TTSusan8-Rules of Nun Sakina and Tanween

The study of Tajweed continues with a focus on the rules governing $Nun\ Sakina$ (non-voweled noon) and $Tanween$ (doubled vowels/nunation).
Distinction and Exceptions: A previous lesson established the differences between $Nun\ Sakina$ and $Tanween$ , including the rules for stopping versus continuing.
Rules for Stopping on Tanween:
- Stopping on $Fathatain$ (Double Fatha): This is stopped using $Madd\ 'Iwad$ (Compensatory Madd). This involves substituting the $Tanween$ with an $Alif$ and holding it for $2$ counts.
- Stopping on $Dammatain$ (Double Damma) and $Kasratain$ (Double Kasra): These are stopped by $Hadhf$ (cancellation/omission). The $Tanween$ is removed, and the letter is pronounced with a $Sukun$ .
- Stopping on $Taa\ Marbuta$ : If a word ends in $Taa\ Marbuta$ with any type of $Tanween$ , the rule is $Ibdal$ (substitution). The $Taa\ Marbuta$ is substituted by a $Haa$ and pronounced with a $Sukun$ .

Linguistic Meaning: To flip, convert, or change something.
Applied Definition: Converting the $Nun\ Sakina$ or $Tanween$ into a hidden $Meem$ when followed by the letter $Baa$ ( $\mathbf{b}$ ), accompanied by a long $Ghunnah$ (nasalization).
Scope: $Iqlab$ can occur within a single word (e.g., $Anbi'ahum$ ) or between two separate words (e.g., $Min\ Ba'd$ ).
The Letter of Iqlab: There is only one letter for this rule: $Baa$ ( $\mathbf{b}$ ).

Flip: Convert the $Nun\ Sakina$ or $Tanween$ into the sound of a $Meem$ .
Hide: Hide that $Meem$ into the following letter ( $Baa$ ). The articulation point of the $Nun$ (the tip of the tongue) is abandoned entirely.
Ghunnah: Pronounce a long nasal sound ( $Ghunnah$ ) from the nasal cavity ( $Al-Khayshum$ ). The length is typically $2$ vowel counts.

Reason for Iqlab: It is difficult to transition directly from the $Nun$ (tip of the tongue/nasal cavity) to the $Baa$ (lips) while maintaining the nasalization. Converting the $Nun$ to a $Meem$ simplifies the articulation because both $Meem$ and $Baa$ share the lips as an articulation point.

Linguistic Meaning: To merge or insert something into another.
Applied Definition: Merging a non-voweled letter (the $Nun\ Sakina$ or $Tanween$ ) into a following voweled letter, resulting in the two being pronounced as one letter with a $Shaddah$ .
Scope: Unlike $Izhar$ or $Iqlab$ , $Idgham$ can only occur between two words. If the conditions for $Idgham$ appear in a single word, the rule is not applied to avoid confusion in word meaning.
The Letters of Idgham: There are $6$ letters, gathered in the word $Yarmaloon$ ( $y, r, m, l, w, n$ ).
Terminology:
- The Merged: The original $Nun\ Sakina$ or $Tanween$ .
- The Merged Into: The following letter from the $Yarmaloon$ group.

1. Based on Ghunnah (Nasalization):

Idgham with Ghunnah: Occurs with the letters $y, n, m, w$ (gathered in $Yanmu$ ). A nasal sound is held for $2$ counts during the merging.
Idgham without Ghunnah: Occurs with the letters $l, r$ . The merging is total, and no nasal sound is produced.

2. Based on Completeness (Camel/Idgham Kaamil vs. Naaqis):

Complete Idgham (Idgham Kaamil): The letter being merged and its characteristic ( $Ghunnah$ ) disappear entirely.
- Letters: $n, m, l, r$ .
- Quranic Sign: A $Shaddah$ is placed on the second letter.
Incomplete Idgham (Idgham Naaqis): The body of the letter disappears, but its characteristic ( $Ghunnah$ ) remains.
- Letters: $y, w$ .
- Quranic Sign: No $Shaddah$ is placed on the second letter.

Linguistic Meaning: Hiding or concealment.
Applied Definition: Pronouncing the $Nun\ Sakina$ or $Tanween$ in a state between $Izhar$ (clarity) and $Idgham$ (merging), without a $Shaddah$ , while maintaining the characteristic of $Ghunnah$ ( $2$ counts).
The Letters of Ikhfa': There are $15$ letters. These are the remaining letters of the Arabic alphabet after removing the letters of $Izhar$ ( $6$ ), $Idgham$ ( $6$ ), and $Iqlab$ ( $1$ ).
Scope: Can occur within a single word or between two words.
The Quality of the Ghunnah:
- Heavy Ghunnah (Tafkheem): If the letter following the $Nun\ Sakina$ is a heavy letter ( $Sād, Dād, ᘠā, Ḁā, Qāf$ ). The back of the tongue is raised.
- Light Ghunnah (Tarqeeq): If the following letter is any of the other $10$ $Ikhfa'$ letters. The tongue remains flat.

Highest Level: With letters $Tā, Dāl, ᘠā$ . The articulation points are very close to the $Nun$ , nearly causing merging, but stopped just short to remain $Ikhfa'$ .
Lowest Level: With letters $Qāf$ and $Kāf$ . Their articulation points (deep tongue) are far from the $Nun$ (tip of tongue), but not far enough to be considered $Izhar$ (throat).
Middle Level: The remaining $10$ letters represent the middle ground of concealment.

Reason: The letters are neither far enough for clear pronunciation ( $Izhar$ ) nor near enough for total merging ( $Idgham$ ).
Method of Execution:
1. Recognize the $Ikhfa'$ letter.
2. Prepare the tongue by hovering it near the articulation point of the next letter without touching it.
3. Position the back of the tongue (raised for heavy, flat for light).
4. Produce the $Ghunnah$ from the nasal cavity, then immediately strike the articulation point of the next letter.

Izhar: The $Nun$ has a small head of a $Khā$ (the $Sukun$ mark) on top. The $Tanween$ marks are perfectly overlapped/stacked (parallel).
Iqlab: The $Nun$ or $Tanween$ is marked with a small vertical $Meem$ ( $\mathbf{m}$ ).
Idgham and Ikhfa': The $Nun$ is stripped of all vowel markings (no $Sukun$ ). The $Tanween$ is sequential or staggered (not perfectly aligned on top of each other).
- If you see no vowel on the $Nun$ followed by a $Shaddah$ , it is Complete Idgham.
- If there is no vowel on the $Nun$ and no $Shaddah$ on the next letter, it is either Incomplete Idgham ( $y, w$ ) or Ikhfa' ( $15$ letters).