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Quran, Hifz & Tajweed
A parent asks

What are the rules of noon sakinah and tanween? A guide for kids

Bloomtivo answers

When نْ or tanween is followed by another letter, one of four things happens: izhar (clear “n”) before the six throat letters ء ه ع ح غ خ; idgham (merge) before ي ر م ل و ن, with a hum for ي ن م و; iqlab (turns to “m”) before ب; and ikhfa (hidden, nasal “n”) before the other 15 letters. Example: مِنْ هَادٍ, مَنْ يَعْمَلْ, مِنْ بَعْدِ, مِنْ شَرِّ.

Reviewed by Ahmed Abdelazeem, Bloomtivo teacher · Updated

The full answer

These four rules appear on almost every Mushaf page. Learn them with one example each.

The four rules

RuleBeforeWhat happensExample
Izhar (clear)ء ه ع ح غ خSay the “n” clearlyمِنْ هَادٍ
Idgham with ghunnahي ن م وMerge into the next letter, with a humمَنْ يَعْمَلْ
Idgham without ghunnahل رMerge, no humمِنْ رَبِّهِمْ
Iqlab (change)ب“n” becomes a humming “m”مِنْ بَعْدِ
Ikhfa (hide)The other 15 lettersA hidden, nasal “n”مِنْ شَرِّ

Memory aids

  • Izhar letters: the six throat letters.
  • Idgham letters: يَرْمَلُونَ (ي ر م ل و ن).
  • Iqlab: just ب; many Mushafs show a small م.
  • Ikhfa: everything else.

Find them in Juz Amma

  • Al-Falaq: مِنْ شَرِّ (ikhfa).
  • Al-Ikhlas: كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ (izhar, tanween before ء).
  • Al-Humazah: هُمَزَةٍ لُمَزَةٍ (idgham without ghunnah).

Learning order

  1. Izhar.
  2. Iqlab.
  3. Idgham.
  4. Ikhfa (the hardest to get right).

Teacher’s tip: give each rule a colour and mark one page in pencil. Children who “hunt” rules learn them far faster than by memorising lists.

Related: Ghunnah, meem sakinah and tanween.

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