The Jazariyyah Tajweed Poem

Key Takeaways

The Jazariyyah is a 107-line Arabic didactic poem composed by Imam Ibn al-Jazari covering all foundational Tajweed rules.

Ibn al-Jazari identified 17 articulation points (makharij) for Arabic letters, a position adopted by the majority of Tajweed scholars.

The Jazariyyah poem declares reciting Quran without Tajweed sinful.

Memorizing the Jazariyyah equips students with a structured theoretical framework essential for pursuing Ijazah certification.

The poem covers makharij, sifat, nun sakinah rules, madd, waqf, and more — all in sequential, memorizable verse.

The Jazariyyah tajweed poem is not simply an academic text — it is the backbone of classical Tajweed education worldwide. Written by Imam Shams al-Din Muhammad ibn al-Jazari in the 8th century AH, this 107-line didactic poem distills every essential Tajweed rule into memorizable verse. Generations of scholars, students, and Qaris have committed it to memory as a prerequisite for serious Quranic study.

What makes the Jazariyyah indispensable is its unmatched structural precision. Every major topic — from makharij al-huruf (articulation points) to sifat (letter attributes), madd rules, and waqf (stopping) principles — is organized sequentially, creating a complete theoretical map of Tajweed that students carry internally. Mastering it is not optional for those pursuing Ijazah; it is a foundational requirement.

What Is the Jazariyyah Tajweed Poem and Why Does It Matter

The Jazariyyah is a classical Arabic didactic poem (urjuzah) composed by Imam Ibn al-Jazari as an introductory yet authoritative text in Tajweed science. It establishes what every Quran reciter is obligated to know before beginning formal recitation — covering articulation points, letter attributes, and core recitation rules in sequential poetic verse.

Its significance goes beyond memorization. The poem establishes the fard (obligation) of Tajweed directly, with Ibn al-Jazari stating plainly: “Applying Tajweed is a binding obligation; whoever does not correct their Quran recitation has sinned.”

This is not rhetorical emphasis — it reflects the scholarly consensus that Tajweed is wajib upon every Muslim who recites the Quran. At Learn Quran Tajweed Academy, our Beginner Tajweed Course introduces the Jazariyyah’s core chapters systematically, giving new students an authentic scholarly foundation from their very first lesson.

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Who Was Ibn al-Jazari?

Abu al-Khayr Shams al-Din Muhammad ibn Muhammad ibn al-Jazari was born in Damascus in 751 AH. He memorized the Quran by age thirteen, studied under the greatest Quranic scholars of his era, and became one of the most prolific authorities in the science of the Qira’at (Quranic recitation modes). His two monumental works — al-Nashr fil-Qira’at al-‘Ashr and the Jazariyyah poem — remain primary references in Tajweed scholarship to this day.

The First 19 Verses of the Jazariyyah Tajweed Poem

Al-Muqaddimah al-Jazariyyah — Imam Ibn al-Jazari (d. 833 AH)

Introduction (Al-Muqaddimah)

#	Arabic	Transliteration	Translation
1	يَقُولُ رَاجِي عَفْوِ رَبٍّ سَامِعِ … مُحَمَّدُ ابْنُ الجَزَرِيِّ الشَّافِعِي	Yaqūlu rājī ‘afwi rabbin sāmi’i … Muḥammadu-bnu-l-Jazariyyi-sh-Shāfi’ī	Says the one hoping for the forgiveness of an All-Hearing Lord … Muhammad ibn al-Jazari al-Shafi’i
2	الحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ وَصَلَّى اللَّهُ … عَلَى نَبِيِّهِ وَمُصْطَفَاهُ	Al-ḥamdu lillāhi wa ṣallā-llāhu … ‘alā nabiyyihi wa muṣṭafāhu	Praise be to Allah, and may Allah send blessings … upon His Prophet and His Chosen One
3	مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ … وَمُقْرِئِ القُرْآنِ مَعْ مُحِبِّهِ	Muḥammadin wa ālihi wa ṣaḥbihi … wa muqri’i-l-Qur’āni ma’a muḥibbihi	Upon Muhammad, his family and companions … and upon every teacher of the Quran and its lover
4	وَبَعْدُ: إِنَّ هَذِهِ «مُقَدِّمَهْ … فِيمَا عَلَى قَارِئِهِ أَنْ يَعْلَمَهْ»	Wa ba’du: inna hādhihi muqaddimah … fīmā ‘alā qāri’ihi an ya’lamah	And after: this is an introduction … covering what every reciter of the Quran must know
5	إِذْ وَاجِبٌ عَلَيْهِمُ مُحَتَّمُ … قَبْلَ الشُّرُوعِ أَوَّلاً أَنْ يَعْلَمُوا	Idh wājibun ‘alayhimu muḥattamu … qabla-sh-shurū’i awwalan an ya’lamū	For it is an obligatory requirement upon them … to know first, before beginning recitation
6	مَخَارِجَ الحُرُوفِ وَالصِّفَاتِ … لِيَلْفِظُوا بِأَفْصَحِ اللُّغَاتِ	Makhārija-l-ḥurūfi wa-ṣ-ṣifāti … liyalfaẓū bi-afṣaḥi-l-lughāti	The articulation points of letters and their attributes … so they may pronounce with the most eloquent speech
7	مُحَرِّرِي التَّجْوِيدِ وَالمَوَاقِفِ … وَمَا الَّذِي رُسِمَ فِي المَصَاحِفِ	Muḥarrirī-t-tajwīdi wa-l-mawāqifi … wa mā-lladhī rusima fi-l-maṣāḥifi	Mastering Tajweed precisely and knowing the stopping points … and what is written in the copies of the Mushaf
8	مِنْ كُلِّ مَقْطُوعٍ وَمَوْصُولٍ بِهَا … وَتَاءِ أُنْثَى لَمْ تَكُنْ تُكْتَبْ بِـ «هَا»	Min kulli maqṭū’in wa mawṣūlin bihā … wa tā’i unthā lam takun tuktab bi-hā	Including every disconnected and connected word … and the feminine tā’ not written with a round tā’ marbūṭah

Chapter 1 in Al-Jazariyyah Poem: Articulation Points (Makharij al-Huruf)

#	Arabic	Transliteration	Translation
9	مَخَارِجُ الحُرُوفِ سَبْعَةَ عَشَرْ … عَلَى الَّذِي يَخْتَارُهُ مَنِ اخْتَبَرْ	Makhāriju-l-ḥurūfi sab’ata ‘ashar … ‘alā-lladhī yakhtāruhu mani-ḵtabar	The articulation points of letters are seventeen … according to the position chosen by those who have expertise
10	فَأَلِفُ الجَوْفِ وَأُخْتَاهَا وَهِي … حُرُوفُ مَدٍّ لِلْهَوَاءِ تَنْتَهِي	Fa-alifu-l-jawfi wa uḵtāhā wa hiya … ḥurūfu maddin li-l-hawā’i tantahī	The Alif of the empty cavity and its two sisters … are letters of madd ending in open air
11	ثُمَّ لِأَقْصَى الحَلْقِ: هَمْزٌ هَاءُ … ثُمَّ لِوَسْطِهِ: فَعَيْنٌ حَاءُ	Thumma li-aqṣā-l-ḥalqi: hamzun hā’u … thumma li-wasṭihi: fa-‘aynun ḥā’u	Then at the farthest point of the throat: Hamzah and Hā’ … then at its middle: ‘Ayn and Ḥā’
12	أَدْنَاهُ: غَيْنٌ خَاؤُهَا، وَالقَافُ … أَقْصَى اللِّسَانِ فَوْقُ، ثُمَّ الكَافُ	Adnāhu: ghaynun khā’uhā, wa-l-qāfu … aqṣā-l-lisāni fawqu, thumma-l-kāfu	Its nearest part: Ghayn and Khā’ … the Qāf from the farthest tongue above, then the Kāf
13	أَسْفَلُ، وَالوَسْطُ: فَجِيمُ الشِّينُ يَا … وَالضَّادُ: مِنْ حَافَتِهِ إِذْ وَلِيَا	Asfalu, wa-l-wasṭu: fa-jīmu-sh-shīnu yā … wa-ḍ-ḍādu: min ḥāfatihi idh waliyā	Below it, and the middle: Jīm, Shīn, Yā’ … and the Ḍād: from its side edge when adjacent
14	لَاضْرَاسَ مِنْ أَيْسَرَ أَوْ يُمْنَاهَا … وَاللَّامُ: أَدْنَاهَا لِمُنْتَهَاهَا	La-ḍ-ḍrāsa min aysara aw yumnāhā … wa-l-lāmu: adnāhā li-muntahāhā	To the molars from the left side or the right … and the Lām: from the nearest edge to its end
15	وَالنُّونُ: مِنْ طَرَفِهِ تَحْتُ اجْعَلُوا … وَالرَّا: يُدَانِيهِ لِظَهْرٍ أَدْخَلُ	Wa-n-nūnu: min ṭarafihi taḥtu-j’alū … wa-r-rā’: yudānīhi li-ẓahrin adkhalu	The Nūn: place it from the tip below … the Rā’: close to it, deeper on the back
16	وَالطَّاءُ وَالدَّالُ وَتَا: مِنْهُ وَمِنْ … عُلْيَا الثَّنَايَا، وَالصَّفِيرُ: مُسْتَكِنْ	Wa-ṭ-ṭā’u wa-d-dālu wa-tā: minhu wa min … ‘ulyā-th-thanāyā, wa-ṣ-ṣafīru: mustakinn	The Ṭā’, Dāl, and Tā’: from it and from … the upper front teeth; and the whistling letters: residing
17	مِنْهُ وَمِنْ فَوْقِ الثَّنَايَا السُّفْلَى … وَالظَّاءُ وَالذَّالُ وَثَا: لِلْعُلْيَا	Minhu wa min fawqi-th-thanāyā-s-suflā … wa-ẓ-ẓā’u wa-dh-dhālu wa-thā: li-l-‘ulyā	From it and from above the lower front teeth … the Ẓā’, Dhāl, and Thā’: articulated at the upper teeth
18	مِنْ طَرَفَيْهِمَا، وَمِنْ بَطْنِ الشَّفَهْ … فَالْفَا مَعَ اطْرَافِ الثَّنَايَا المُشْرِفَهْ	Min ṭarafayhimā, wa min baṭni-sh-shafah … fa-l-fā’ ma’a aṭrāfi-th-thanāyā-l-mushrifax	From the tips of both; and from the inner lower lip … the Fā’ meets the tips of the upper front teeth
19	لِلشَّفَتَيْنِ: الوَاوُ بَاءٌ مِيمُ … وَغُنَّةٌ: مَخْرَجُهَا الخَيْشُومُ	Li-sh-shafatayn: al-wāwu bā’un mīmu … wa ghunnatun: makhrajuhā-l-khayshūmu	For the two lips: Wāw, Bā’, and Mīm … and the Ghunnah: its articulation point is the nasal passage

The 17 Makharij al-Huruf as Classified in the Jazariyyah

Ibn al-Jazari identified 17 articulation points for the Arabic letters, grouping them across five primary regions of the vocal tract. This classification is the dominant position among Tajweed scholars and forms the basis of all makharij instruction globally.

The five primary regions (mawadi’) are:

Region	Arabic Term	Letters
The Empty Cavity	Al-Jawf	Alif, Waw (madd), Ya (madd)
The Throat	Al-Halq	ء، هـ، ع، ح، غ، خ
The Tongue	Al-Lisan	ق، ك، ج، ش، ي، ض، ل، ن، ر، ط، د، ت، ص، ز، س، ظ، ذ، ث
The Two Lips	Al-Shafatan	ف، و، ب، م
The Nasal Passage	Al-Khayshum	Ghunnah (nasality)

Understanding makharij correctly transforms recitation accuracy. One of the most consistent patterns I observe at Learn Quran Tajweed Academy is that students who struggle to distinguish ع (Ain) from a plain glottal stop almost always haven’t physically located the mid-throat makhraj. 

Once they press two fingers gently against the throat and feel the constriction while producing the sound, the correction happens within days. The Jazariyyah’s systematic listing of these 17 points gives instructors a precise diagnostic map for exactly this kind of correction.

For a deeper understanding of how these letters interact with rules like Idgham in Tajweed, accurate makhraj knowledge is the essential prerequisite.

How Does the Jazariyyah classify Sifat al-Huruf (Letter Attributes)?

The sifat (attributes) chapter of the Jazariyyah is where the poem’s technical depth becomes most apparent. Ibn al-Jazari divides letter attributes into two categories: Sifat Lazimah (permanent attributes that never leave a letter) and Sifat ‘Aridah (temporary attributes that apply in certain conditions).

The Permanent Attributes Covered in the Jazariyyah

The poem lists the following primary permanent attribute pairs and singles:

Attribute	Opposite	Brief Definition
Jahr (voicing)	Hams (whisper)	Airflow stops vs. continues through vocal cords
Shiddah (strength)	Rakhawah (softness)	Sound stops completely vs. flows continuously
Isti’la (elevation)	Istifal (lowering)	Tongue rises to palate vs. remains low
Itbaq (adhesion)	Infitah (openness)	Tongue adheres to palate vs. separates
Idhlaq (fluency)	Ismat (retention)	Letters of fluency vs. letters of restriction

The poem also covers temporary attributes including: Qalqalah, Lin (softness), Inhiraf (deflection), Takrir (repetition), Tafashi (spreading), and Istitala (elongation). Each of these governs specific letters and affects how they sound in connected recitation.

For the complete practical application of Qalqalah, including its levels and letters, our detailed guide on what is Qalqalah in Tajweed expands on what the Jazariyyah introduces in poetic form.

What Rules of Noon Sakinah and Tanween Does the Jazariyyah Address?

The Jazariyyah dedicates a complete chapter to Noon Sakinah and Tanween rules — one of the most applied Tajweed chapters in daily recitation. The four rules — Izhar, Idgham, Iqlab, and Ikhfa — are each defined with their triggering letters embedded in the poem’s memorizable verse.

A student who has memorized the relevant couplets carries the rule triggers permanently. For example, the letters of Ikhfa — all fifteen of them — are encoded in the poem through the opening letters of a famous mnemonic phrase, making recall instant during recitation.

Consider this verse from Surah Al-Baqarah demonstrating Ikhfa:

مَن كَانَ
Man kāna
“Whoever was…” (Al-Baqarah 2:137)

The Noon Sakinah before ك triggers Ikhfa — the noon is concealed with a nasal resonance (ghunnah) held for two counts. This is precisely the rule category the Jazariyyah encodes poetically.

For detailed rule breakdowns, see our full guides on Noon Sakinah rules,Ikhfa rules,Iqlab rules, andIzhar.

How Does the Jazariyyah Define Madd Rules and Their Counts?

The Jazariyyah’s Madd chapter establishes the foundational categories of vowel elongation used in Hafs ‘an ‘Asim recitation. Ibn al-Jazari identifies the Madd Asli (natural madd, two counts) as the baseline, then builds each Madd Far’i (secondary madd) category from it, specifying causes — Hamzah or Sukun — and their corresponding elongation counts.

The poem doesn’t list every sub-type exhaustively, but it establishes the governing framework: natural elongation is two counts; anything beyond that is secondary and triggered by a specific phonological condition. This structural logic is what makes the Jazariyyah a framework text, not merely a rule list.

Working with Ijazah-certified instructors at Learn Quran Tajweed Academy through our Advanced Tajweed Course gives students the individualized attention needed to perfect madd count consistency — one of the most common precision errors in intermediate-level recitation. For a full breakdown with chart, visit our guide on Tajweed Madd Rules.

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The Chapters on Waqf, Maqtu’, and Mawsul That Complete the Jazariyyah

The final sections of the Jazariyyah address Waqf and Ibtida’ (stopping and beginning), Maqtu’ and Mawsul (disconnected and connected words in the Mushaf), and Ta’ al-Ta’nith (the feminine ta’ written as an open or closed form). These topics are often overlooked in beginner Tajweed courses — but they are essential for anyone pursuing complete Quranic reading accuracy.

The Maqtu’ and Mawsul chapter is particularly important for students memorizing Quran with Tajweed, as it governs how specific word pairs appear in the Uthmani Mushaf and how they must be read. 

Students preparing for Ijazah examination are regularly tested on these distinctions. Learn Quran Tajweed Academy’s Tajweed Ijazah Program includes dedicated instruction on these advanced chapters, ensuring no section of the Jazariyyah remains unmastered.

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Common Mistakes Students Make When Studying the Jazariyyah Tajweed Poem

Memorizing the poem without understanding its meaning is the single most common error students make — and it defeats the poem’s purpose entirely. The Jazariyyah is designed as a reference framework, not a recitation exercise. Each couplet encodes a rule that must be internalized and applied.

Common Mistake	Correct Approach
Memorizing verses without rule understanding	Study each chapter’s meaning alongside its memorization
Skipping the sifat chapter (found difficult)	Sifat is prerequisite to understanding tafkhim/tarqiq
Treating makhraj chapter as theoretical only	Practice each makhraj with a certified instructor’s feedback
Rushing through the waqf chapter	Waqf rules directly affect meaning — they require careful study
Studying alone without oral transmission	The Jazariyyah belongs to a chain of oral teaching

Most non-Arabic speaking students at Learn Quran Tajweed Academy who come having “memorized the Jazariyyah” struggle to apply its rules in live recitation. The gap between poem memorization and rule application is real — and it closes only through structured, supervised practice.

Starting Your Jazariyyah Mastery with Certified Instruction at Learn Quran Tajweed Academy

The Jazariyyah is the gateway to authentic, scholarly Tajweed mastery — and it deserves authentic, scholarly instruction.

At Learn Quran Tajweed Academy:

• Ijazah-certified instructors specializing in Hafs ‘an ‘Asim guide every lesson
• Personalized 1-on-1 sessions address your specific recitation gaps
• Structured progression from beginner rules to full Ijazah certification
• Flexible scheduling available 24/7 for global students
• Specialized Tajweed-only focus — every instructor, every course

Book your FREE Trial Lesson today and begin your Jazariyyah study under certified guidance, Insha’Allah.

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Conclusion

The Jazariyyah tajweed poem has survived centuries because it works — its structure mirrors how Tajweed knowledge must be built: systematically, rule by rule, from articulation through application. Ibn al-Jazari gave students a map; the task is learning to read it correctly.

Memorizing the poem is meaningful only when paired with live instruction and practical recitation feedback. The rules encoded in its verses — makharij, sifat, ghunnah, madd, waqf — are not isolated facts but an interconnected system. Approaching them that way changes everything about how a student recites.

May Allah grant every sincere reciter the tawfiq to honor His Book with its due precision and beauty. Ameen.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Jazariyyah Tajweed Poem