Lahn Jali & Lahn Khafi — Major and Subtle Recitation Errors
tajweed
Level: basic
introduction
tj-097
Lahn linguistically means deviation from correctness. Technically: error in reciting Qur'anic words.
1. Lahn Jali (Obvious Error): Apparent to everyone, affects word structure or meaning.
Examples: changing "An'amta" to "An'amtu", substituting letters ("As-Sirat" for "As-Sirat"), adding/dropping letters.
Ruling: Prohibited by consensus. The deliberate reciter sins.
2. Lahn Khafi (Subtle Error): Only recognized by Tajweed scholars, doesn't affect basic meaning but mars perfection.
Examples: dropping ghunnah, shortening Madd, heavy/light confusion, omitting qalqalah, rushing nasalization.
Ruling: Disliked (makrooh) by majority; some scholars prohibit it if deliberate.
Source: Hidayat Al-Qari by Al-Marsafi (pp. 39-42) | Tuhfat Al-Atfal by Al-Jamzouri
Question: What is the difference between Lahn Jali and Lahn Khafi in ruling, and who detects each?
Answer: Lahn Jali: prohibited by consensus, detectable by all. Lahn Khafi: disliked, only detected by Tajweed experts