Noon Sakinah and Tanween Rules Explained, with Examples from Short Surahs

The rules of noon sakinah and tanween are usually the first real Tajweed rules a student meets after Noorani Qaida, and they appear in almost every line of the Quran. Once you understand them, your recitation immediately sounds smoother and closer to how the Quran is recited by trained reciters. This guide explains the noon sakinah and tanween rules simply, with examples taken only from short Surahs that most UK learners already know.

What Are Noon Sakinah and Tanween?

Noon sakinah is the letter noon with a sukoon on it (نْ), meaning it has no vowel, as in مِنْ (min). It can appear in the middle or at the end of a word.

Tanween is the doubled vowel at the end of a noun, which is pronounced as an extra "n" sound. It comes in three forms, which answers a question many learners ask:

• Fathatayn (ـً), pronounced "an", as in خَيْرًا
• Kasratayn (ـٍ), pronounced "in", as in هُمَزَةٍ
• Dammatayn (ـٌ), pronounced "un", as in أَحَدٌ

Because tanween sounds like a noon sakinah, the same four rules apply to both.

The Four Rules at a Glance

Ghunnah is the nasal sound made through the nose. In these rules it is usually held for about two counts (two vowel lengths). Your teacher will help you find the right length by ear.

Rule 1: Izhar (Clear Pronunciation)

If a noon sakinah or tanween is followed by one of the six throat letters, ء ه ع ح غ خ, you pronounce the noon clearly and move straight on, without stretching it or adding a nasal sound.

• أَنْعَمْتَ (Al-Fatihah 1:7): the noon is followed by ع, so it is clear.
• مِنْ خَوْفٍ (Quraysh 106:4): the noon is followed by خ.
• كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ (Al-Ikhlas 112:4): the tanween is followed by a hamza.

Memory aid: the six letters all come from the throat, which is far from the nose, so there is no room for a nasal sound.

Rule 2: Idgham (Merging)

If a noon sakinah or tanween at the end of a word is followed by one of the six letters ي ر م ل و ن, often remembered as the word يَرْمَلُونَ (yarmaloon), the noon merges into the next letter.

Idgham with ghunnah: ي ن م و

• فَمَن يَعْمَلْ (Az-Zalzalah 99:7): the noon merges into ي with a nasal sound.
• مِّن مَّسَدٍ (Al-Masad 111:5): the noon merges into the meem.

Idgham without ghunnah: ل ر

• وَيْلٌ لِّكُلِّ (Al-Humazah 104:1): the tanween merges fully into the lam.
• يَكُن لَّهُ (Al-Ikhlas 112:4): the noon merges into the lam.

Important exception: idgham only happens between two words. If noon sakinah meets ي or و inside the same word, as in الدُّنْيَا, the noon is pronounced clearly. There are only four such words in the Quran, and your teacher will point them out.

Rule 3: Iqlab (Changing to Meem)

If a noon sakinah or tanween is followed by ب, the noon sound changes into a meem, held with ghunnah, with the lips closing lightly. In many copies of the Mushaf a small meem (ۢ) is printed above the noon as a reminder.

• لَيُنۢبَذَنَّ (Al-Humazah 104:4): the noon is followed by ب inside the word.

Common mistake: pressing the lips together hard. The lips should close gently, as if about to say "m", while the sound comes through the nose.

Rule 4: Ikhfa (Hiding)

If a noon sakinah or tanween is followed by any of the remaining fifteen letters, ت ث ج د ذ ز س ش ص ض ط ظ ف ق ك, the noon is neither fully pronounced nor fully merged. Instead, it is hidden behind a nasal sound, and the tongue prepares for the next letter.

• مِن شَرِّ (Al-Falaq 113:2): the noon is hidden before ش.
• مِّن جُوعٍ (Quraysh 106:4): the noon is hidden before ج.
• وَلَا أَنتُمْ (Al-Kafirun 109:3): the noon is hidden before ت.

Ikhfa is the rule that takes most practice, because the nasal sound changes slightly depending on the letter that follows. This is where hearing a teacher and copying them makes the biggest difference.

Common Mistakes English Speakers Make

• Saying a full English "n" every time. In English the "n" is always clear, so many UK learners pronounce izhar everywhere. Listen for when the noon should merge or be hidden.
• Rushing the ghunnah. The nasal sound in idgham, iqlab and ikhfa needs about two counts; cutting it short is one of the most common errors.
• Adding ghunnah before ل and ر. These two letters take idgham without any nasal sound.
• Forgetting tanween. Learners often apply the rules to noon but forget that tanween follows exactly the same rules.

How to Practise These Rules at Home

1. Take one short Surah you already know, such as Al-Ikhlas or Al-Falaq.
2. Find every noon sakinah and tanween, and write next to it which of the four rules applies.
3. Recite slowly, focusing only on those places.
4. Recite to your teacher and ask them to correct each one.
5. Move to the next Surah only when the first sounds right every time.

If you are still learning to read, start with Noorani Qaida, which introduces these sounds gradually, or see our Quran classes for beginners. For the next step after these rules, read our guide to advanced Tajweed rules.

Frequently Asked Questions