When a Noon Sakinah (نْ) or Tanween (ــًــٍــٌ) is followed by certain letters, one of four rules applies: Izhar (pronounce clearly) before the 6 throat letters ء ه ع ح غ خ; Idgham (merge) before the 6 letters of يرملون; Iqlab (change to a Meem sound) before ب; and Ikhfa (hide with Ghunnah) before the remaining 15 letters.
What are Noon Sakinah and Tanween?
Noon Sakinah is a Noon with a Sukoon, or with no vowel at all: نْ. Tanween is a doubled vowel at the end of a word that is pronounced as a hidden Noon: ـً ـٍ ـٌ. Because both make the same “n” sound, they follow the same four rules. What decides the rule is the letter that comes right after.
1. Izhar (إظهار): clear pronunciation
Letters: ء ه ع ح غ خ (the six throat letters)
Pronounce the Noon clearly with no extra nasal sound. The throat letters are far from the place of the Noon, so the two sounds do not blend.
Examples: مَنْ آمَنَ · أَنْعَمْتَ · عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ
2. Idgham (إدغام): merging
Letters: ي ر م ل و ن, remembered by the word يَرْمَلُونَ
The Noon sound merges into the next letter. There are two kinds:
- With Ghunnah (nasal sound held for two counts) before ي ن م و, remembered as يَنْمُو. Example: مَنْ يَقُولُ
- Without Ghunnah before ل ر. Example: مِنْ رَبِّهِمْ
Important exception: Idgham only happens across two words. Inside a single word, such as دُنْيَا and قِنْوَانٌ, the Noon is read clearly.
3. Iqlab (إقلاب): changing
Letter: ب only
The Noon sound turns into a hidden Meem, held with Ghunnah for two counts, with the lips lightly closed. Most printed Quran copies place a small Meem (م) above the Noon as a reminder.
Examples: مِنْۢ بَعْدِ · سَمِيعٌۢ بَصِيرٌ
4. Ikhfa (إخفاء): hiding
Letters: the remaining 15: ت ث ج د ذ ز س ش ص ض ط ظ ف ق ك
The Noon is neither fully pronounced nor merged. The tongue does not touch the place of the Noon; the sound is hidden in the nose with a Ghunnah of two counts, while the mouth prepares for the next letter.
Examples: أَنْتُمْ · مِنْ قَبْلِ · عَذَابًا شَدِيدًا
Summary table
| Rule | Letters | What happens | Ghunnah |
|---|---|---|---|
| Izhar | 6 throat letters | Noon read clearly | No |
| Idgham | ي ر م ل و ن | Noon merges into next letter | Yes in ينمو, no in ل ر |
| Iqlab | ب | Noon becomes a hidden Meem | Yes |
| Ikhfa | 15 letters | Noon hidden in the nose | Yes |
How to practice
- Take one page of Juz 'Amma and circle every Noon Sakinah and Tanween. Name the rule before you read it aloud.
- Record yourself and compare with a well-known Qari reciting slowly (Murattal).
- Recite the same page to a teacher, who will catch the Ghunnah length and the Ikhfa sound, which are hard to judge on your own.
وَرَتِّلِ الْقُرْآنَ تَرْتِيلًا
“And recite the Quran with measured recitation.”
Surah Al-Muzzammil 73:4
Common questions
How many rules of Noon Sakinah are there?
Four: Izhar, Idgham, Iqlab and Ikhfa. Idgham is divided into Idgham with Ghunnah and Idgham without Ghunnah.
What are the letters of Ikhfa?
The 15 letters of Ikhfa are ت ث ج د ذ ز س ش ص ض ط ظ ف ق ك.
How long is a Ghunnah?
A Ghunnah is held for about two counts (two harakat), roughly the time it takes to fold and open one finger twice at a moderate pace.
Why is there no Idgham in the word دُنْيَا?
Idgham only applies when the Noon Sakinah and the Idgham letter are in two separate words. Inside one word the Noon is read clearly so the meaning of the word is preserved.