Parents notice teachers sometimes recite very slowly and sometimes quite fast. Both can be correct.
The three speeds
| Speed | What it is | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Tahqiq | Very slow, every letter and rule exaggerated slightly | Learning, new memorisation, beginners |
| Tadwir | Medium, balanced | Everyday recitation, salah |
| Hadr | Faster, but every rule still applied | Revision of long portions by strong reciters |
“Tartil” describes measured, careful recitation and can include all of these when done properly. Allah says: وَرَتِّلِ الْقُرْآنَ تَرْتِيلًا (Quran 73:4).
Which speed for your child
| Stage | Speed |
|---|---|
| Qaida and early Mushaf | Tahqiq |
| New memorisation | Tahqiq |
| Daily reading, salah | Tadwir |
| Revising a whole juz (strong readers) | Hadr |
The warning
Speed must never break Tajweed: madd shortened, ghunnah dropped, letters swallowed. If that happens, slow down. See reading too fast.
Teacher’s tip: record your child at each speed. If the fast version sounds clearly worse, they aren’t ready for hadr yet.
