The rules of Noon Sakinah and Tanween tell you how to pronounce a Noon with Sukoon (نْ) or a Tanween (ـً ـٍ ـٌ) depending on the letter that follows it. There are four rules: Izhar (clear), Idgham (merging), Iqlab (changing to Meem) and Ikhfa (hiding). Every one of the 28 Arabic letters belongs to exactly one of them.
These rules appear on almost every line of the Quran, so learning them changes a student's recitation more than any other single topic.
The four rules at a glance
| Rule | Meaning | Letters that trigger it | Ghunnah? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Izhar | Clear | ء ه ع ح غ خ (6) | No |
| Idgham with Ghunnah | Merge, with nasal sound | ي ن م و (4) | Yes, 2 counts |
| Idgham without Ghunnah | Merge, no nasal sound | ل ر (2) | No |
| Iqlab | Change to Meem | ب (1) | Yes, 2 counts |
| Ikhfa | Hide | The remaining 15 letters | Yes, 2 counts |
6 + 6 + 1 + 15 = 28. Every letter is covered.
1. Izhar: pronounce it clearly
When Noon Sakinah or Tanween is followed by one of the six throat letters (ء ه ع ح غ خ), the Noon is pronounced clearly from its own point of articulation, with no extended nasal sound.
The reason is distance: these letters come from the throat, far from the tip of the tongue where Noon is made, so there is nothing to merge with.
Examples:
- أَنْعَمْتَ (Surah al-Fatihah): Noon before ع.
- مِنْ خَيْرٍ: Noon before خ.
- عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ: Tanween before ء.
Common mistake: adding a nasal hum before the throat letter. Say the Noon cleanly and move straight on.
2. Idgham: merge into the next letter
When Noon Sakinah or Tanween is followed by one of the six letters gathered in the word يَرْمَلُونَ (ي ر م ل و ن), the Noon merges into the next letter. Idgham only happens between two words.
Idgham with Ghunnah (ي ن م و)
The Noon disappears into the next letter, but its nasal sound remains for two counts.
- مَن يَعْمَلْ: Noon into ي.
- مِن مَّاءٍ: Noon into م.
- مِن وَالٍ: Noon into و.
Idgham without Ghunnah (ل ر)
The Noon merges completely, with no nasal sound at all.
- مِن رَّبِّهِمْ: Noon into ر.
- مِن لَّدُنْهُ: Noon into ل.
The exception: inside one word
If Noon Sakinah is followed by ي or و within the same word, it is read clearly. This happens in four words in the Quran: دُنْيَا, بُنْيَانٌ, صِنْوَانٌ and قِنْوَانٌ. Merging them would make the original word unrecognisable.
3. Iqlab: change it to Meem
When Noon Sakinah or Tanween is followed by ب, the Noon sound changes into a hidden Meem, held with Ghunnah for two counts. In most printed copies of the Quran you will see a small Meem (ۢ) written above the Noon or Tanween as a reminder.
- مِنۢ بَعْدِ
- أَنۢبِئْهُم
- سَمِيعٌۢ بَصِيرٌ
Tip: let the lips close lightly for the Meem without pressing them hard together.
4. Ikhfa: hide it
With the remaining fifteen letters (ت ث ج د ذ ز س ش ص ض ط ظ ف ق ك), the Noon is neither fully pronounced nor fully merged. It is hidden: the tongue does not press firmly where Noon is normally made, and the sound passes through the nose for two counts while the mouth prepares for the next letter.
- مِن قَبْلُ: Noon before ق.
- أَنتُمْ: Noon before ت.
- مِن شَرِّ (Surah al-Falaq): Noon before ش.
- يُنفِقُونَ: Noon before ف.
Two common mistakes:
- Pronouncing a full, clear Noon, which turns Ikhfa into Izhar.
- Shortening the Ghunnah to almost nothing.
The Ghunnah also takes on the "colour" of the next letter. Before heavy letters such as ق, ص and ط it sounds fuller; before light letters such as ت and س it sounds lighter.
How to practise these rules
- Learn one rule a week. Start with Izhar, the easiest to hear.
- Hunt for examples. Open Juz Amma and underline every Noon Sakinah and Tanween. Write the rule above each one.
- Recite slowly first. Exaggerate the Ghunnah at the start, then bring it to a natural two counts.
- Recite to a teacher. You cannot hear your own Ikhfa clearly. A teacher will tell you immediately if it is too clear, too short or too long.
- Listen and imitate. Follow along with a precise reciter such as Shaykh al-Husary, pausing after each verse to repeat.
Where this fits
These four rules are the heart of beginner Tajweed. If you are just starting, read our overview of Tajweed rules for beginners, and see how long it takes to learn Tajweed. To practise them with a teacher who listens to every line you recite, join our course to learn Tajweed online.