Tajweed means to improve, make better. It also means to recite every letter correctly, i.e. from its proper origin of pronunciation coupled with its stipulated attributes. The Qur'an remarks, And recite the Qur'an with Tarteel (in a slow pleasant tone and style). (73:4). And, Those who We have given the Book to, give it its right in recitation            (recite it as it should be recited). (02:121)

The Prophet Muhammad (S) has said, Indeed Allah desires that the Qur'an be recited in the manner it was revealed. When asked about the meaning of Tarteel, Ali (AS) replied, It means that the Qur'an should be recited with Tajweed and with due observance to the rules of Waqf (pausing or stopping at the end of the verse).

According to the Aimmah, the Qur'an will be one of the main Intercessors on the Day of Judgment, and so we have to revere the book in this transient life. One of its respects is to recite it the way Prophet Muhammad (S) and the Aimmah (AS) recited.Also, according to some scholars, the verse, Verily my people have renounced the Qur'an (25:30) has several interpretations, and one of them could mean that some of the people used to recite the Qur'an in such a disrespectful manner.

Thus, reading the Qur'an without Tajweed could also be included in this interpretation.According to Prophet Muhammad (S), the remaining 13 of Purest Infallible (AS), learning Tajweed has the following merits:

• We can communicate with Allah in a much better manner. Some letters (in the Arabic Language), if not recited correctly, the meaning changes.
• The (few) compulsory rulings will help us recite the chapter of al-Hamd correctly, and so our Daily Salat will be valid. ALSO,

Communication with Allah
The Qur'an remarks - Ta'awwudh means to seek refuge with Allah, the Almighty, from the accursed Shaytan. The glorious Qur'an enjoins this act in Chapter 16, Verse 98 of the Qur'an - And when you recite the Qur'an seek refuge with Allah from Shaytan, the accursed.

Basmallah entails the recitation of Qur'an on all chapters except al-Tawbah.

The Pauses and Resumptions - if not adhered to, the sentences change.

Change in Meaning
This course requires active reading and active participation. Interested students will find wealth of information, research and exercises they can effectively employ to reap the fruits of the Prayer. It is envisaged that the student, in particular the youth and leaders of tomorrow, will look up to this distance learning opportunity and apply its recommendations on a daily basis.

More Examples – Thumma (then) Summ (Poison); Ithm (Sin) Ism (Name); and so many others.

• If a person does not know Surah al-Hamd well, but can learn it, he should do so if the time of namaz permits.
• But wherever possible, such a person should join Namaz-e-Jamaat to relieve himself of the responsibility.
• If a person does not know a certain word of Surah al-Hamd or Surah, or does not utter it intentionally, or utters one letter for another like, Za for Dhad, or changes the inflections, by giving movements of Fathah or Kasrah where not needed, or does not render tashdid properly, his prayer is void.
• If a person does not know whether a particular word is to be read with Fathah or Kasrah, of if he does not know whether a particular word has a "seen" or a "sad" in it, he should take pains to learn that. But if he tries to recite in two or more ways, and if the wrong or incorrect recitation is neither from the Qur'an nor any Zikr, his prayers will be void.
• The Ulama of Tajweed, that is, the art of reciting the Qur'an, have outlined several places where "Madd" (prolonging certain letters) is necessary. Wherever a vowel in a word precedes another vowel, say, 'alif' or 'hamza', it has to be prolonged, so that the utterances of each word is clear.
• But in namaz, its validity does not depend upon following these rules, so if one does not strictly follow them, his namaz will not be void. Except in "Wal-dhaalleen" (the last word of Surah al-Hamd) one should exercise certain care to prolong, so that tashdid is properly pronounced.