Definition:
Linguistically: Beautification and mastery.
Technically: A science that teaches giving each letter its rights (essential qualities) and due rights (contextual qualities) — articulation, characteristics, lengthening, lightening, and heaviness.
Subject: The Qur'anic words from the perspective of their pronunciation.
Goal: Protecting the tongue from error in Allah's Book, achieving perfection in recitation as received from the Prophet ﷺ.
Founder: Imams of recitation, taken from the Prophet ﷺ by audition. First independent author:
Abu Muzahim Al-Khaqani (d. 325H) in his famed "Ra'iyyah" poem.
Ruling:
- Learning the theory: collective obligation (fard kifayah)
- Applying it in recitation: individual obligation (fard 'ayn) on every sane adult Muslim reciter
Virtue: Ibn Al-Jazari: "Applying Tajweed is a binding decree — whoever does not recite Qur'an with Tajweed has sinned."
Question: What is the ruling on learning Tajweed theoretically and applying it practically?
Answer: Theoretical learning: collective obligation (fard kifayah). Practical application in recitation: individual obligation (fard ayn) — what Ibn Al-Jazari meant by "binding decree"