Learn with Ijazah-holding Al-Azhar teachers. Your first 30-minute lesson is free.
The types of idghām in tajweed, according to the relation between the two letters, are three: idghām of identical letters (mutamāthilān), of letters from the same point (mutajānisān) and of close letters (mutaqāribān). Idghām means merging a letter with sukūn into the voweled letter after it, so that they become one letter with shaddah. This is different from the idghām of nūn sākinah and tanwīn, which has its own letters.
| Type | Definition | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Mutamāthilān (identical) | Two letters with the same articulation point and characteristics (the same letter) | اضْرِبْ بِعَصَاكَ، قَدْ دَخَلُوا |
| Mutajānisān (same point) | Same articulation point, different characteristics | قَدْ تَبَيَّنَ، قَالَتْ طَائِفَةٌ، إِذْ ظَلَمُوا |
| Mutaqāribān (close) | Close in articulation point or characteristics | قُلْ رَبِّ، أَلَمْ نَخْلُقْكُمْ |
1. Idghām of identical letters
When two identical letters meet, the first with sukūn and the second voweled, idghām is required, as in اضْرِبْ بِعَصَاكَ and رَبِحَتْ تِجَارَتُهُمْ. The exception is when the first is a madd letter, as in قَالُوا وَهُمْ: it is lengthened, not merged. Labial idghām of mīm sākinah also belongs here.
2. Idghām of letters from the same point
It occurs in specific places for Hafs, the best known being:
- Dāl into tā’: قَدْ تَبَيَّنَ.
- Tā’ into dāl: أَثْقَلَتْ دَعَوَا.
- Tā’ into ṭā’: قَالَتْ طَائِفَةٌ.
- Ṭā’ into tā’: بَسَطْتَ – an incomplete idghām in which the adhesion (iṭbāq) remains.
- Dhāl into ẓā’: إِذْ ظَلَمُوا.
- Thā’ into dhāl: يَلْهَثْ ذَلِكَ.
- Bā’ into mīm: ارْكَبْ مَعَنَا.
3. Idghām of close letters
- Lām into rā’: قُلْ رَبِّ, بَلْ رَفَعَهُ.
- Qāf into kāf: أَلَمْ نَخْلُقْكُمْ – both complete and incomplete idghām are permitted, the complete one being better known.
- The idghām of the sun lām also belongs here – see the rules of lām.
Complete and incomplete idghām
In complete idghām, the first letter disappears with all its characteristics, as in قَدْ تَبَيَّنَ. In incomplete idghām, the letter disappears but one of its characteristics remains, such as the adhesion in بَسَطْتَ or the ghunnah in idghām with ghunnah – see ghunnah.
Learn it in practice with a teacher
Tajweed is learned by listening and reciting to a teacher; reading about the rules is not enough. At Al-Azhar Message Academy you recite to a male or female Al-Azhar graduate who holds an ijazah with a connected sanad, and who listens and corrects you in one-to-one lessons on Zoom or Google Meet. The subscription starts at $40 per month for 8 lessons, and the first trial lesson is free. See our online tajweed course.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
What is the difference between mutajānisān and mutaqāribān?
Mutajānisān share the same articulation point but differ in characteristics; mutaqāribān are only close in articulation point or characteristics.
Ready to start? Book your free 30-minute trial lesson now.
Why is “qālū wa hum” not merged?
Because the first wāw is a madd letter, and a madd letter is not merged into its like – it is lengthened.
What is an example of incomplete idghām?
Merging ṭā’ into tā’ in “basaṭta”, where the adhesion (iṭbāq) remains.
Start today: one-to-one lessons with Al-Azhar graduates, and a free trial before you pay.