Understanding Makhraj: The Exit Points in Tajweed
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
In my journey to seek knowledge and utilize my skills to solve real-world problems, I came across a new topic called Makhraj, which means exit points. In Urdu, it is known as "nikal ne jagah," referring to the parts of the teeth, mouth, tongue, and lips used when the sound of a letter exits the mouth.
When you start learning Tajweed, you need to begin with the names of the teeth as these are considered the basics. I came across the names of the teeth, and they were very new to me and not easy to remember.
For other people, especially children, this might involve a lot of cramming(in urdu it is know as ratta lagana), which isn't ideal as cramming loads information into your short-term memory.
Why Make Things Easy?
Why can't we leave things as they are and just keep moving? We can't. Why? Because the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم: عَلِّمُوا وَيَسِّرُوا وَلاَ تُعَسِّرُوا، وَإِذَا غَضِبَ أَحَدُكُمْ فَلْيَسْكُتْ
"Teach and make things easy and not difficult. When one of you is angry, he should be silent."[Al-Adab Al-Mufrad 245]
By focusing on the root words, we realize that these names are so relatable that even a child could remember them easily.
Names and Root Words of the Teeth
ثنايا (Sanaaya)
Root Word: ثني (thana) meaning "to fold" or "to bend."
Meaning: Refers to the four front teeth (central and lateral incisors) because they are the ones you first see when the mouth is slightly open.
Memory Aid: When you touch your tongue to the inside of your upper or lower front teeth, the tongue naturally bends or folds slightly, aligning with the word's root meaning.
Hadith Aid: وَعَضَّ رَجُلٌ يَدَ رَجُلٍ ـ يَعْنِي فَانْتَزَعَ ثَنِيَّتَهُ ـ فَأَبْطَلَهُ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم. [
A man bit the hand of another man but in that process the latter broke one incisor tooth of the former, and the Prophet (ﷺ) forgave the latter.
] [Sahih al-Bukhari 1848].
TYPES
Sanaya Uliya
"Uliya" means "upper" (from the root word عَلَا meaning "to rise" or "to be high").
Root word: عَلَا (to rise)
Sanaya Sufla
"Sufla" means "lower" (from the root word سَفِلَ meaning "to be low" or "to descend").
Root word: سَفِلَ (be down, be low)
رَبَاعِيَة (Rabaiee)
Root word: ربع (rabaa) meaning "four".
Meaning: These are the four teeth adjacent to the ثنايا, emphasizing their position as the second set of four teeth.
Memory Aid: Remember the number "four" (ربع) for the four teeth adjacent to the central incisors mentioned above.
Hadith Aid: .....قَالَ أَبُو حَاتِمٍ قَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ فَإِذَا أَلْقَى رَبَاعِيَتَهُ فَهُوَ رَبَاعٌ....[Abu Hatim said: Some of them said: When it sheds its teeth between front and canine teeth, it is called raba'] [Sunan Abi Dawud 4555]
أنياب (Anyaab)
Root word: ناب (naab) meaning "to pierce" or "to bite".
Meaning: Refers to the canines, which are pointed teeth used for tearing. The 4 teeth which are next to Rabaee are called Anyaab.
Memory Aid: Associate with "piercing" or "biting" to remember the canines.
Hadith Aid: فَضَحِكَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم حَتَّى بَدَتْ أَنْيَابُهُ [...The Prophet (ﷺ) then smiled till his premolar teeth became visible..] [Sahih al-Bukhari 1936]
ضواحك (Zawahik)
Root word: ضحك (dahik) meaning "to laugh".
Meaning: Refers to the premolars, named so because they become visible when one laughs. The 4 teeth which are next to Anyaab are called Zawahik.
Memory Aid: Think of laughing to remember the premolars.
طواحين (Tawaahin)
Root word: طاحن (taahin) meaning "to grind". Total 12 teeth.
Meaning: Refers to the molars, which are used for grinding food. The 12 teeth which are next to Zawahik are called Tawaahin.
Memory Aid: Visualize these teeth "grinding" food.
نواجذ (Nawajiz)
Root word: نجذ (najadh) meaning "to be firm".
Meaning: Refers to the wisdom teeth, which are the last and typically the strongest molars. The 4 wisdom teeth which are next to Tawaahin are called Nawajiz.
Memory Aid: Think of the "firm" or strong last molars.
Hadith Aid: فَعَلَيْكُمْ بِسُنَّتِي وَسُنَّةِ الْخُلَفَاءِ الرَّاشِدِينَ الْمَهْدِيينَ، عَضُّوا عَلَيْهَا بِالنَّوَاجِذِ، وَإِيَّاكُمْ وَمُحْدَثَاتِ الْأُمُورِ؛ فَإِنَّ كُلَّ بِدْعَةٍ ضَلَالَةٌ". [رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُدَ]، وَاَلتِّرْمِذِيُّ [so you must keep to my Sunnah and to the Sunnah of the Khulafa ar-Rashideen (the rightly guided caliphs), those who guide to the right way. Cling to it stubbornly [literally: with your molar teeth]. Beware of newly invented matters [in the religion], for verily every bidah (innovation) is misguidance] [Hadith 28, 40 Hadith an-Nawawi].
By understanding the root words and their meanings, we can create a strong foundation for learning Tajweed. This approach makes it easier for anyone, including children, to remember and apply these concepts.