WHAT TO EXPECT Zayd-ubnu Thābit (May God Grant him Mercy) narrated that the Messenger of God (Peace be upon him and his progeny) said: “Verily, Allāh loves that the Qur`ān be recited the way it was revealed.”  Muslim scholars across time and space have been in agreement that reciting Qur`ān with Tajwīd, that is according to the way that it was revealed to the Messenger of God (Peace be upon him and his progeny) and the way that he taught it to his companions, is an obligation.  ‘Tajwīd’ literally means ‘to excel’ or ‘to perfect’.  It has come to designate the science of reciting the Qur`ān according to the way that the Messenger of God (Peace be upon him and his progeny) used to recite it.  It comprises, amongst many other things, the points of articulation of Arabic letters and their elocution, the characteristics they take on in various contexts and constructions, the rules of elongation, incorporation of letters in each other and the rules for stopping. From a historical stand point, we living in the 21st century should certainly appreciate this.  It is due to the painstaking and assiduous efforts of our scholars to codify the rules of recitation and to learn and teach the precise way to recite the Qur`ān properly that we enjoy the certain conviction that the Qur`ān has been passed unto us is recited exactly the same way that the first generations recited it. Indeed, these scholars and students have been the means by which God (Blessed is His Name) has realized His Divine promise:  “We have, without doubt, sent down the Message; and We will Assuredly guard it (from corruption).” (Al-Hijr: 15) With the Grace of God, on Cordova Academy’s staff is a head master who is part of chain of narration linking him back to the Messenger of God (Peace be upon him and his progeny)  in the art and science of the recitation of the Qur`ān. This means that his recitation has been certified to be a precise replication of one of the ways that the Messenger of God (Peace be upon him and his progeny) used to recite the Qur`ān, and he is thus highly qualified to teach Tajwīd and proper recitation. This is, least to say, a rarity in North America.   In this intermediate course, students will be taught the basic elements of the science of Tajwīd, which will enable them to recite the Qur`ān without making any major errors. This course will also serve as a foundation for future study and memorization of the Qur`ān.

PREREQUISITES The course will be taught in English. However, students must be capable of reading basic Classical Arabic words and short phrases.

COURSE OVERVIEW This four-month course is broken down into five main parts. Students will be provided with a comprehensive textbook that will detail all of the information for easy review and referencing. It will also include practical review exercises to enable students to better grasp the course content. 

Part I: An Introduction to the Science of Tajwīd
In this part, the science of Tajwīd will be defined, and the ruling and importance of its study will also be discussed. In addition, other prerequisite information to the study of Tajwīd will be taught, such as the rulings associated with the Basmalah and Isti'āthah and the arrangements of the Arabic alphabet.

Part II: Al-Makhārij – Points of Articulation of Classical Arabic letters.
The Makhārij ul-hurūf, or Points of Articulation, is one of the most important components of the Science of Tajwīd, but also one of the most neglected. Students will be taught Classical Arabic Alphabet in its order of articulation. They will also be taught the general and specific points of articulation through the medium of detailed diagrams, hands-on practice during class time, as well as recordings of the letters to enable them to practice the proper pronunciation on their own. 

Part III: As-Sifāt – Characteristics of Classical Arabic letters
Following memorization of the proper Points of Articulation of the Arabic alphabet, students will be taught the Characteristics of the letters that differentiate the letters that emerge from the same Point of Articulation. This part will be split into two main sections: Characteristics with opposites, and Characteristics without opposites.

Part IV: As-Sawākin – The Voweless Letters 
In this part, the rules of Nun Sākinah, Mīm Sākīnah and Lām Sākinah will be covered. These rules are essential to a proper recitation of the Qur`ān.

Part V: Al-Mudūd – Elongation  
This part, comprised of three chapters, will teach students the extensive rules of elongation of letters. This will include a discussion of natural (Aslī) and branched (Far’ī) elongation, and those which relate to letters (Harfī) and to words (Kalimī).


LOGISTICS

Duration: Eleven-Month course starts October 5^th, 2010 until August 16^th, 2011

Time: Weekly class on Tuesdays, 6:00-7:00pm

Instructor:  Mohamad Jebara

Course Fee: $40/month   Textbook: $60

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