It Takes Courage to Recite Quran in Front of Others
It takes courage to embark on your tajweed journey and read in front of others. Especially if it has been many years since you have recited to anyone. Three years back when I started my beautiful and blessed tajweed journey, I had no confidence in reciting in front of others.
I vividly remember my first tajweed class I attended. I went along with my mother-in-law to her class as I wanted to learn more about tajweed as I had never grasped the concepts in madrassa. We arrived in class a little bit late, some sisters had already started reciting. So I quietly sat down on the floor and a sister kindly passed me a Quran and told me which page to open up. I followed along as the sisters were reciting one by one.
The sister next to me just finished and the ustadha looked at me asking me if I could recite a little bit for her. I was taken by surprise because I wasn’t expecting to be reciting and the last time I had recited out loud to anyone was when I was a little girl. I reluctantly agreed. I took a deep breath in, holding my Quran tightly, my voice shaking I started reciting. I recited as fast as I could in the way I knew to recite, without any tajweed rules. Everyone around me listened attentively. When I finished the ustadha commended my efforts but said I didn’t apply any rules. She asked me to speak to her after class.
After class, I went up to her and she asked me if I would be interested in learning to learn tajweed with her in a one-to-one class. I agreed and we set a time and a date for the coming week which would be the beginning of my tajweed journey.
Every week I would make my way to my ustadha’s house. My voice would still shake and I would still read fast as my nerves would get the better of me. It took me over a year to feel more confident and I have not looked back since. SubhanAllah it is amazing to think about how far along I have come. I still have a lot I want to learn but I take each day as it comes. And whenever I make a mistake now I don’t feel bad about it anymore as I know Allah SWT will be rewarding me for every word I stumble upon.
I am very grateful to Allah for giving me amazing teachers who have helped me immensely with my tajweed. And I pray I may be sadaqah jariyah for them whenever I teach tajweed to others or create resources for children.
If you are thinking about learning tajweed to recite the Quran in the way it was revealed to our beloved prophet SAW take the first step and find yourself a tajweed teacher. You can even learn with your children and create family memories along the way. I pray Allah SWT makes your tajweed a blessed journey wherever you are on your journey.