Rules for the Letters Noun and Meem with Shadda
The Rules for Noun and Meem with Shadda
A shadda letter is characterized by its origin as two letters, where the first letter is silent and the second is pronounced, resulting in the fusion of the first letter into the second, forming a single, emphasized letter. The primary rule for the letters of Noun and Meem with shadda is the obligatory maintenance of ghunnah, which must be pronounced clearly for a duration equivalent to two movements. The letter producing the ghunnah is referred to as a shadda letter.
Categories of the Letters Noun and Meem with Shadda
The letters Noun and Meem with shadda can be classified based on their position within a word as follows:
- The shadda ghunnah is divided into two categories: the first is when they are connected within the same word, regardless of whether the shadda has a fatḥah, ḍammah, or kasrah. Examples include:
- The open shadda Noun in the word إِنَّ
- The broken shadda Noun in the word إِنِّي
- The rounded shadda Noun in the word جَانٌّ
- The open shadda Meem in the word أَمَّا
- The broken shadda Meem in the word فَلِأُمِّهِ
- The rounded shadda Meem in the word وَأُمَّهُ
- When the Noun and Meem shadda are separated from what follows, as seen in situations of complete idgham, such as in من نّعمة, the lip idgham in لكم مّا, and the definite article Al which is influenced by the following letter like in النّاس.
Ghunnah in Noun and Meem
Definition and Articulation of Ghunnah
Ghunnah is a voiced sound produced through the nasal cavity, and does not involve the movement of the tongue. It lasts for only two movements and is intrinsically linked to the letters Noun and Meem, regardless of whether they are pronounced as silent or pronounced letters.
Degrees of Ghunnah
Ghunnah has five distinct levels, outlined as follows:
Level One: The Emphasized Level
This occurs with the letters Noun and Meem with shadda, such as in منَّ, مَّا. The ruling for the emphasized letter at this level requires a ghunnah of two movements, with the ghunnah being most complete in the Noun as it is fundamental, while the ghunnah in the Meem is secondary. This level also includes:
- Complete idgham ghunnah, for instance in من نّعمة.
- Lip idgham ghunnah, as seen in لكم مّا.
Level Two: Incomplete Idgham Level
This level represents ghunnah produced from the conjunction of a silent Noun with either of the idgham letters, namely (و, ي), and it extends for two movements, exemplified by من وَلي.
Level Three: The Concealment Level
At this level, ghunnah arises from the conjunction of a silent Noun with one of the true concealment letters, lasting for two movements with variations of emphasis depending on the subsequent letter. It also includes:
- Lip concealment: The ghunnah emerges from the pairing of a silent Meem with the letter ب, found both in single and in separate words, lasting two movements.
- Inversion: Here, the ghunnah results from the connection of a silent Noun with the letter ب, and whether in a single word or separate ones, when the ghunnah amounts to two movements, applying to the Meem positioned above the Noun, and not to the Noun itself.
Level Four: The Manifest Silent Level
This occurs in the pronounced Noun and Meem, emphasizing only the essence of ghunnah as follows:
- Throat manifestation: The ghunnah that results from the combination of a silent Noun with one of the throat letters, such as in ينغضون.
- Lip manifestation: Here, the ghunnah arises from a silent Meem interacting with one of the lip manifestation letters, as in لهم فيها.
- Absolute manifestation: Arising from the joining of a silent Noun with one of the letters و or ي within the same word, which appears in four instances in the Quran: صنوان، بنيان، قنوان، and الدنيا.
Level Five: Ghunnah in the Lightly Emphasized
This is seen in the pronounced Noun and Meem, regardless of whether the movement is inherent or temporary, as in مَريم and نَعيم.