بِKasraA short 'i' — like bi.
- بُḌammaA short 'u' — like bu.
- بْSukūnNo vowel — the letter rests, like 'b'.
- بّShaddaDouble the letter — hold it, like b-ba.
Step 3
The friendly rules
Ghunnah — the nose hum
الغنة
On ن and م with a shadda, hum through your nose for two beats. Pinch your nose and you'll feel it buzz.
إِنَّ
Qalqalah — the little bounce
القلقلة
Five letters bounce when they have sukūn: ق ط ب ج د. Say them with a soft echo — like a small drum.
أَحَدْ
Heavy & light letters
التفخيم والترقيق
Some letters are heavy (ص ض ط ظ ق غ خ) — say them from the back of the mouth. Others are light — say them softly from the front.
اللَّهُ ٱكْبَر
Step 4
Practise together
Say each line slowly. Listen first, then try with your grown-up.
- بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِBismillāh
- الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَAlḥamdulillāh Rabbil-'ālamīn
- قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌQul Huwa Allāhu Aḥad
- إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُIyyāka na'budu wa iyyāka nasta'īn
A little reminder
The Prophet ﷺ said: "The one who recites the Qur'an beautifully, skilfully, and precisely will be in the company of the noble angels. And the one who recites with difficulty, stumbling through it, will have a double reward." (Bukhāri & Muslim). Every try counts. 🌙
Want more? Ask the Coach to explain any letter or rule.