al-Tamhid fi Ilm al-Tajwid
- Author died
- 833 AH
- Editions
- Maktabat al-Ma'arif
al-Tamhid fi Ilm al-Tajwid (The Introduction to the Science of Tajwid) is a classical manual on the rules of Quranic recitation composed by the Shafi'i scholar and master of Quranic readings, Ibn al-Jazari (d. 833 AH / 1429 CE) .
Composition and Purpose
Ibn al-Jazari authored the work in his youth during his early pursuit of the Quranic disciplines . He finished writing it on Saturday, 5 Dhu al-Hijjah 769 AH, shortly after midday at al-Madrasa al-Zahiriyya (Bayn al-Qasrayn) in Cairo, though another manuscript copy records the year of completion as 779 AH . At the end of the manuscript, he granted general transmission authorization (ijaza) for the book to all Muslims .
The author stated that his motive for compiling the treatise was observing that both beginner reciters and advanced practitioners of his time had neglected refining their pronunciation of the Quran and freeing their delivery from phonetic faults . Consequently, he composed a concise guide aimed at stimulating the inactive student, fulfilling the needs of the proficient, and serving the advanced scholar .
Structure and Content
The work opens with praise of God for making the Quran a lamp for the hearts of His allies and is divided into ten chapters . It closes with a selection of transmitted supplications prescribed for concluding the recitation of the entire Quran (khatm al-Quran) .
In the book, Ibn al-Jazari formulated his definition of tajwid as giving letters their intrinsic dues, ranks, and order; restoring each letter to its articulation point and origin; matching it with its phonetic counterpart; and refining its pronunciation without excess, strain, exaggeration, or affectation . He also addressed the rules of pausing (waqf), highlighting that earlier scholars had formulated comprehensive general principles as well as verse-by-verse details for its various categories .
Editions
The text was printed in Egypt in 1326 AH (1908 CE) . Critical editions were later published by Ali Husayn al-Bawwab in Riyadh (1405 AH / 1985 CE) and by Ghanim Qadduri al-Hamad (1407 AH) .
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