Rules of the Silent Noon
The rules governing the silent noon (ن) can be categorized into four distinct types, which are as follows:
- Clarification (إظهار)
- Assimilation (إدغام)
- Concealment (إخفاء)
- Inversion (إقلاب)
Clarification
Scholars define clarification as the articulation of the letters without any nasalization. The letters involved in this rule consist of six characters: ه (hā), ع (ʿayn), ح (ḥā), خ (khā), غ (ghayn), and أ (alif). These letters may occur with the silent noon in one word or across two words, and also with tanween (ً) in two words. This type of clarification is termed “throaty clarification” because all its letters are articulated from the throat.
Assimilation
Assimilation occurs when one of assimilation’s letters meets the silent noon or tanween, resulting in the pronunciation of a single, emphasized letter. During articulation, the tongue is elevated slightly. Assimilation can be divided into two categories:
- Assimilation with nasalization: In which nasalization is evident, with the letters being: ي (yā), م (mīm), ن (nūn), and و (wāw).
- Assimilation without nasalization: The letters in this category are: ل (lām) and ر (rā).
A few words in the Quran are exceptions to the rule of assimilation with nasalization. These include the phrase “يس والقرآن” and “ن والقلم,” as well as “صنوان,” “الدنيا” in various contexts, “قنوان,” and “بنيان.” The reason for not applying assimilation in these instances is to prevent any potential confusion in meaning during reading or listening.
Concealment
Concealment, also referred to as true concealment, refers to the pronunciation of the letter in a manner that falls between clarification and assimilation without any emphasis, while maintaining nasalization for the silent noon or tanween. The reason for concealment arises from the positioning of its letters between the points of articulation for clarification and assimilation. The letters are neither close enough to the noon for assimilation nor distant enough for clarification, thus resulting in concealment. There are a total of fifteen letters involved in true concealment, which include: ص (ṣād), ذ (dhāl), ث (thā), ك (kāf), ج (jīm), ش (shīn), ق (qāf), س (sīn), د (dāl), ط (ṭā), ز (zāy), ف (fā), ت (tā), ض (ḍād), and ظ (ẓā).
Inversion
Inversion involves altering the letter ب (bā) into a pronounced م (mīm) when articulated following the silent noon or tanween, along with the nasalization. The letter ب is the only letter associated with this inversion. The rationale behind this rule is to facilitate easier pronunciation of the noon or tanween when producing the sound of ب that follows.