Exhaustive Guide to the Tajweed Rulings of Nun Sakinah, Tanween, Izhar, and Idgham

Definition and Distinctions of Nun Sakinah and Tanween

Nun Sakinah is defined as a letter Nun that is free from any vowel movement (Haraka). It may appear in text with a visible Sukun mark ($نْ$) or without any mark ($ن$). This Nun is characterized as being fixed and stable in both لفظاً (pronunciation) and خطاً (writing), as well as in both وصلاً (continuation of speech) and وقفاً (stopping). It appears within nouns, verbs, and particles, and its position can be متوسطة (in the middle of a word) or متطرفة (at the end of a word). Examples provided include أَنْعَمَ ($An'ama$) and فَانْفَلَقَ ($Fanfalaq$).

In contrast, Tanween is defined as a redundant or extra Nun Sakinah that attaches to the end of nouns لفظاً (in pronunciation) and وصلاً (in continuation) for purposes other than emphasis (Tawkid). However, it is separated or absent خطاً (in writing) and وقفاً (when stopping). The physical mark for Tanween consists of two Fathas ($ــف$), two Kasras ($ــِ$), or two Dammas ($ــق$). Examples include رَحِيماً ($Rahiman$), رَحِيمٌ ($Rahimun$), and رَحِيمٍ ($Rahimin$).

The differences between the two can be summarized across five criteria. First, Nun Sakinah can be original (Asliyyah) to the word like in أَنْعَمَ or extra (Za'idah) like in انْفَلَقَ, whereas Tanween is strictly extra. Second, Nun Sakinah appears in the middle or end of words, while Tanween is exclusively at the end. Third, Nun Sakinah exists in nouns, verbs, and particles, while Tanween is restricted to nouns. Fourth, Nun Sakinah is fixed during both continuation and stopping, but Tanween is fixed only during continuation. Fifth, Nun Sakinah is fixed in both writing and pronunciation, while Tanween exists only in pronunciation. Despite these differences, they share one fundamental similarity: their sound during pronunciation is identical.

Conceptualizing the Four Rulings via Nature Metaphors

To simplify the four rulings governed by Nun Sakinah and Tanween, they are compared to scenes from nature. In this metaphor, the Sun represents the essence (Dhat) of the Nun, and its rays represent the attribute (Sifah), which is the Ghunnah (nasal sound).

The first scene represents Al-Izhar (The Clarification), which is likened to the sun appearing clearly in a clear sky. Here, the Nun Sakinah appears fully in essence and attribute without any increase in Ghunnah. The second scene represents Al-Idgham (The Merging/Insertion), likened to the sun entering the night; the static Nun disappears either partially or completely into the following letter. The third scene represents Al-Ikhfa (The Hiding), likened to the sun hiding behind clouds where its rays (the Ghunnah) are still visible. This is a state between Izhar and Idgham. The fourth scene represents Al-Qalb (The Conversion), likened to the sun turning into a moon that disappears behind clouds; the Nun Sakinah is converted into a hidden Meem ($m$) accompanied by Ghunnah.

The First Ruling: Al-Izhar (Clarification)

Linguistically, Al-Izhar translates to Al-Bayan (clarity or manifestation). In technical Tajweed terminology, it is defined as the act of bringing every letter out from its point of articulation (Makhraj) without any increase in the Ghunnah. The cause for Izhar is typically the distance between the point of articulation of the Nun (the tip of the tongue) and the throat letters.

There are six letters of Izhar, often referred to as the throat letters (Al-Huruf al-Halqiyyah): Hamza ($ء$), Ha ($ه$), ‘Ain ($ع$), Ha’ ($ح$), Ghain ($ر$), and Kha’ ($خ$). Examples of these in practice include the phrases نلف حلملف ($Narun Hamiyah$), فقسلنلرفضون ($Fasayunghidun$), ملن هلاجفر ($Min Hajara$), and سفمليعٌ عفلليمٍ ($Sami'un 'Alim$).

The Second Ruling: Al-Idgham (Merging)

Linguistically, Al-Idgham means Al-Idkhal (insertion or entry). In technical terms, it is the insertion of a static letter into a vowelized letter such that they become a single stressed (Mushaddad) letter. During pronunciation, the point of articulation is raised only once for the second letter. The letters of Idgham are six in total, grouped in the mnemonic word ‘Yarmalun’ (يرملون), which consists of the letters: Yaa ($ي$), Raa ($ر$), Meem ($م$), Laam ($ل$), Waw ($و$), and Nun ($ن$).

Idgham is categorized into two main divisions based on the presence of the nasal sound (Ghunnah). The first is Idgham with Ghunnah (Idgham bi-Ghunnah), which involves the letters in the mnemonic ‘Yanmu’ (ينمو), consisting of Yaa, Nun, Meem, and Waw. Examples include مِن نّفعْمف ($Min Na’mah$), مِن مّفاءٍ ($Min Ma'in$), مِن يفعْمفل ($Min Ya’mal$), and مِن وفالٍ ($Min Walin$). The second is Idgham without Ghunnah (Idgham bi-ghayr Ghunnah), which involves the letters Laam ($ل$) and Raa ($ر$). Examples include مِن لّفدلنك ($Min Ladunka$) and مِن رّففِّك ($Min Rabbika$). In this type, the Nun ($n$) disappears entirely in essence and attribute, leaving no trace of the sound.

Classifications of Idgham by Completeness and Deficiency

Idgham is further divided based on whether the merging is complete (Kamil) or incomplete (Naqis).

Complete Idgham (Idgham Kamil) occurs when the Dhat (essence) of the first letter (the Mudgham, which is the Nun Sakinah) and its Sifah (attribute, which is the Ghunnah) both disappear. This is marked in the Quranic script by stripping the Nun of its Sukun and placing a Shaddah (stress mark) on the second letter (the Mudgham Fihi). Its letters are grouped in the mnemonic ‘Narml’ (نرمل), which includes Nun, Raa, Meem, and Laam. This includes merging into a letter of its own kind (Nun into Nun).

Incomplete Idgham (Idgham Naqis) occurs when the Dhat (essence) of the first letter disappears, but its Sifah (attribute, which is the Ghunnah) remains. Here, only the letter itself is merged, while the nasal sound persists. This applies to the letters Yaa ($ي$) and Waw ($و$).

Exceptions to the Rules of Idgham

There are specific instances where the general rules of Idgham are suspended in favor of Izhar. The first exception occurs when the Nun Sakinah and an Idgham letter meet within a single word (Izhar Mutlaq). This is intended to prevent confusion with other possible word meanings. This occurs in only four words in the Quran: بفنْيفان ($Bunyan$), قِنْوفان ($Qinwan$), الدّفنْيفا ($Ad-Dunya$), and صِنْوفان ($Sinwan$).

Secondly, according to the recitation of Hafs from ‘Asim via the path of Ash-Shatibiyyah, Idgham is not performed during the continuation (Wasl) of the following phrases, yielding a ruling of Izhar: يق (١) وفالقفرْءفانِ الحفكِفيمِ ($Ya-Sin. Wal-Quran al-Hakim$) and ن وفالْقفلفمِ وفمفا يفقْطفرُونف ($Nun. Wal-Qalami wa ma yasturun$).

Thirdly, Idgham is prohibited between the Nun Sakinah and the Raa ($ر$) in Surah Al-Qiyamah in the verse وفقِيلف مفنْ رفاقٍ ($Wa qila man... raq$). This is due to the presence of a mandatory Sakt (a brief breathless pause), which acts as a barrier that prevents the merging of the two letters.