Islamic & Quranic Glossary
Explore key terms in Quranic recitation, Tajweed, Islamic sciences, and Quran education — explained clearly for learners at every level.
25 terms covering Tajweed rules, Quranic sciences, and Islamic education concepts.
Ayah آية
An Ayah (plural: Ayat) is a verse of the Quran. The word Ayah also means 'sign' or 'miracle' in Arabic, reflecting the b...
Learn more →Ghunna غنة
Ghunna is the nasal resonance that characterizes certain Arabic letters — primarily Noon (ن) and Meem (م) — when they ap...
Learn more →Hadr حدر
Hadr is the fastest of the three recognized speeds of Quranic recitation in Tajweed. While fast, Hadr does not excuse an...
Learn more →Hifz حفظ
Hifz refers to the memorization of the Quran in its entirety. A person who has memorized the complete Quran is called a ...
Learn more →Idgham إدغام
Idgham means 'merging' or 'assimilation' in Tajweed. It refers to the rule where a Noon Sakinah (Noon without vowel) or ...
Learn more →Ijazah إجازة
An Ijazah is a formal certification in Islamic scholarship that authorizes a student to teach or transmit what they have...
Learn more →Ikhfa إخفاء
Ikhfa means 'hiding' or 'concealment' in Tajweed. It describes a state between clear pronunciation (Izhar) and complete ...
Learn more →Iqlab إقلاب
Iqlab means 'conversion' or 'turning over.' In Tajweed, it describes a rule that applies when Noon Sakinah or Tanween is...
Learn more →Izhar إظهار
Izhar means 'clarification' or 'clear pronunciation.' In Tajweed, it refers to the rule requiring the Noon Sakinah or Ta...
Learn more →Lahn لحن
Lahn refers to errors in Quranic recitation. The word means 'melody' in general Arabic usage, but in Tajweed terminology...
Learn more →Madd مد
Madd (elongation) refers to the lengthening of a vowel sound in Quranic recitation. The Quran contains specific letters ...
Learn more →Makharij مخارج
Makharij al-Huruf (plural of Makhraj) refers to the articulation points — the specific locations in the mouth, throat, a...
Learn more →Meem Sakinah ميم ساكنة
Meem Sakinah refers to the letter Meem (م) when it carries a sukoon, making it quiescent. Like Noon Sakinah, Meem Sakina...
Learn more →Noon Sakinah نون ساكنة
Noon Sakinah refers to the letter Noon (ن) when it carries a sukoon (no vowel mark), making it quiescent — neither moved...
Learn more →Qalqalah قلقلة
Qalqalah is a Tajweed rule requiring a slight 'echo' or bouncing vibration in the pronunciation of five specific Arabic ...
Learn more →Quran قرآن
The Quran (also spelled Qur'an or Koran) is the central religious text of Islam, regarded by Muslims as the literal word...
Learn more →Seerah سيرة
Seerah (literally 'way of walking' or 'conduct') is the comprehensive biography of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon h...
Learn more →Surah سورة
A Surah is a chapter of the Quran. The Quran contains 114 surahs, ranging in length from the 286-verse Surah Al-Baqarah ...
Learn more →Tadweer تدوير
Tadweer is sometimes identified as an intermediate recitation speed between Tarteel and Hadr — slower than Hadr but fast...
Learn more →Tafseer تفسير
Tafseer is the scholarly discipline of interpreting and explaining the Quran. The word comes from the Arabic root f-s-r,...
Learn more →Tajweed تجويد
Tajweed is the science of reciting the Quran with correct pronunciation, intonation, and rhythm as established by the Pr...
Learn more →Tanwin تنوين
Tanwin is the double vowel mark in Arabic that appears at the end of indefinite nouns, indicating a nunation sound — a N...
Learn more →Tarteel ترتيل
Tarteel refers to the measured, deliberate, and beautiful recitation of the Quran — the middle speed between the slowest...
Learn more →Tilawah تلاوة
Tilawah means the recitation of the Quran — specifically the act of reading it aloud with proper Tajweed and spiritual p...
Learn more →Waqf وقف
Waqf in Tajweed refers to the rules governing where and how to pause during Quran recitation. The word Waqf means 'stopp...
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