The Legal and Theological Obligation of Learning Tajwīd and Qirā’āt in Qur’ānic Recitation

Abstract

This article emphasizes the obligatory nature of learning Tajwīd (the science of proper Qur’ānic pronunciation) and Qirā’āt (the canonical modes of Qur’ānic recitation), asserting that correct recitation of the Qur’ān is a religious duty, not a supplementary skill. It critiques the negligence seen among educators and preachers who often delay Tajwīd instruction, assuming it can be corrected later during memorization (ḥifẓ), ignoring that only 1–2% of students follow such advanced paths. Through extensive evidence from the Qur’ān, ḥadīth, and classical scholarship, the article demonstrates that Tajwīd is rooted in divine instruction transmitted from Allah to the Prophet ﷺ through Jibrīl and taught rigorously to the Companions. Mispronunciation or failure to observe the rules of Tajwīd is equated with distorting Allah’s words, which is strongly condemned. The article calls for an urgent pedagogical shift in mosques, schools, and homes: to instill the correct rules of Tajwīd from the very beginning of a child’s Qur’ānic education, thereby preserving the sanctity and authenticity of Allah’s final revelation.