The Rules of the Doubled نون (Noon) and ميم (Meem)
Authors in the field of Tajweed have delineated the rules pertaining to the doubled نون (Noon) and ميم (Meem). As noted by Al-Jamzouri in “Tuhfat Al-Aṭfal”:
“And pronounce the نون and ميم with a ghunnah emphasized *** Mark each letter of the ghunnah as it appears.”
Similarly, Ibn Al-Jazari states in his introduction:
“The ghunnah is more pronounced from a نون and ميم *** When they are both doubled.”
Definition of Doubled نون and ميم
A doubled letter is characterized as two letters merged together; the first letter is silent while the second is pronounced. Thus, the doubly articulated نون consists of two consecutive نون letters, whereby the first is silent and the second is voiced. The same applies to the ميم, which consists of two consecutive ميم letters with the first being silent and the second pronounced.
Definition and Levels of Ghunnah
Researchers define ghunnah and outline its levels, noting it as a characteristic of the نون and ميم letters, as follows:
- Ghunnah is a melodious sound produced with resonance from the nasal cavity, inherently occurring in the letters نون and ميم.
- Different levels of ghunnah exist, prominently showcased in the first three categories, which involve a duration equivalent to two movements; whereas, in the last two categories, it corresponds to one movement. These levels are: ghunnah in the doubled letter, ghunnah in the merged letter, ghunnah in the concealed letter, ghunnah in the silent letter, and ghunnah in the pronounced letter.
- This arrangement indicates that the ghunnah is more prominent in the doubled letters than in the others, specifically in نون and ميم.
Position within the Word
Because the first letter is silent upon doubling, it cannot occur at the beginning of a word since Arabic phonetics do not permit a word to start with a mute sound. The application of shaddah (doubled consonant) on the نون and ميم at the beginning of a word in the Qur’an signifies a merger with ghunnah, rather than indicating the placement of a doubled ghunnah at the start of the word. Examples illustrating this include: (حَبْلٌ مِّن مَّسَدٍ) and (مِن نِّعمَةٍ).
The Focus on نون and ميم in Tajweed Literature
Tajweed texts emphasize the rules related to the نون and ميم because the nature of these letters includes ghunnah. The extent of ghunnah in the non-doubled letters is equivalent to one movement, whereas its application in doubled forms requires the reader to extend it to two movements.
Common Errors in Pronouncing the Doubled Ghunnah
Beginning students of Tajweed often exhibit several mistakes during the recitation of the doubled ghunnah. The most significant errors include:
- Under-expressing or over-expressing the ghunnah, either reading it faintly with one movement or exaggerating it beyond the two movements.
- Neglecting the ghunnah when it appears at the end of a word. The correct approach is to maintain the ghunnah while keeping the letter at rest.
- Introducing a prolongation before the ghunnah, sometimes accompanied by an inclination, such as pronouncing: “إِنَّا” as “إينّا” instead of the correct way, or misreading “فَأَمَّا” as “فآمّا.”
The Necessity of Learning Tajweed Orally
It is well-understood within the domain of Quranic reading that students must learn this science from certified reciters who are also proficient in oral transmission. The rationale here is that learning from texts alone is insufficient; students can only grasp the nuances of pronunciation and various rules through listening and direct presentation.