In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful
I had a tajweed exam last week, and it was an intense experience for me. I had a busy week with sooo many exams and family and community obligations, but I survived and took the exam, Alhamdulillah.
When Ustadha asked us how we found the questions, my response was simple: It humbled me.
This exam was not just a test of knowledge, is it ever just that? It was a mirror, reflecting back my habits, my priorities, and even my approach to learning. It made me rethink how I take notes, how I categorize what is "essential" and what is just "extra." There were moments during the exam when I tried recalling things Ustadha had mentioned in passing—things I had dismissed as “gist”—turned out it was NOT gist but infact, critical points. It was a reminder that in the world of seeking knowledge, nothing is ever just "gist."
I have been studying tajweed for a while now. At some point, the years felt long and stretching. I would think to myself, How much can one truly need to know about tajweed? But now, those years feel fleeting.
What once seemed like a long journey now feels insufficient—a small opening to an ocean that stretches far beyond my reach. The more I learn, the more I realize how much I don't know.
Tajweed is not just a subject for me. It is a path that demands presence, humility, and patience.It humbles the ego and softens the heart, all the while, I desperately pray is drawing me closer to the Qur'an.
And as I reflect, I am grateful for the humbling, for the moments that remind me how little I know and how long the journey still is.