Tajweed Rules: Isti‘ādhah, Basmalah, and Tafkheem/Tarqeeq

Rules of Seeking Refuge (Isti‘ādhah) and Saying the Basmalah First

Isti‘ādhah (االستعاذة) Definitions: - Linguistic Definition: It means to seek protection and refuge. - Technical Definition: It refers to seeking protection and refuge in Allah from the accursed Satan.
Formulation and Preferred Phrases: - Several valid forms exist for Isti‘ādhah. - Commonly Preferred Formulation: "أعوذ بالله من الشيطان الرجيم" (“I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed devil”). This specific phrase is supported by revelation occurring at the start of the Qur’anic descent.
The Ruling on Isti‘ādhah (حكمها): - Scholars do not have a unanimous agreement on whether it is obligatory (Wajib) or recommended (Mandub). - The Majority View: Most scholars consider it preferable (recommended) to recite it before beginning the recitation of the Qur'an based on established practice. - The Alternative View: Another group of scholars asserts that it is obligatory to mention it at the beginning of recitation.

Cases of Seeking Refuge (Isti‘ādhah) Aloud vs. Silent

Situations for Aloud Recitation (Jahr): There are two specific cases where seeking refuge is done loudly: 1. When the reciter is reading aloud and people are present and listening to them. 2. When the reciter is reading aloud among a group and they are the one initiating (starting) the recitation.
Situations for Silent Recitation (Isrār): There are four specific cases where seeking refuge is done silently: 1. When the reciter is reading aloud but no one is present to listen. 2. When the reciter is reading among a group but is not the one initiating the recitation. 3. When the reciter is reading silently, whether they are alone or in a group. 4. During formal prayer (Salah), regardless of whether the person is the Imam, a follower, or praying individually.

Rules and Definitions of Al-Basmalah

Definition of Al-Basmalah: - Derived from the past verb "Basmel". - Translation/Meaning: “In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful” (بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم).
The Rulings on Al-Basmalah: - At the Beginning of Surahs: It is obligatory for all reciters at the start of every surah. - The Exception of Surah At-Tawbah (Bara’ah): The Basmalah is prohibited/not recited at the beginning of this surah. - In the Middle of Surahs: Reciting it is recommended. The reciter is given the choice to either include it or omit it.

Permissible Ways of Starting and Connecting Surahs

Ways to Start Any Surah (Except Surat Bara’ah): - There are four permissible methods involving the Isti‘ādhah (1st), Basmalah (2nd), and the First Ayah (3rd): 1. Connecting All: Reciting the Isti‘ādhah, Basmalah, and the first verse in one breath without pausing. 2. Connecting First with Second and Disconnecting the Third: Joining Isti‘ādhah and Basmalah together, then pausing before the first verse. 3. Disconnecting First with Second and Connecting the Third: Reciting Isti‘ādhah, pausing, then joining the Basmalah with the first verse. 4. Disconnecting All: Pausing between the Isti‘ādhah and the Basmalah, and pausing again between the Basmalah and the first verse.
Starting from the Middle of a Surah: - If including the Basmalah: All four methods used for the start of a surah are permissible (Connect all, connect 1-2, connect 2-3, or disconnect all). - If omitting the Basmalah: Only two methods are used: 1. Start with Isti‘ādhah and pause before the first verse. 2. Start with Isti‘ādhah and join it directly to the first verse without pausing. - Note: Saying the Basmalah even in the middle of a surah remains preferable.
Connecting Two Surahs in Quranic Order: - When transitioning from the end of one surah (1st) through the Basmalah (2nd) to the start of the next surah (3rd): 1. Connecting All: Joining the end of the previous surah, the Basmalah, and the start of the new surah. 2. Disconnecting All: Pausing after the first surah ends and pausing after the Basmalah. 3. Disconnecting First and Connecting Second/Third: Pausing at the end of the first surah, then joining the Basmalah with the start of the next surah. 4. The Prohibited Way: Connecting the end of the first surah with the Basmalah and then pausing before the third (the start of the second surah). This is forbidden because it implies the Basmalah belongs to the end of the previous surah.

Pauses (Sakts) According to the Recitation of Hafs

Overview of Sakts: Hafs has six total pauses in the Qur'an.
Obligatory Pauses (4 Total): 1. Surat Al-Kahf: On the word "عِوَجَا" (Iwaja). 2. Surat Yasin: On the words "مَن بَعَثَنَا" [Transcript text: "َا رق َ ِدن مَ "] (Man ba‘athana). 3. Surat Al-Qiyamah: On the words "مَن رَّاق" (Man raaq). 4. Surat Al-Mutaffifin: On the words "بَل رَانَ" (Bal raana).
Permissible Pauses (2 Total): 1. Between Surah Al-Anfal and Surah Al-Tawbah (Bara’ah). 2. In Surat Al-Haqqah: On the words "مَالِيَه" (Maaliyah) and "هَلَكَ" (Halaka).

Tafkheem (Heaviness) and Tarqeeq (Lightness)

Definitions: - Tafkheem (Heaviness): - Linguistic: Heaviness and thickness. - Applied: A heaviness in the sound of the letter that fills the mouth with an echo. - Tarqeeq (Lightness): - Linguistic: Lightness. - Applied: A thinness in the sound of the letter so the mouth does not fill with echo.
Categorization of Letters: 1. Always Heavy: Seven letters grouped in the phrase "خص ضغط قظ". 2. Alternating (Heavy or Light): The letters Alif (ا), Laam (ل), and Raa (ر). 3. Neither Heavy nor Light: Specifically the Alif (ا) in certain contexts. 4. Always Light: All remaining letters of the alphabet.
Rules for the Letter Alif (ألف): - It cannot be described independently as heavy or light. - Rule of Precedence: It follows the letter that precedes it. - If the previous letter is heavy, Alif is heavy (e.g., "قال" - Qaal). - If the previous letter is light, Alif is light (e.g., "شاَ اَ َمع").
Rules for the Letter Laam (اللَّام): - The Origin: The Laam is originally a light letter in the Qur'an. - Special Case - Name of Majesty (Allah/Allahum): - Heavy: If the word before "Allah" or "Allahum" ends in a Fathah or Dammah, or if starting reading with the Name of Allah. - Light: If the letter before the name has a Kasrah.

Detailed Rulings for the Letter Raa (ر)

Cases where Raa is Always Heavy (Tafkheem): 1. If the Raa has a Fathah or Dammah on it. 2. If Raa is Sakinah and the letter before it has a Fathah or Dammah. 3. If Raa is Sakinah, preceded by another Sakinah letter, which is preceded by a letter with Fathah or Dammah. 4. If the Raa Sakinah follows a Hamzatul Wasl (e.g., "ام ارْتَابُوا", "الَّذِي ارْتَضَى", "رَّبِّ ارْحَمْهُمَا"). 5. If the Raa has a Dammah during Wasl (connection) and we stop on it with Rawm. 6. If the Raa is Sakinah (original sukoon) preceded by an original Kasrah, but is followed by a Mostaali (elevated/heavy) letter in the same word that does not have a Kasrah (Examples: "قِرْطَاسِ", "فِرْقَةٍ", "وَإِرْصَادًا", "مِرْصَادًا", "لِبِالْمِرْصَادِ").
Cases where Raa is Always Light (Tarqeeq): 1. If the Raa has a Kasrah on it. 2. If the Raa is Sakinah and preceded by a Kasrah. 3. If the Raa is Sakin, preceded by a Sakin, which is preceded by a letter with a Kasrah (e.g., "السِّحْر"). 4. If the Raa is Sakin and preceded by a Yaa (either Yaa Madd or Yaa Leen, e.g., "قَدِير"). 5. If the Raa has an original Kasrah and we stop on it with Rawm. 6. The "Tilted" Raa (Ra’ al-Maeelah), which occurs in only one word for Hafs: "مَجْريٰهَا" (Majrayha).
Exceptional Cases Rules (Heavy or Light): - Cases where both are allowed but one is preferred: - Light Preferred: "وَنُذر", "فَأَسْرِ", "يَسْرِ". - Heavy/Light Options (Standardized Exceptions): "مِصْر" (Misr) and "الْقِطْر" (Al-Qitr). In "مِصْر", heavy is preferred. In "الْقِطْر", light is preferred. - Special Word: "فِرْق" (Firq) can be heavy or light.