Perfection is the Enemy of Progress
by: Saif Omar
TAJWID: A NECESSITY FOR A QUR’ĀNIC ARABIC JOURNEY
by Saif Omar, Fawakih Founder & CEO
My Tajwid Story
Dozens of instructors across town… bad parts of town. adult store bathroom.
Arab Uncles. Random. No rules, just correction, but not knowing what mistake I made or why. Just rote repetition. Same approach for Arabic, immersion. Works when you are young, immersed, and have unlimited time. Not for adults, non-natives in larger groups.
Desi Qaris
Pakistan Malwi Sahabs
“Surah Time” — Money (fb article?)
Oral Transmission Of The Quran
The transmission, memorization, and teaching of the Qur’ān traditionally has been primarily
oral. In fact, some translate the word “al-Qur’ān” as “The Recital,” connected to the word qirā’a
meaning recitation.
While verses of the Qur’ān were written down in the Prophetic period and compiled shortly
thereafter by his successors, the oral transmission has remained intact, and the words are
passed from heart to heart through isnād (chains of narrations comprised of narrators) to
maintain authenticity.
ِّ
ِّل
ت
َ
ر
َ
و
َ
ْآن
ر
ُ
ق
ْ
ال
ً
تِّيل
ْ
ر
ت ٤ َ
Recite the Qur’ān with measured recitation. [73:4]
Preservation of Revelation
The science of Tajwīd developed in order to preserve the
accuracy of the oral transmission. Particularly as Islam, and the
study of the Quran, spread beyond the traditionally Arabic-
speaking lands in a very swift manner, standardizing the points
of articulation (makhārij) and the rules of proper recitation
became essential to maintain accuracy.
The level of effort placed on this science of pronunciation not only preserved the Qur’ān for
generations, but also Classical Arabic language. We can also see how quickly a language can
change. Not only is American English pronounced different from British English within just a
few hundred years and due to an ocean in between, but many would be hard pressed to even
understand much of what Shakespeare wrote despite English being their mother tongue.
Whereas not understanding Shakespeare is a loss to anyone who wants to study the heights of
the English language, the loss of not understanding the Qur’ān would be a lot more
detrimental to civilization, particularly those who aim to abide by its teaching.
“Learning Arabic is a journey, like climbing a mountain or running a marathon, not like constructing a house.”
Meaning Lost without Sound
Even those who do not understand the Qur’ān can be impacted by its recitation. While the
beauty of the reciter’s voice can be moving, but even the manner in which the Qur’ān’s letters
and elongations manifest creates rhythm, rhyming patterns, and stoppages that directly
impact meaning. This we call the “Sound Effect.” For example, some scholars discuss how the
letters comprising words about paradise sound more pleasant to the ear than letters
comprising words about descriptions of hellfire. A skilled reciter is able to connect their
recitation to the topic being recited, thus enhancing the meaning conveyed.
Incorporating Tajwid within the Study of Arabic
While tajwīd has been considered of the more important Islamic sciences, it has generally
been taught as a standalone subject, not often integrated within the study of the Arabic
language. However, we believe at Fawakih that a student cannot truly progress in their study
of Qur’ānic Arabic without a foundation in tajwīd. While they need not necessarily master
tajwid, their ability to read the Qur’ān fluently and accurately (given the impact tajwid can
have on meaning and script) should be part of their study of Arabic. Fawakih integrates tajwid
into each of its 6 levels of study within the “C” semesters.
We hope this approach of integrating the structure and sound of the language allows students
to appreciate the richness of the Qur’ān’s meaning and its eloquence more fully.
Chefchaouen MOROCCO
What I’ve learned from advising and observing thousands of students on their Arabic journey, the best way to solidify learning in your current level is to take the next one. Only from level 2 do you truly begin to appreciate your progress in level 1. By learning more advanced topics, the earlier topics sink in. It's as if the new content compresses the older content, making it look easy! Learning Quranic Arabic is a journey like climbing a mountain or running a marathon, not like constructing a house. There's no staying still, it’s either up or down, forward or backward. Either you are progressing and moving up towards the peak, or you start sliding down.
“Learning Quranic Arabic is a messy process, not a linear path, with a series of breakthroughs and plateaus. It ends up requiring more heart than mind.”
The worst thing is to stop or separate from your climbing buddies. The way to the top is to keep moving together. Whether you go through a storm and are thrown off track for a bit or you are tired, keep moving, even if you’ve slowed down and are just inching forward. Once someone stops, it's very difficult to make it to the top. Ninety percent of students who take extended time off (more than 1 semester) their Fawakih journey never come back to finish their journey. Life happens. Like in a mountain climb, once you stop moving, the cold sets in and the doubts start creeping into your mind. It's very difficult to catch up and get back into it. You end up going to basecamp and waiting to hear stories from the others who made it to the top.
A few practical tips, if you must take time off:
Have and communicate a clear timeline
Hold yourself accountable by registering for the next level
Keep a steady routine of review and study during your sabbatical
Stay in touch with your coach to stay committed and connected