Noon Sakinah and Tanween share a common ‘n’ sound and are governed by four Tajweed rules—Izhar (clear pronunciation with throat letters), Idgham (merging with or without nasalization), Iqlab (conversion to an ‘m’ sound before Baa’), and Ikhfa (hidden nasalization with 15 letters). Each rule fine-tunes pronunciation based on the following letter. 

The seamless flow between words in a beautiful Quran recitation is one of its most captivating qualities. This flow is largely governed by a set of four elegant rules applied to the Noon Sakinah and Tanween. 

Learning how the simple ‘n’ sound can be clarified, merged, converted, or hidden is the secret to moving beyond a disjointed reading and into a smooth, connected recitation.

What is Saakin in Tajweed?

A letter is described as saakin when it carries no vowel (fathah, dammah, kasrah). This state of stillness is marked by a small circle above the letter, called a sukoon (ـْ).

In the science of Tajweed, understanding the concept of a saakin letter is your first step. It is the foundation upon which many pronunciation rules are built, bringing precision to your recitation.

Definition of Noon Sakinah and Tanween

You might wonder why these two concepts, Noon Sakinah and Tanween, are always taught together. The reason is beautifully simple and lies in the sound they both produce.

Both Noon Sakinah and Tanween create the exact same ‘n’ sound at the end of a word. Because they are phonetically identical, they are governed by the same set of four rules in Tajweed.

1. Definition of Noon Sakinah

A Noon Sakinah is simply the letter Noon (ن) with a sukoon (ْ) on it (نْ). It has a clear ‘n’ sound and can appear in the middle or at the end of a word.

2. Definition of Tanween

Tanween refers to the double vowel markings found at the end of nouns. They appear as two fathahs (ـً), two kasrahs (ـٍ), or two dammahs (ـٌ).

Though they look like double vowels, they are pronounced by adding an ‘n’ sound to the vowel. For example, ‘بٌ’ is pronounced ‘bun’ and ‘بًا’ is pronounced ‘ban’.

The Four Rules of Noon Sakinah and Tanween

The way a Noon Sakinah or Tanween is pronounced depends entirely on the letter that comes immediately after it. These interactions give rise to four distinct and elegant rules.

These four rules are Izhar (Clarity), Idgham (Merging), Iqlab (Conversion), and Ikhfa (Hiding). 

Let’s explore noon saakin and tanween rules examples and simple elaboration.

You can perfect your pronunciation with guided, one-on-one feedback in Quranica’s Learn Tajweed for beginners Course.

A. Izhar Halqi (The Clarity)

Perfecting the recitation of the Quran means giving each letter its due right. The rule of Izhar is foundational to this, ensuring certain letters are pronounced with absolute clarity without nasalization (ghunnah).

The word Izhar (إِظْهَار) in Arabic means ‘to make clear’ or ‘to clarify’. This is precisely what we do with the ‘n’ sound of the Noon Sakinah or Tanween when this rule is applied. 

Allow the Noon to be heard fully and authentically before moving to the next letter.

1. Letters of Izhar

The six letters of Izhar Halqi, named so because they originate from the throat (the Halq), are: (ء هـ ع ح غ خ). When Noon Sakinah or Tanween is followed by one of these letters, the ‘n’ sound is pronounced clearly and distinctly.

The rule is called Izhar Halqi (حَلْقِي) because it is triggered by the six letters that are articulated from the throat, or Al-Halq (الْحَلْق) in Arabic. 

2. Examples of Izhar Halqi in the Quran

To truly master Izhar, let’s observe it in action with an example for each of the six throat letters. Notice how the ‘n’ sound of the Noon Sakinah or Tanween is always pronounced distinctly.

A. Izhar Halqi With The Letter Hamza (ء)

“وَيَنْأَوْنَ” 

“′yan′awna′” 

“and they keep (others) away” (Al-An’am: 26). 

The Noon Sakinah is followed by Hamza (ء), so the ‘نْ’ is pronounced with complete clarity: ‘yan-awna’.

B. Izhar Halqi With The Letter Haa (هـ)

“سَلَامٌ هِيَ” 

“′salaamunhiya′” 

“Peace it is” (Al-Qadr: 5). 

Here, the Tanween on the letter ‘م’ is followed by ‘هـ’. The ‘n’ sound of the Tanween is pronounced clearly: ‘salaamun hiya’.

C. Izhar Halqi With The Letter ‘Ayn (ع)

“أَنْعَمْتَ” 

“′an′amta′” 

“You have bestowed (Your) favor” (Al-Fatihah: 7). 

In this daily recited verse, the Noon Sakinah is followed by the letter ‘ع’, requiring a clear ‘an-‘ sound.

D. Izhar Halqi With The Letter Haa (ح)

“عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ” 

“′azeezunhakeem′” 

“All-Mighty, All-Wise” (Al-Baqarah: 129). 

The Tanween is followed by ‘ح’, a throat letter. Therefore, the Tanween is pronounced clearly as ‘azeezun’, without any merging or hiding.

E. Izhar Halqi With The Letter Ghayn (غ)

“مِنْ غِلٍّ” 

“′minghillin′” 

“of resentment” (Al-A’raf: 43). 

The Noon Sakinah is followed by the letter ‘غ’. The ‘n’ sound is shown clearly and distinctly before articulating the ‘غ’.

F. Izhar Halqi With The Letter Khaa (خ)

“عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٌ” 

“′aleemunkhabeer′” 

“All-Knowing, Well-Acquainted” (Al-Hujurat: 13). 

The Tanween on the letter ‘م’ is followed by ‘خ’. We pronounce the ‘n’ sound fully, saying ‘aleemun khabeer’.

B. Idgham (The Merging)

Idgham is the rule of merging or assimilating one letter into another. When Noon Sakinah or Tanween precedes specific letters, its sound is merged into the following letter, creating a smooth and flowing recitation. 

This merging is not always the same; it varies in its completeness. 

This gives us two distinct categories of Idgham, one that retains a quality of the Noon, and one that completely assimilates it.

1. Idgham with Ghunnah (Merging with Nasalization)

This is known as an incomplete merging (Idgham Naqis). Noon ghunna rules occur when Noon Sakinah or Tanween is followed by one of the four letters: (ي ن م و), which are collected in the mnemonic (يَنْمُو).

Here, the ‘n’ sound of the Noon is merged, but its primary characteristic—the nasal sound, or ghunnah—is retained and held for the duration of two beats.

Examples of Idgham with Ghunnah in the Quran

“وَمَن يَعْمَلْ” 

“′wamanya′mal′” 

“And whoever does” (An-Nisa: 124). 

The Noon Sakinah is followed by ‘ي’, so the ‘n’ is merged into the ‘ي’ while holding a two-beat ghunnah.

“مِن وَلِيٍّ” 

“′minwaliyyin′” 

“any protector” (Ar-Ra’d: 37). 

Here, the Noon Sakinah is followed by ‘و’, so it is merged into the ‘و’ with a beautiful nasal sound.

2. Idgham without Ghunnah (Merging without Nasalization)

This is known as a complete merging (Idgham Kaamil). This type of merging happens with the letters Laam (ل) and Raa’ (ر).

The Noon Sakinah or Tanween is completely assimilated into the following letter. 

Both the ‘n’ sound and its associated ghunnah disappear entirely, as if the Noon was never there.

Examples of Idgham without Ghunnah in the Quran

“مِن لَّدُنْهُ” 

“′minladunhu′” 

“from Himself” (An-Nisa: 40). 

The Noon Sakinah is followed by ‘ل’, so its sound is completely assimilated into the ‘ل’ without any nasalization.

“غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ” 

“′ghafoorunraheem′” 

“Forgiving and Merciful” (Al-Baqarah: 173). 

The Tanween on the ‘ر’ is followed by another ‘ر’, resulting in a complete merging with no ghunnah. The sound becomes ‘ghafoorur-raheem’.

3. Letters of Idgham

The six letters of Idgham are collectively grouped in the mnemonic (يَرْمَلُون). They are divided into the two categories as explained above, governing whether the merge includes a ghunnah or not.

4. Izhar Mutlaq is The Exception to Idgham 

A critical condition for Idgham is that the Noon Sakinah and the Idgham letter must be in two separate words. If they appear within a single word, the rule of Idgham is not applied.

Instead, the Noon Sakinah must be pronounced clearly. This is a special rule called Izhar Mutlaq (Absolute Clarity). There are only four such words in the Quran:

• الدُّنْيَا (ad-dunya)
• صِنْوَانٌ (sinwanun)
• قِنْوَانٌ (qinwanun)
• بُنْيَانٌ (bunyanun)

For a deeper dive into this rule and practical exercises, consider exploring Quranica’s Advanced Tajweed Course.

C. Iqlab (The Conversion)

Iqlab is a unique and straightforward rule that involves the conversion of one sound into another. 

Iqlab adds a specific phonetic quality to recitation when the letter ‘ب’ appears in a particular context.

Iqlab is perhaps the easiest of the four rules to identify, as it applies to only one letter of the Arabic alphabet.

1. The Letter of Iqlab

The rule of Iqlab applies to only one letter: the Baa’ (ب). When Noon Sakinah or Tanween is followed by a ‘ب’, the ‘n’ sound is converted into a light ‘m’ sound, held with a gentle ghunnah.

2. Examples of Iqlab in the Quran

“مِن بَعْدِ” 

“′minba′di′” 

“from after” (Al-Baqarah: 27). 

The Noon Sakinah is followed by ‘ب’, so the ‘n’ sound is converted to an ‘m’ sound, pronounced as ‘mim ba’di’.

“سَمِيعٌ بَصِيرٌ” 

“′samee′unbaseer′” 

“All-Hearing, All-Seeing” (Al-Baqarah: 127). 

The Tanween on the ‘ع’ is followed by ‘ب’, so it is pronounced ‘samee’um baseer’ with a light ghunnah.

D. Ikhfa Haqiqi (The Hiding)

Ikhfa, or hiding, is the most common rule of Noon Sakinah and Tanween. It creates a beautiful, subtle sound that is neither a clear pronunciation nor a full merging, but something gracefully in between. 

The literal meaning of Ikhfa is “to hide or conceal.” 

In Tajweed, it means to hide the sound of the Noon Sakinah or Tanween by pronouncing it without completely touching the tongue to the point of articulation of the Noon. 

Instead, the tongue hovers close to the articulation point of the letter that follows the Noon.

With this action there is a gentle nasal sound, or ghunnah, that is held for two beats. A key point of beauty in this rule is that the quality of the ghunnah changes. 

It can be heavy (mufakham) or light (muraqqaq), depending on the nature of the letter that comes after it.

1. Letters of Ikhfa

The letters of Ikhfa are the remaining 15 letters of the Arabic alphabet not included in the previous three rules: (ص ذ ث ك ج ش ق س د ط ز ف ت ض ظ).

When Noon Sakinah or Tanween is followed by any of these letters, the ‘n’ sound is “hidden,” and this beautiful nasalization is applied.

2. Examples of Ikhfa in the Quran

“أَنفُسَهُمْ” 

“′anfusahum′” 

“themselves” (Al-Baqarah: 9). 

The Noon Sakinah is followed by ‘ف’, a light letter. The ‘n’ sound is hidden with a light ghunnah as the mouth prepares to pronounce the ‘ف’.

“رِزْقًا قَالَ” 

“′rizqanqala′” 

“a provision, they said” (Al-Baqarah: 25). 

The Tanween is followed by ‘ق’, a heavy letter. The ‘n’ sound is hidden with a heavy ghunnah, and the back of the tongue rises in preparation for the ‘ق’.

“مِن صَلصَالٍ” 

“′minsalsalin′” 

“from sounding clay” (Al-Hijr: 26). 

Here, the Noon Sakinah is followed by the heavy letter ‘ص’. The resulting ghunnah is also heavy, resonating with a fuller sound.

“وَأَنتُمْ” 

“′waantum′” 

“and you” (Al-Baqarah: 22). 

The Noon Sakinah is followed by the light letter ‘ت’. The ghunnah is therefore light and delicate, with the tongue positioned near the articulation point of the ‘ت’.

Read also about: Meem Sakinah Rules With Examples

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FAQs

How many rules of Noon Sakinah and Tanween are there?

There are four primary rules that govern the pronunciation of a Noon Sakinah and Tanween. These four essential rules are Izhar (The Clarity), Idgham (The Merging), Iqlab (The Conversion), and Ikhfa (The Hiding).

What are the rules of Noon Sakinah and Tanween?

These rules dictate how the ‘n’ sound of a Noon Sakinah (نْ) and Tanween (ـً, ـٍ, ـٌ) should be pronounced. In summary: with Izhar, the ‘n’ sound is pronounced clearly. With Idgham, it is merged into the next letter. With Iqlab, it is converted to an ‘m’ sound. And with Ikhfa, it is gently hidden with a nasal sound (ghunnah).

What are the rules of Noon and Meem Mushaddad?

The rule for a Noon Mushaddad (نّ) and a Meem Mushaddad (مّ) is constant: whenever you encounter either of these, you must apply a clear nasal sound, or ghunnah, holding it for the length of two beats. This rule applies regardless of their position in a word, as seen in words like ‘إِنَّ’ and ‘ثُمَّ’.

Conclusion

Mastering the rules of Noon Sakinah and Tanween is essential for enhancing Quranic recitation. Both produce the same ‘n’ sound, and their correct articulation depends on the letter that follows, forming the basis of four core Tajweed rules.

The first rule, Izhar Halqi, emphasizes clarity. When Noon Sakinah or Tanween is followed by one of six throat letters (ء هـ ع ح غ خ), the ‘n’ sound must be pronounced distinctly, without nasalization.

The second rule, Idgham, involves merging the ‘n’ sound with the next letter. If followed by (ي ن م و), the merge includes a nasal sound (ghunnah), while with (ل ر), the merge is complete and without ghunnah. An exception, Izhar Mutlaq, applies when both letters are in one word.

The third rule, Iqlab, is a transformation. When followed by the letter Baa’ (ب), the ‘n’ sound becomes a light ‘m’ sound, accompanied by a soft nasal tone. This rule is unique for applying to only one letter.

The fourth rule, Ikhfa, conceals the ‘n’ sound when followed by any of the remaining 15 letters. It creates a soft, nasal resonance that varies in weight depending on the letter that follows. Quranica offers expert-guided courses to help learners perfect these rules.