Idgham (Assimilation)
Idgham refers to the convergence of a silent letter with a moving letter, resulting in a single stressed letter that corresponds to the second one. During this process, the tongue elevates uniformly. The rules governing the assimilation of the silent noon and tanween are subdivided into three categories: the incomplete idgham (with ghunnah) involving the letters (ي، و), complete idgham (with ghunnah) which includes (ن، م), and complete idgham without ghunnah involving (ر، ل).
Numerous examples of these rules can be found in Surah An-Nisa, such as:
- In the verse: (يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اتَّقُوا رَبَّكُمُ الَّذِي خَلَقَكُم مِّن نَّفْسٍ وَاحِدَةٍ), the tanween of kasrah in the word (نفس) assimilates with the following letter ‘و’, demonstrating incomplete idgham with ghunnah.
- In the verse: (تِلْكَ حُدُودُ اللَّـهِ وَمَن يُطِعِ اللَّـهَ وَرَسُولَهُ يُدْخِلْهُ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ), the silent noon in the word (ومن) assimilates with ‘ي’, again reflecting incomplete idgham with ghunnah.
- In the verse: (وَمَن لَّمْ يَسْتَطِعْ مِنكُمْ طَوْلًا أَن يَنكِحَ الْمُحْصَنَاتِ الْمُؤْمِنَاتِ فَمِن مَّا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُكُم), the silent noon in (فمن) assimilates with ‘م’, representing complete idgham with ghunnah.
- In the verse: (لَّا خَيْرَ فِي كَثِيرٍ مِّن نَّجْوَاهُمْ إِلَّا مَنْ أَمَرَ بِصَدَقَةٍ أَوْ مَعْرُوفٍ أَوْ إِصْلَاحٍ بَيْنَ النَّاسِ), the silent noon in (من) assimilates with ‘ن’ in (نجواهم), reflecting complete idgham with ghunnah.
- In the verse: (إِنَّ اللَّـهَ كَانَ تَوَّابًا رَّحِيمًا), the tanween of fathah in (توابًا) assimilates with ‘ر’ in (رحيمًا), illustrating complete idgham without ghunnah.
Izhar (Clarification)
Izhar involves pronouncing the silent noon or tanween clearly from its own point of articulation, without any observable ghunnah, pauses, or emphasis. The letters of izhar are six, specifically the throat letters (ء، هـ، ع، ح، غ، خ), which can be remembered through the phrase: “أخي هاك علمًا حازه غير خاسر”. Examples of izhar from Surah An-Nisa include:
- In the verse: (وَإِنْ خِفْتُمْ أَلَّا تُقْسِطُوا فِي الْيَتَامَىٰ), the noon in (وإن) is pronounced clearly as it meets one of the izhar letters, specifically ‘خ’ in (خفتم).
- In the verse: (وَآتُوا النِّسَاءَ صَدُقَاتِهِنَّ نِحْلَةً فَإِن طِبْنَ لَكُمْ عَن شَيْءٍ مِّنْهُ), the izhar rule applies within the word (منه), where the silent noon interacts with the ‘ه’.
- In the verse: (وَأَخَذْنَ مِنْهُم مِّيثَاقًا غَلِيظًا), the tanween in (ميثاقًا) is pronounced clearly as it encounters the letter ‘غ’ in (غليظًا).
Qalb (Conversion)
Qalb refers to the conversion of a silent noon or tanween into a meem while employing ghunnah. The only letter relevant to this rule is (ب). Examples of qalb in Surah An-Nisa include:
- In the verse: (وَاللَّـهُ أَعْلَمُ بِإِيمَانِكُمْ بَعْضُكُمْ مِّن بَعْضٍ), the silent noon in (من) is converted into meem due to its juxtaposition with the letter ‘ب’.
- In the verse: (فَكَيْفَ إِذَا جِئْنَا مِن كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ بِشَهِيدٍ), the tanween of kasrah in (أمَّةٍ) is transformed into meem as it meets the letter ‘ب’.
Ikhfaa (Concealment)
Ikhfaa entails pronouncing the silent noon or tanween in a manner that is intermediate between izhar and idgham, while still paying attention to ghunnah. There are fifteen letters of ikhfaa, which can be remembered using the mnemonic: “صف ذا ثنا كم جاد شخص قد سما ** دم طيبا زد في تقى ضع ظالما”. Examples of ikhfaa from Surah An-Nisa include:
- In the verse: (فَلَمْ تَجِدُوا مَاءً فَتَيَمَّمُوا صَعِيدًا طَيِّبًا), the tanween in (ماءً) and (صعيدًا) is subjected to ikhfaa due to the following letters ‘ف’ and ‘ط’.
- In the verse: (لِلذَّكَرِ مِثْلُ حَظِّ الْأُنثَيَيْن), the silent noon in (الأنثيين) is concealed as it meets one of the ikhfaa letters, specifically ‘ث’.
- In the verse: (وَمَن يُطِعِ اللَّـهَ وَرَسُولَهُ يُدْخِلْهُ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي), the tanween of kasrah in (جنات) experiences ikhfaa because of the presence of ‘ت’ that follows it.