Noon Sakeena and Tanween: The 4 Tajweed Rules to Know

The rules of Noon Sakinah and Tanween are among the essential foundations of Tajweed. They help the reader recite the Quran with greater precision, fluency, and respect for the rules of pronunciation.

In Tajweed, Noon Sakinah نْ and Tanween are closely connected because Tanween produces, when pronounced, a sound similar to Noon Sakinah. This is why they follow the same rules of recitation when certain letters come after them.

In this lesson, you will learn the four main rules of Noon Sakinah and Tanween: Al-Izhar, Al-Idgham, Al-Iqlab, and Al-Ikhfa, with their letters, effects, and simple examples.

What Are Noon Sakinah and Tanween?

Noon Sakinah is the letter ن carrying a sukoon: نْ. It is pronounced as a fixed “n” sound.

Tanween refers to the final double vowel signs: ــً, ــٌ, and ــٍ. Although Tanween is not written with the letter ن, it produces a sound similar to نْ when pronounced.

This is why, in Tajweed, Noon Sakinah and Tanween follow the same rules of recitation.

Summary Table of the Rules of Noon Sakinah and Tanween

1. Al-Izhar: Clear Pronunciation الإظهار

Al-Izhar means clear pronunciation. This rule applies when Noon Sakinah نْ or Tanween is followed by one of the six throat letters:

ء ه ع ح غ خ

In this case, Noon Sakinah or Tanween is pronounced clearly, without assimilation and without prolonged nasalization.

Examples of Izhar with Noon Sakinah

Examples of Izhar with Tanween

2. Al-Idgham: Assimilation الإدغام

Al-Idgham means assimilation. This rule applies when Noon Sakinah or Tanween is followed by one of the following six letters:

ي ر م ل و ن

Idgham consists of merging the sound of Noon Sakinah or Tanween into the letter that follows. There are two types of Idgham: with ghunnah and without ghunnah.

Idgham with Ghunnah الإدغام بغنة

Idgham with ghunnah occurs when Noon Sakinah or Tanween is followed by one of these letters:

ي ن م و

They can be memorized with the word:

يَنْمُو

In this case, the sound is assimilated with a nasalization called ghunnah.

Examples of Idgham with Ghunnah

Idgham without Ghunnah الإدغام بغير غنة

Idgham without ghunnah occurs when Noon Sakinah or Tanween is followed by ل or ر. In this case, the assimilation takes place without nasalization.

ل ر

Examples of Idgham without Ghunnah

Important Note About Idgham

The Idgham of Noon Sakinah or Tanween normally applies when Noon Sakinah or Tanween appears at the end of a word and the Idgham letter appears at the beginning of the next word.

If Noon Sakinah appears in the middle of the same word followed by an Idgham letter, assimilation does not apply. These examples are found in the Quran:

This note does not concern Tanween, because Tanween appears only at the end of a word.

3. Al-Iqlab: Changing the Sound الإقلاب

Al-Iqlab means change or transformation. This rule applies when Noon Sakinah or Tanween is followed by the letter ب.

In this case, the sound of Noon Sakinah or Tanween changes into a sound close to Meem م, with a nasalization of two counts.

ب

Examples of Iqlab

4. Al-Ikhfa: Concealment الإخفاء

Al-Ikhfa means concealment. This rule applies when Noon Sakinah or Tanween is followed by one of the following fifteen letters:

ت ث ج د ذ ز س ش ص ض ط ظ ف ق ك

In this case, the sound of Noon Sakinah or Tanween is neither pronounced clearly as in Izhar nor fully assimilated as in Idgham. It is concealed with a nasalization called ghunnah.

The ghunnah of Ikhfa generally lasts two counts. It should remain light and controlled.

How to Pronounce Ikhfa

When Ikhfa occurs, the tongue is not placed exactly at the usual articulation point of Noon. Instead, the reader prepares the following letter while maintaining a light nasalization.

Ikhfa therefore requires listening and practice: knowing the letters is not enough; one must also learn how to produce the sound correctly.

Examples of Ikhfa

How to Memorize the Rules of Noon Sakinah and Tanween

To memorize these rules, it is useful to remember the trigger letters of each rule, then practice with short examples.

• Izhar: the six throat letters: ء ه ع ح غ خ.
• Idgham: the letters ي ر م ل و ن.
• Idgham with ghunnah: the letters of يَنْمُو.
• Idgham without ghunnah: ل and ر.
• Iqlab: only the letter ب.
• Ikhfa: the remaining fifteen letters: ت ث ج د ذ ز س ش ص ض ط ظ ف ق ك.

Common Mistakes with Noon Sakinah and Tanween

The rules of Noon Sakinah and Tanween are simple to understand in theory, but they require practice to be applied correctly in recitation.

• pronouncing every Noon Sakinah in the same way;
• forgetting the ghunnah in Idgham with nasalization;
• making the nasalization too long or too short;
• confusing Iqlab and Ikhfa;
• pronouncing the Noon clearly when it should be concealed;
• failing to recognize the letters that trigger each rule;
• learning the theory without correcting one’s recitation with a teacher.

How to Learn These Tajweed Rules Effectively

To learn the rules of Noon Sakinah and Tanween, memorizing the letters is not enough. You also need to listen, repeat, and correct your recitation.

• memorize the letters of each rule;
• listen to correctly recited examples;
• repeat the examples slowly;
• identify the rule in Quranic verses;
• correct your pronunciation with a teacher;
• practice regularly with short passages.

Other Useful Lessons to Progress in Tajweed

To continue your learning, you can read these lessons related to the rules of Quranic recitation:

• The rules of Meem Sakinah
• Sun and moon letters
• The characteristics of Arabic letters
• The articulation points of Arabic letters

Learn Tajweed with a Teacher

The rules of Noon Sakinah and Tanween are an important foundation of Tajweed. Understanding them helps you recite the Quran with greater precision, but mastering them also requires correct listening and oral correction.

With a teacher, you can learn to recognize each rule, correct your ghunnah, improve your articulation points, and recite the Quran more fluently.

• Online Tajweed classes to learn the rules of Quranic recitation with a teacher.
• Online Quranic Arabic classes to better understand Quranic vocabulary and verses.
• Free assessment to know your level and choose the right course.

FAQ About the Rules of Noon Sakinah and Tanween

What are the rules of Noon Sakinah and Tanween?

There are four main rules: Al-Izhar, Al-Idgham, Al-Iqlab, and Al-Ikhfa. They depend on the letter that comes after Noon Sakinah or Tanween.

What is the difference between Noon Sakinah and Tanween?

Noon Sakinah is the letter نْ with a sukoon. Tanween refers to the final double vowel signs ــً, ــٌ, and ــٍ. When pronounced, Tanween produces a sound similar to Noon Sakinah.

What are the letters of Izhar?

The letters of Izhar are: ء ه ع ح غ خ. When one of these letters comes after Noon Sakinah or Tanween, the sound is pronounced clearly.

What are the letters of Idgham?

The letters of Idgham are: ي ر م ل و ن. Idgham with ghunnah concerns ي ن م و, while Idgham without ghunnah concerns ل and ر.

What is the rule of Iqlab?

Iqlab occurs when Noon Sakinah or Tanween is followed by the letter ب. The sound then changes into a sound close to م with nasalization.

How many Ikhfa letters are there?

There are fifteen Ikhfa letters: ت ث ج د ذ ز س ش ص ض ط ظ ف ق ك. When one of these letters follows Noon Sakinah or Tanween, the sound is concealed with ghunnah.

Conclusion

The rules of Noon Sakinah and Tanween are essential for progressing in Tajweed. They help the reader know when to pronounce clearly, assimilate, transform, or conceal the sound of Noon or Tanween.

These rules may seem technical at first, but they become easier with practice, listening, and correction. By mastering them, the reader improves Quran recitation and gains greater precision.

To apply them properly, it is recommended to learn the letters of each rule, listen to correctly recited examples, and correct your recitation with a qualified teacher.