Tajweed & Makharij — Correct and Beautiful Recitation
Tajweed is learned by reciting, not by memorising theory. In these one-to-one classes the teacher first corrects the makharij — the places of articulation of each letter — then introduces each rule at the point the student meets it in the page they are reading.
Who it is for
Students who can read Arabic letters and want accurate, fluent recitation, including adults correcting habits formed in childhood.
How long it takes
Makharij correction usually takes 4 to 8 weeks. The full Tajweed rule set, applied confidently, takes 6 to 12 months at 3 classes a week.
Course levels and entry requirements
Level 1 — Makharij
You can join if: Reads Arabic letters with harakat.
The 17 points of articulation, the heavy and light letters, and the sifaat that change a letter’s sound.
Level 2 — Core rules
You can join if: Pronounces letters correctly in isolation.
Noon sakinah and tanween (izhar, idgham, iqlab, ikhfa), meem sakinah, ghunnah and its length.
Level 3 — Madd and qalqalah
You can join if: Applies the core rules while reading slowly.
The types of madd with their counts, qalqalah letters, and the laam of the name of Allah.
Level 4 — Fluency and waqf
You can join if: Applies rules without prompting.
Rules of stopping and starting, breath control, and reciting with rhythm and correct pace.
What the student will be able to do
- Produce every Arabic letter from its correct makhraj, including the letters commonly confused in English-speaking homes
- Identify and apply the rules of noon sakinah, tanween and meem sakinah while reciting
- Hold ghunnah and madd for their correct counts without counting aloud
- Stop and start at permitted places without breaking the meaning
- Recite a page of the mushaf fluently with correct Tajweed and be ready for Hifz
What happens in a typical lesson
- Warm-up recitation of the previous page while the teacher notes errors
- Correction of two or three specific errors, with the makhraj demonstrated and imitated
- New rule explained in English with examples from the current surah
- The student reads the new page applying the rule, sentence by sentence
- Homework: the same page practised aloud, with the parent or student recording it if useful
Makharij: where correct recitation begins
Students raised outside the Arab world usually substitute the nearest English sound for letters such as ع, ح, ق, ط, ص and ض. Teachers isolate these letters, show the exact point of articulation, and drill them in pairs until the difference is consistent and automatic.
Rules taught as you read, not as a list
- Izhar, idgham, iqlab and ikhfa for noon sakinah and tanween
- Idgham shafawi, ikhfa shafawi and izhar shafawi for meem sakinah
- Ghunnah, and how long it is held
- Madd asli and the secondary madd types with their counts
- Qalqalah and its degrees
- Rules of waqf and ibtida: where stopping is permitted and where it changes the meaning
Female teachers available
Sisters, and parents of daughters, can request a qualified female teacher for this course and for every stage of Hifz that follows it.
How progress is measured
- Recitation assessment in the free class, recording which letters and rules need work
- Rule-by-rule checks: the student must apply a rule unprompted before the next is introduced
- Monthly report listing rules mastered, rules in progress, and fluency notes
- Final recitation test and a Tajweed completion certificate
What this course costs
The same monthly fee covers any course, so you pay for how often you study rather than which subject you choose. Billed monthly, cancel before the next billing date, no registration fee.
- 2 days a week — 8 lessons a month — £20 a month
- 3 days a week — 12 lessons a month — £28 a month
- 4 days a week — 16 lessons a month — £35 a month
- 5 days a week — 20 lessons a month — £42 a month
- The first lesson is a free level assessment. No card details are taken.
Common questions
Do I need to understand Arabic to learn Tajweed?
No. You need to read Arabic script. The rules are explained in English, and understanding Arabic as a language is a separate course.
I learned to read as a child but make mistakes. Where do I start?
With makharij. The free assessment identifies which letters and rules need correction, and the teacher starts there rather than at the beginning of a fixed syllabus.
How long until I recite correctly?
Most students apply the core rules within 6 to 12 months of regular classes. Refinement of recitation continues beyond that.
Can Tajweed really be taught online, or do I need a teacher in the room?
Tajweed is corrected by ear, so almost all of it carries over. The teacher hears the makharij, the ghunnah, the length of a madd, and corrects it the moment it happens. The part a screen handles worse is watching the mouth closely, so teachers ask students to bring the camera nearer for the letters where that matters.
Do I learn the Tajweed rules as theory or while reciting?
While reciting. A rule is introduced at the point you meet it on the page you are reading, then named and explained. Learning the whole rule list first and applying it later is how students end up able to recite the definition of ikhfa but not to perform it.
Can my child learn Quran recitation online with Tajweed from the start?
Yes, once they read joined words from the Qaida. Starting Tajweed early is easier than correcting a reading habit built over years without it.
How long before my recitation sounds noticeably better?
Most students hear a difference in their own makharij within six to eight weeks. Full application of the rules without thinking about them takes most people one to two years of steady practice. Anyone offering it in a month is describing theory, not recitation.