Question

My question is about starting a tajweed class for small children.  Do you have any advice about how to begin - what would be most important thing to offer them?  To memorize or to learn to read first; to introduce the rules of tajweed by practice only or to learn the rules also...Any advice would be greatly appreciated.  Wa assalaam alaikum and blessings of Ramadan.

Answer

Wa alaikum assalaam wa rahamatu Allah, and Ramadhaan Mubaarak to you too. 

The age of the children involved and their native language is one thing to consider, as well as the eagerness of the parents of the children.  If the children are at least four years of age, teaching them to read first, using any of the different qaa’idaat available, would be best.  This will ensure they understand which letter it is they are supposed to be reciting.  One thing to make sure of, it to teach the letters exactly as they should sound as they learn, such as the letters of tafkheem should be taught with tafkheem, and the children should be expected to read them with tafkheem, even if they are reading from the qaa’idah lesson book.  Also, as they learn to read in the qaa’idah, teach them to read with tajweed rules.  For example, every time there is a  saakinah, the appropriate rule should be applied.  If they are younger than 10, it would be too early for them to learn and understand the tajweed rules as far as theory goes, but they definitely should learn to apply them.  If they learn to apply them from the qaa’idah reading book stage, they will automatically learn to apply them in recitation of the Qur’an.  This will save a great deal of time and explanation.  

May Allah make this endeavor a successful one and grant the Muslim nation more haafitheen of Allah’s book.