Are you searching for “What is Nabr in Tajweed?” Nabr is one of the advanced rules that subtly affects the way you pronounce words. Although it’s not usually taught to beginners, mastering it can enhance the beauty, clarity, and precision of your Quran recitation.

This is an overview of Nabr’s five cases and how to recognize each case to pronounce them correctly. We will also discuss when to shift Nabr, giving examples to retain information. 

What is the Meaning of NABR?

In Arabic, one of the meanings of nabr is to raise one’s voice. The word can have other meanings depending on the context, but in Tajweed, its technical usage is derived from this idea of a slight elevation in the voice. 

Generally, Nabr in tajweed refers to stressing certain letters to ensure the correct rhythm of Quranic words. This stress should be done in 5 cases.

Cases of Nabr in Tajweed:

Nabr refers to a subtle emphasis or prominence given to a letter or syllable when it is in one of the following states:

1. When the last letter you will stop on it carries a Shadda ( ّ)

The Arabic language cares for each letter. If the letter carries a Shadda (ّ), this means it consists of two letters. We need to stress it to ensure that its sound is clear for listeners.

For example:

This rule has two exceptions:

• If the last letter is Meem (م) or Noon (ن), they naturally have the characteristic of Ghunna (nasal sound), which makes them clear without the need for extra stress.
• If the last letter carrying Shadda is one of the letters (ق ط ب ج د), they have the characteristic of Qalqalah (echoing sound), which naturally emphasizes them and makes their pronunciation easier.

For example, see this table:

You can practice more examples in our interactive sessions, such as the Amli Tajweed Course. 

2. If the letter ي or the letter و carries Shadda  ( ّ ) in any position with or without stopping:

The letter ي or the letter و carries the shadda (ّ); they represent a doubled consonant. If you don’t stress them properly, you may elongate their sound as if they have Mad, but they do not.

Practice in the following examples:

3. The letter that carries Shadda that causes Madd Lazim Kalimi Muthaqqal:

Nabr, in this case, is to protect the tongue’s engagement in pronouncing the long vowel may lead to pronouncing the doubled consonant as if it were a single letter, and thus one letter drops from the recitation.

4. Hamza (ء) that is preceded by a Leen or Madd letter. 

 Hamza (ء) that is preceded by a Leen or Madd letter may seem weak due to the Madd. Your breath will be weak after Madd, and as a result, your voice while pronouncing Hamza may not appear. The role of Nabr is to make Hamsa prominent, as the following examples in the table:

5. When the alif of dual form (alif al-tathniyah) drops to avoid two consecutive sukoon. 

This occurs when the alif of the dual form (ـا) is dropped to prevent the meeting of two consecutive silent letters, in cases where confusion with the singular form might arise.

In this situation, the stress (accent/emphasis) falls on the letter preceding the long alif that is dropped in connected reading, to avoid the occurrence of two consecutive silent letters. This stress is applied here so that the dual form is not confused with the singular form.

Here are 3 examples; you can also see more examples in our course (Quranic Arabic). 

How to Determine Nabr in Quranic Verses?

Syllables in the Arabic language can be in 5 shapes, and they are important since stress(Nabr) in Arabic is rule-based and depends on the syllable structure and Harakat in Tajweed.

The five types of Arabic syllables include:

1. Consonant + short vowel.
2. Consonant + short vowel + consonant (sukoon).
3. Consonant + long vowel (ا / و / ي).
4. Long vowel + consonant (sukoon after Madd).
5. Consonant + short vowel + doubled consonant (shadda).

You want to apply Nabr Tajweed, but you feel some confusion about whether you can memorize all these cases and recognize them. The following rule will help you.

1. If the last syllable is heavy (Type 4 or Type 5) and you will stop on this word, you should stress theitf the last syllable is light (Types 1, 2, 3), then the stress usually moves to the penultimate syllable (the one before the last).
2. If a small past verb, you will stress the first syllable.

Read Also: Shaddah In Tajweed

Rules for Shifting Nabr (Stress) in Arabic:

These syllables will be stressed, but when they have certain factors, Nabr will be shifted.

For example, Stress (Nabr) may shift due to word derivation, jussive particles, or the addition of pronouns. You can learn more about grammar in our Quranic Arabic course.

The movement usually spans one syllable, and sometimes two syllables, and the original stress rule does not change in triliteral verbs.

Read Also: Lahn In Tajweed With Examples – Lahn Khafi And Jali

Practice Nabr and learn all Advanced Tajweed Rules:

Enroll in our Online Iijazah Course to learn all the tajweed rules and reach a stage at which you can read the Quran and teach others. This isn’t just another Quran course. It’s a journey of transformation from student to reciter to teacher.

Quranica teachers don’t just teach you how to recite, but they guide you through every tajweed rule, support your memorization journey, and provide you with consistent sessions for your Ijazah. We aim to empower you to recite the Quran with a heart full of faith and support you in your lifelong journey.

 Our courses include:

• Arabic-related courses: whether you are a beginner or mid-level. You can choose your level and start from it. 
• Memorization (Hifz) Programs: Structured memorization plans that guide students through the Quran at their own pace, supported by experienced instructors.
• Tajweed Courses: Well-designed courses help Muslims to reach the right recitation of the Quran correctly. 
• Islamic Studies Courses: These courses help you know more about Islam and Tafsir. This is important since you need to understand the Quran and reflect on your daily life.

Our teachers are carefully selected to be able to explain personalized programs that adapt to each student’s level and goals. They know how to teach a child or an adult, a beginner or an advanced learner. We provide the support you need to grow.

Explore our full range of courses and start a free evaluation session.

Conclusion:

Nabr is very important. It helps you pronounce words correctly, understand meanings, learn grammar more easily, and follow spoken dialects. There are five common cases for Nabr Hamsa after Madd or lean, the doubled Waw and Yaa, stop on doubled letters with a few exceptions, and when the alif of dual form is removed from a word.

Focus on identifying Nabr Tajweed in common words. Later, as you progress, you will be able to understand the shifts caused by derivation, pronouns, or jussive particles. Stress may seem difficult at first, but don’t worry — it is part of the advanced rules, and you don’t need to learn all of it the first time.