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The rules of noon sakinah and tanween are four: Izhar (clear pronunciation), Idgham (merging), Iqlab (conversion) and Ikhfa (hiding). The rule depends on the letter that comes after the noon sakinah (نْ) or the tanween (ـًـٍـٌ).
| Rule | Letters | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Izhar halqi (clear) | The 6 throat letters: ء ه ع ح غ خ | مَنْ آمَنَ، مِنْ حَكِيمٍ |
| Idgham (merging) | ي ر م ل و ن, remembered as «يرملون» | مَنْ يَقُولُ، مِنْ رَبِّهِمْ |
| Iqlab (conversion) | ب | مِنْ بَعْدِ |
| Ikhfa (hiding) | The remaining 15 letters | مِنْ قَبْلُ، أَنْتُمْ |
1. Izhar
Pronounce the noon clearly, without extended ghunnah, when it is followed by one of the six throat letters.
2. Idgham
- With ghunnah in ي ن م و: مَنْ يَعْمَلْ، مِنْ نِعْمَةٍ.
- Without ghunnah in ل ر: مِنْ لَدُنْهُ، مِنْ رَبِّهِمْ.
Idgham only happens across two words. In four words where noon and the letter are in the same word, the noon is pronounced clearly: الدُّنْيَا، بُنْيَانٌ، قِنْوَانٌ، صِنْوَانٌ.
3. Iqlab
When ب follows, the noon or tanween turns into a hidden meem with ghunnah. Many Mushafs mark it with a small meem: مِنْ بَعْدِ، سَمِيعٌ بَصِيرٌ.
4. Ikhfa
With the remaining fifteen letters, the noon is hidden between clear pronunciation and merging, with ghunnah of two counts: يُنْفِقُونَ، مِنْ قَبْلُ.
Common mistakes
- Pronouncing the noon clearly where it should be hidden.
- Dropping the ghunnah in idgham, iqlab or ikhfa.
- Merging the noon in الدنيا and the other three exceptions.
Part of our Tajweed Rules Chart, a complete overview of all the rules.
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Practise noon sakinah and tanween with a teacher
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Frequently Asked Questions about noon sakinah and tanween
How many rules of noon sakinah are there?
Four: Izhar, Idgham, Iqlab and Ikhfa.
What are the letters of Izhar?
The six throat letters: hamzah, ha, ayn, haa, ghayn and khaa.
How long is the ghunnah in ikhfa?
About two counts.
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