Rules of the Silent Noun and Tanween
The term “silent noun” refers to the letter ‘n’ that is devoid of any diacritical marks, while “tanween” is the sound that ends a noun with either two dhammas, two kasras, or two fatahs. Under the categories of the silent noun and tanween, there are four primary rules, detailed as follows:
- Al-Izhhar: This rule involves pronouncing the letter clearly without any heaviness or evident nasal sound. The letters that fall under this rule are six: h, ‘ain, ha, ghain, kha, and alif.
- Al-Idgham: This occurs when the silent noun or tanween comes into contact with one of the letters of idgham, resulting in a single heavy sound. Idgham is categorized into two types: idgham with ghunnah involving the letters ya, noon, meem, and waw, and idgham without ghunnah involving lam and ra.
- Al-Ikhfa: This rule dictates the pronunciation of the letter in a manner that lies between concealment and merging. When one of the ikhfa letters follows the silent noun or tanween, the ghunnah should be pronounced for the duration of two movements. The letters that apply to this rule are sad, dhal, tha, kaf, jeem, sheen, qaf, seen, dal, ta, zay, fa, ta, dad, and dha.
- Al-Iqlaab: This refers to replacing one letter with another, specifically the letter ba. When the silent noun or tanween meets the letter ‘ba’, it is transformed into a meme with a concealment, while also maintaining the ghunnah for two movements.
Rules of the Silent Meem
The regulations concerning the silent meem are classified into three categories: oral concealment, oral declaration, and oral merging. Below is a detailed explanation of each:
- Oral Concealment: This rule applies when the letter ‘ba’ follows a silent meem.
- Oral Merging: This is the case when a moving meem directly precedes a silent meem, resulting in both ‘meem’ sounds merging into one heavy ‘meem’.
- Oral Declaration: This occurs when the silent meem is preceded by any letter of the Arabic alphabet except for ‘meem’ and ‘ba’.
The Virtue of Reciting the Noble Quran
Reciting the Noble Quran is considered one of the most esteemed acts of worship through which a servant draws closer to their Lord. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) encouraged the recitation of the Quran and emphasized its merits when he spoke of the rewards for those who regularly read and memorize it. Among these rewards is the promise of being in the company of noble angels in the afterlife. Additionally, the Quran is described as a banquet from Allah for all people, serving as a mercy that descends upon them.