What Is Warsh Tajweed And Top Warsh Tajweed Rules To Learn?

Warsh Tajweed, one of the most popular Qur’anic recitations, was taught by Imam Warsh, who studied under Sheikh Nafi’ in Medina. Its unique features, like the pronunciation of “Malik” instead of “Maalik” and specific elongation rules, set it apart from the Hafs recitation. To master Warsh, one must learn from skilled teachers and follow a structured approach, paying attention to details in each rule to ensure accurate recitation.

Once delving into learning the distinctive tajweed of Al-Qira’at Al-‘Ashr (the Ten Recitations of the Qur’an), you will definitely study Riwayat Warsh (Warsh’s Recitation); it is one of the most famous recitations of the Qur’an. Actually, the Qur’anic recitations of Warsh and Hafs are the two main, major, wide-spread recitations among the Ten Recitations, in the Muslim World.

Here, we are going to give just a hint at Riwayat Warsh, shedding light on who is Imam Warsh, and a few of his Qur’anic recitation’s distinguishing features. 

Who Is Imam Warsh?

Imam Warsh (716-813 CE) refers to the Scholar Uthman Ibn Sa‘id al-Qutbi; he was born in Egypt; he  traveled to Medina, purposefully for learning the Tajweed, and getting his recitation authenticated from Sheikh Nafi’ Al-Madani, who was already one of the Seven Reciters transmitting the Ten Recitations of the Qur’an. 

He got so famous by ‘Warsh’ which was the nickname His Sheikh, Nafi’ Al-Madini, gave him while teaching him, due to his light-skin tone, and brightness. After his remarkably successful learning journey, he returned to Egypt to become the Senior Qari of the Qur’an.

Riwayat Warsh (Recitation of Warsh Al-Nafi’i)

Riwayat Warsh, and that of Hafs, are the two main recitations so widely used by those learning and  reciting Qur’an, unlike the rest of the Ten Recitations which did not get the same fame of those.

Recitation of Warsh became so prevailing, and widespread, not only in Egypt, but also all over North Africa, as it was the preferred recitation of Malik Ibn Anas and his followers, too, all over there.

 In the medieval times, it was the dominant, main Qur’anic recitation. Also, Riwayat Warsh Al-Nafi’ is the Qur’an-reciting tradition in Medina. 

Riwayat Warsh and Riwayate Hafs: 

As said before, those two recitations, of Warsh and Hafs, are the most known and widespread among the Ten Recitations of the Qur’an. 

They are so similar to each other, as both referring to the revealed Qur’an, and its essential meanings, of course, except in some slight differences, like in certain words pronunciation- as there was no tashkil, but only recently- or spelling, yet with the same meaning in essence. Have a look at those some examples: 

Warsh Tajweed Rules:

There are so many, detailed rules of Warsh Tajweed. Here, let’s point out only a few of them, as example: 

1. Reciting, Joining the Surahs: 

In Warsh recitation, you can start each Surah with basmala “Bismillah Ar-Rahman Ar-Raheem”, except Surah At-Tawba; they are cases for that:

1. Finishing the last ayah of the surah being recited, saying basmala, and going on reciting the following Surah, without stopping in between, except Surah At-Tawaba, there is no basmala.
2. Finishing the last ayah of the surah being recited, pausing for a little bite, and starting reciting the following surah, with or without basmala, in between.
3. Joining the last ayah of the surah, with the first ayah of the following one, with no basmala.

2. “Malik” Not “Maalik”:

In Warsh recitation, this ayah of Surah Al-Fatihah is recited like- Transliterated:“Malik Yawm Ad-Deen” ملك يوم الدين, not /maalik/: without /ا/ in مالك . That, doesn’t make a major change in meaning as Allah Almighty is indeed, both, The Sovereign and Owner of the Resurrection Day.

3. Prolonging the Madd for Six Harakat:

In Warsh Recitation, whether the Wajib Mutasel (Obligatory Connected Madd), or Ja’ez Munfasel (Permitted Two-Words Madd) are recited fully prolonged for six counts. 

Actually, it is not that simple in all rules. There are many more detailed rules in Warsh Recitation that necessitate a certain level of attention to their branching out.

How to learn Warsh Tajweed?

Tajweed is such detailed knowledge that requires high attention and care for being able to differentiate between the rules, themselves, not to mention between the different recitations, of course! 

Therefore, the certain way to study Tajweed right, and get your recitation corrected properly is to seek the help of a knowledgeable, specialized Qari’, or Qur’an-teacher, or to join a trusted Islamic academy , like Riwaq Academy, where you are in the good hands of its experienced teachers who keep you perfectly taught and corrected, from the scratch to the proficiency.

 Of course, learning Warsh Tajweed with a comprehensive plan, clear instructions, regular follow-up, and help from the expert tutors is the game-changer in learning a deep, branched knowledge like Tajweed!

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Their experienced instructors use a structured curriculum to cover Tajweed, Tafsir, and Memorization, providing easy and effective access to learning the Quran. 

The advanced online classes allow for seamless communication and interaction between students and teachers. Join Riwaq Al Quran for a deeper connection with the Quran.

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Conclusion:

Warsh Tajweed, one of the primary Qur’anic recitations, originates from Imam Warsh, an Egyptian scholar who studied under Sheikh Nafi’ Al-Madani in Medina. His recitation, known as Riwayat Warsh, became widely popular, especially across North Africa, and remains the dominant recitation in regions like Egypt and parts of the Arabian Peninsula. 

\While similar to Hafs, another prevalent recitation, Warsh features distinct variations in pronunciation and spelling, though the meanings remain the same. For example, the word “يَعْمَلُونَ” (they do) in Warsh contrasts with “تَعْمَلُونَ” (you do) in Hafs, demonstrating subtle differences between the two recitations.

The Warsh Tajweed has specific rules that differentiate it from others. These include reciting Bismillah before Surahs except for Surah At-Tawba, omitting the Alif in “Malik” instead of “Maalik” in Surah Al-Fatihah, and elongating certain vowels for six counts. 

To master these rules, it is crucial to learn from an experienced Qur’an teacher or academy. A structured approach to learning Tajweed, with consistent practice and expert guidance, is essential for anyone aiming to perfect their Warsh recitation.