Among all the rules of Tajweed, the rules of noon sakinah and tanween are usually the first that students learn after the basics of reading.
They appear on almost every line of the Quran, so mastering them makes an immediate difference to the beauty and accuracy of your recitation.
There are four rules: izhar, idgham, iqlab and ikhfa. Each one is triggered by the letter that comes after the noon sakinah or tanween.
Once you know which letters belong to which rule, and you practise them with a teacher, they quickly become natural.
This guide explains what noon sakinah and tanween are, sets out each of the four rules with its letters and examples from the Quran, covers common mistakes and gives you a practical plan for learning and practising them.
What Is Noon Sakinah?
Definition
Noon sakinah is a noon (ن) that carries a sukoon, meaning it has no vowel.
It is written as نْ, though in many Mushafs the sukoon sign is left off when a rule other than izhar applies.
Where it appears
Noon sakinah can appear in the middle of a word, such as “anʿamta” (أَنْعَمْتَ), or at the end of a word, such as “min” (مِنْ) and “‘an” (عَنْ). It appears in nouns, verbs and particles.
Its sound
On its own, noon sakinah is pronounced from the tip of the tongue touching the gum behind the upper front teeth, with a light nasal quality.
What Is Tanween?
Definition
Tanween is a doubled vowel sign at the end of a noun: two fathas (ـً), two kasras (ـٍ) or two dammas (ـٌ).
It is pronounced as an extra noon sakinah after the vowel, though it is not written as a noon.
Examples
- “kitabun” (كِتَابٌ) is pronounced kitabun.
- “kitaban” (كِتَابًا) is pronounced kitaban.
- “kitabin” (كِتَابٍ) is pronounced kitabin.
Why it shares the same rules
Because tanween is pronounced as a noon sakinah, it follows exactly the same four rules. When you learn the rules for one, you have learned them for both.
Difference between them
| Feature | Noon sakinah | Tanween |
|---|---|---|
| Written as | ن with sukoon | Doubled vowel signs |
| Position | Middle or end of word | End of nouns only |
| Pronounced | Noon sound | Extra noon sound after vowel |
| When stopping | Remains | Dropped (or becomes alif for fathatan) |
| Rules | Four rules | Same four rules |
Rule 1: Izhar (Clear Pronunciation)
Meaning
Izhar means “to make clear”. When noon sakinah or tanween is followed by one of the throat letters, the noon is pronounced clearly, without extra nasalisation or merging.
The six letters of izhar
The six throat letters are: hamzah (ء), ha (ه), ʿayn (ع), ha (ح), ghayn (غ) and kha (خ).
Why izhar happens
These letters come from the throat, far from the noon’s articulation point at the tip of the tongue.
Because the two points are far apart, the noon cannot merge into them and is pronounced clearly.
Examples
| Letter | Example | Transliteration |
|---|---|---|
| ء | مَنْ آمَنَ | man amana |
| ه | مِنْهُمْ | minhum |
| ع | أَنْعَمْتَ | anʿamta |
| ح | مِنْ حَكِيمٍ | min hakim |
| غ | مِنْ غِلٍّ | min ghill |
| خ | مَنْ خَشِيَ | man khashiya |
How to pronounce it
Say the noon clearly and move directly to the throat letter without holding a nasal sound.
Do not add a small vowel after the noon, and do not stop between the noon and the next letter.
Rule 2: Idgham (Merging)
Meaning
Idgham means “to merge”. When noon sakinah or tanween is followed by one of six letters, the noon merges into the next letter.
The six letters of idgham
The letters are collected in the word “yarmalun” (يَرْمَلُونَ): ya (ي), ra (ر), meem (م), lam (ل), waw (و) and noon (ن).
Two types of idgham
Idgham with ghunnah (with nasalisation): with the four letters ya, noon, meem and waw (يَنْمُو).
The noon merges into the next letter while keeping a nasal sound held for about two counts.
Idgham without ghunnah: with lam and ra. The noon merges completely into the lam or ra with no nasal sound.
| Type | Letters | Example | Pronounced |
|---|---|---|---|
| With ghunnah | ي | مَنْ يَقُولُ | may-yaqulu |
| With ghunnah | ن | مِنْ نِعْمَةٍ | min-niʿmah |
| With ghunnah | م | مِنْ مَاءٍ | mim-ma’ |
| With ghunnah | و | مِنْ وَالٍ | miw-wal |
| Without ghunnah | ل | مِنْ لَدُنْهُ | mil-ladunhu |
| Without ghunnah | ر | مِنْ رَبِّهِمْ | mir-rabbihim |
The important condition
Idgham only happens between two words. If noon sakinah and one of these letters appear in the same word, the noon is pronounced clearly.
Scholars of Tajweed mention four words in the Quran where this occurs: “dunya” (الدُّنْيَا), “bunyan” (بُنْيَانٌ), “qinwan” (قِنْوَانٌ) and “sinwan” (صِنْوَانٌ). This is sometimes called izhar mutlaq.
Rule 3: Iqlab (Conversion)
Meaning
Iqlab means “to convert”. When noon sakinah or tanween is followed by the letter ba (ب), the noon sound is converted into a meem sound with ghunnah.
The single letter of iqlab
There is only one letter: ba (ب).
How it is marked
In most Mushafs, a small meem (ـۢ) is written above the noon or next to the tanween to remind the reader of iqlab.
Examples
| Example | Transliteration | Pronounced |
|---|---|---|
| مِنْ بَعْدِ | min baʿdi | mim baʿdi |
| أَنْبِئْهُمْ | anbi’hum | ambi’hum |
| سَمِيعٌ بَصِيرٌ | samiʿun basir | samiʿum basir |
How to pronounce it
Change the noon into a meem, close the lips lightly without pressing hard and hold the nasal sound for about two counts before pronouncing the ba.
Rule 4: Ikhfa (Concealment)
Meaning
Ikhfa means “to hide”.
When noon sakinah or tanween is followed by one of the remaining fifteen letters, the noon is partly hidden: it is pronounced between izhar and idgham, with a nasal sound held for about two counts.
The fifteen letters of ikhfa
ت ث ج د ذ ز س ش ص ض ط ظ ف ق ك
These are all the letters of the alphabet that are not izhar, idgham or iqlab letters, except alif, which never follows a noon sakinah directly.
Examples
| Letter | Example | Transliteration |
|---|---|---|
| ت | كُنْتُمْ | kuntum |
| ث | مَنْثُورًا | manthura |
| ج | أَنْجَيْنَاكُمْ | anjaynakum |
| د | أَنْدَادًا | andada |
| ذ | مُنْذِرٌ | mundhir |
| س | مِنْ سُوءٍ | min su’ |
| ص | يَنْصُرُكُمْ | yansurukum |
| ف | فَانْفَلَقَ | fanfalaqa |
| ق | مِنْ قَبْلُ | min qablu |
| ك | مِنْكُمْ | minkum |
Heavy and light ikhfa
The quality of the ghunnah depends on the next letter. Before heavy letters such as sad, dad, ta (ط), dha (ظ) and qaf, the ghunnah becomes heavier and fuller. Before light letters, it stays light.
How to pronounce it
Prepare your tongue for the next letter while the nasal sound comes through the nose. The tongue should not press firmly on the noon’s articulation point.
Hold the ghunnah for about two counts, then pronounce the next letter.
Summary Table of All Four Rules
| Rule | Meaning | Letters | Ghunnah |
|---|---|---|---|
| Izhar | Clear | ء ه ع ح غ خ | None (natural noon only) |
| Idgham with ghunnah | Merge with nasal | ي ن م و | Two counts |
| Idgham without ghunnah | Full merge | ل ر | None |
| Iqlab | Convert to meem | ب | Two counts |
| Ikhfa | Conceal | 15 remaining letters | Two counts |
Memory Aids
Izhar letters
Remember that izhar letters are the throat letters. If the next letter comes from the throat, pronounce the noon clearly.
Idgham letters
Remember the word “yarmalun” for all six letters, and “yanmu” for the four with ghunnah.
Iqlab letter
Only one letter: ba. Look for the small meem in the Mushaf.
Ikhfa letters
Everything else. If the letter is not a throat letter, not in “yarmalun” and not ba, it is ikhfa.
Common Mistakes
Adding ghunnah in izhar
Many beginners nasalise the noon before throat letters. In izhar, the noon is clear, with only its natural light nasal quality.
Pronouncing the noon in idgham
Some readers say “min rabbihim” with a clear noon instead of merging it into the ra.
Pressing the lips too hard in iqlab
The lips should close lightly. Pressing hard makes the sound harsh.
Turning ikhfa into idgham
In ikhfa, the noon is hidden, not fully merged. The tongue should prepare for the next letter without a full noon contact.
Shortening the ghunnah
Ghunnah in idgham, iqlab and ikhfa should be held for about two counts. Rushing it loses the beauty of the recitation.
Forgetting the same-word exception
Remember the four words “dunya”, “bunyan”, “qinwan” and “sinwan”, where izhar applies even though the letters are idgham letters.
How to Practise Noon Sakinah Rules
Step 1: Learn the letters
Write each rule and its letters on a card. Review the cards daily until you know them by heart.
Step 2: Spot the rules in Surah Al-Fatihah and Juz Amma
Take a short surah and mark every noon sakinah and tanween. Identify which rule applies to each one.
Step 3: Read slowly
Read the marked surah slowly, applying each rule carefully.
Step 4: Listen to a skilled reciter
Listen to a clear, slow recitation and pay attention to how the reciter handles each noon sakinah and tanween.
Step 5: Recite to a teacher
Recite to a qualified teacher who can correct your ghunnah length, your ikhfa quality and any mistakes you cannot hear yourself.
Step 6: Apply in prayer
Recite carefully in your prayers, applying the rules you have learned.
A Two-Week Practice Plan
| Days | Focus | Practice surahs |
|---|---|---|
| 1–2 | Izhar | Surah Al-Fatihah, Al-Ikhlas |
| 3–4 | Idgham with and without ghunnah | Al-Falaq, An-Nas, Al-Masad |
| 5–6 | Iqlab | Al-Humazah, Al-Qariʿah |
| 7–9 | Ikhfa | Al-Kawthar, Al-Kafirun, An-Nasr |
| 10–12 | All four rules mixed | Juz Amma surahs of choice |
| 13–14 | Teacher review and recording | Any surah |
Practice Exercise
Read the following phrases and identify the rule in each:
- “min ʿilm” (مِنْ عِلْمٍ)
- “min rabbihim” (مِنْ رَبِّهِمْ)
- “min baʿdi” (مِنْ بَعْدِ)
- “min qablu” (مِنْ قَبْلُ)
- “khayrun wa abqa” (خَيْرٌ وَأَبْقَى)
- “kuntum” (كُنْتُمْ)
Answers: 1. Izhar (ʿayn). 2. Idgham without ghunnah (ra). 3. Iqlab (ba). 4. Ikhfa (qaf, heavy). 5. Idgham with ghunnah (waw). 6. Ikhfa (ta).
The Connection to Meem Sakinah Rules
After learning noon sakinah rules, students usually move on to the rules of meem sakinah: ikhfa shafawi before ba, idgham shafawi before meem and izhar shafawi before all other letters.
These rules are simpler, and learning them right after noon sakinah helps the two sets of rules reinforce each other.
Noon and Meem With Shaddah
Whenever a noon or meem carries a shaddah, such as in “inna” (إِنَّ) or “thumma” (ثُمَّ), it must be recited with full ghunnah for two counts. This is called ghunnah mushaddadah.
It is closely related to the noon sakinah rules and is one of the most frequently occurring Tajweed features in the Quran.
Why These Rules Matter
Preserving the Quran as revealed
The Quran was revealed with a particular manner of recitation, transmitted from the Prophet ﷺ through generations of teachers. Tajweed rules preserve this manner.
Beauty of recitation
The Prophet ﷺ encouraged beautifying the voice with the Quran. Correct ghunnah, merging and concealment give recitation its distinctive flowing beauty.
Confidence in prayer
Knowing these rules allows you to recite confidently in salah, whether alone or leading others.
A Note on Stopping and Joining
The rules of noon sakinah apply when you join one word to the next.
If you stop on a word ending in tanween, the rules no longer apply in the same way: tanween with damma or kasra is dropped and the letter is read with sukoon, while fathatan becomes a short alif sound.
Learning where to stop and where to continue, guided by the stopping signs in the Mushaf, is therefore part of applying these rules correctly.
A teacher can show you how the same phrase sounds when joined and when paused, which is one of the best ways to hear the rules in action.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the four rules of noon sakinah?
Izhar, idgham, iqlab and ikhfa.
Do tanween and noon sakinah follow the same rules?
Yes. Tanween is pronounced as a noon sakinah, so the same four rules apply.
How long is the ghunnah?
About two counts in idgham with ghunnah, iqlab and ikhfa.
Which letters cause izhar?
The six throat letters: hamzah, ha (ه), ʿayn, ha (ح), ghayn and kha.
Why is there no ghunnah with lam and ra?
Because the noon merges completely into these letters, leaving no nasal sound.
How long does it take to learn these rules?
Most students can learn the rules in one to two weeks, but applying them fluently takes regular practice with a teacher over several months.
Final Thoughts
The rules of noon sakinah and tanween are among the most important and frequently used rules of Tajweed.
With four rules and a clear set of letters for each, they are easy to learn but require practice to master.
Learn the letters, mark the rules in short surahs, listen to skilled reciters and recite regularly to a qualified teacher.
With patience, izhar, idgham, iqlab and ikhfa will become a natural part of your recitation, bringing beauty and accuracy to every verse you read.
Master izhar, idgham, iqlab and ikhfa with live correction.