3. Major Errors – Clear Mistakes

Although clear errors are not permitted (Haraam) and must be avoided by everyone, unfortunately many people make these mistakes and don’t address problems with their recitation. The way to prevent these mistakes is to learn and apply the correct Tajweed rules from a competent teacher. Even Ibn Taymiyyah, one of the greatest scholars, regarded it undesirable for a student of knowledge (who knows Tajweed) to pray behind a person who makes clear mistakes in their Salaah.

Changing one letter for another which may sound similar is a problem as they have different articulation points (Makharij). Often the letter Saad (ص) is read as Seen (س), Kaaf (ك) instead of Qaaf (ق). This is a serious problem as words and meanings can change completely. Another common problem is elongating the sound of a letter in a word, which effectively results in adding an extra letter, when in fact it does not exist. For example, extending the length of the Fatha (short vowel) on a letter so it sounds like an Alif exists after that letter. Similarly elongating the sound of the Kasra (short vowel) on a letter would imply that there is a Yaa after that letter. An example of this would be reading the word ( لَتَرَوُنَّ) incorrectly as (لَّا تَرَوُنَّ ). This would change the meaning of the verse, which is unacceptable. Meanings can also be changed by the opposite affect by changing a long vowel sound into a short vowel sound. For example, reading the word (لَّا تَعْلَمُونَ ) incorrectly as ( لَّتَعْلَمُونَ ). Another common problem is changing one vowel for another, for example, changing the Fatha on the letter Haa in the word Allah to a Damma. These mistakes are serious as they result in changes that can give unacceptable meanings. Among the major errors people make when reciting the Quran are those given below.

Reading one letter instead of another letter, e.g. اَلْهَمْدُ instead of اَلْحَمْدُ.
Adding a letter to a word, e.g. اَلْحَمْدُوْ لِلَّهِىْ instead of اَلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ.
Leaving out a letter from a word, e.g. لَمْ يُلَدْ instead of لَمْيُوْلَدْ.
Reading a different vowel (Harakah), e.g. اَهْدِنَا instead of اِهْدِنَا.
Reading a vowel (Harakah), instead of a Sukun, e.g. اَنَعَمْتَ instead of اَنْعَمْتَ.

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3. Major Errors – Clear Mistakes

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