Rules of Nun Sakinah and Tanween in Surah Al-Muddathir
The rules governing the pronunciation of nun sakinah and tanween can be categorized into four main sections:
- Clear Pronunciation (Izhar Halqi)
This refers to the articulation of nun sakinah or tanween from its point of origin without the use of ghunnah when followed by one of the six letters of izhar, which are indicated by the phrase: “أخي هاك علماً حازه غير خاسر” (Akhiy Haak ‘Ailmaan Haza Ghayr Khaasira). Examples in Surah Al-Muddathir include: (يَوْمٌ عَسِيرٌ), (أَنْ أَزِيدَ), (إِنْ هَـذَا), (رَهِينَةٌ إِلَّا).
- Assimilation (Idgham)
This occurs when nun sakinah or tanween is followed by one of the idgham letters, resulting in a single, doubled letter as the second. The letters of idgham are summarized in the word “يرملون” (Yarmaloon), and it can be classified into three subcategories:
- Complete Assimilation with Ghunna: Found with the letters meem and noon. Examples in Surah Al-Muddathir include: (مَالًا مَّمْدُودًا), (حُمُرٌ مُّسْتَنفِرَةٌ).
- Incomplete Assimilation with Ghunna: Found with the letters waw and yaa. Examples include: (يَوْمَئِذٍ يَوْمٌ), (وَحِيدًا وَجَعَلْتُ).
- Complete Assimilation without Ghunna: Found with the letters lam and ra. Examples are: (لَوَّاحَةٌ لِّلْبَشَرِ), (فِتْنَةً لِّلَّذِينَ), (نَذِيرًا لِّلْبَشَرِ).
This refers to the scenario wherein nun sakinah or tanween is followed by one of the ikhfaa letters, which can be remembered using the phrase: “صف ذا ثنا كم جاد شخصٌ قد سما… دم طيبًا زد في تقى ضع ظالمًا”. Examples in Surah Al-Muddathir include: (يَسِيرٍ ذَرْنِي), (تَمْهِيدًا ثُمَّ), (عَنِيدًا سَأُرْهِقُهُ), (لِمَن شَاءَ).
- Reversal (Iqlaab)
This occurs when nun sakinah or tanween is followed by the letter ba, which is the only letter that denotes reversal. Examples from Surah Al-Muddathir include: (نَفْسٍ بِمَا), (قَسورة بَلْ).
Rules of Meem Sakinah in Surah Al-Muddathir
The rules applicable to meem sakinah can be divided into three categories:
- Oral Assimilation (Idgham Shafawi)
Oral assimilation occurs when the letter meem follows the meem sakinah, and this is referred to as the assimilation of similar sounds. An example in Surah Al-Muddathir is: (قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ).
- Oral Concealment (Ikhfaa Shafawi)
This happens when the letter ba follows the meem sakinah, and this situation only arises in cases of two separate words. There are no examples of this scenario in Surah Al-Muddathir.
- Clear Pronunciation (Izhar Shafawi)
This circumstance occurs when any letter other than ba or meem follows the meem sakinah. Examples from Surah Al-Muddathir include: (عِدَّتَهُمْ إِلَّا), (سَلَكَكُمْ فِي).
Rules of Emphasis and Lightness in Surah Al-Muddathir
The rules of emphasis (tafkhim) and lightness (tarqeeq) are classified based on the letters involved:
- Letters that are Always Emphasized
These include the letters of articulation (خص ضغط قظ). For instance, in Surah Al-Muddathir: (لَّا يَخَافُونَ) shows a pronounced kha followed by an alif, representing the highest degree of emphasis. Another example is (صَعُودًا) where the letter saad is open; this represents the second degree of emphasis, while (ثُمَّ قُتِلَ) shows a rounded qaf indicating the third degree of emphasis.
- Letters that are Always Lightened
These consist of the remaining letters of the Arabic alphabet that are not emphasized, including the three letters: extended alif, ra, and lam when used in the name of Allah. Examples from Surah Al-Muddathir include: (وَثِيَابَكَ), (وَلَا تَمْنُن تَسْتَكْثِرُ), (وَمَهَّدتُّ لَهُ تَمْهِيدًا).
- Letters that are Emphasized at Times and Lightened at Others
This group includes three letters: extended alif, ra, and lam in the name of Allah. For example in Surah Al-Muddathir: (ثُمَّ نَظَرَ) demonstrates emphasis on ra because it is open, whereas (يُضِلُّ اللَّـهُ) emphasizes lam due to the preceding letter being rounded.