Rules of Idgham
Idgham refers to the merging of two letters that are connected in some manner—whether through similarity, proximity, or identity. In the process, the first letter transforms into the second, resulting in the pronunciation of a single, emphasized letter that embodies the characteristics of the latter. Below, we outline some types of idgham along with illustrative examples.
Idgham with Ghunna
This type of idgham occurs when one of the idgham letters—namely, the sounds of ي (ya), و (waw), ن (noon), or م (meem)—comes into contact. These four letters can be remembered using the term “ينمو” (yanmoo). If any of these letters follows a سكون (silent noon) or تنوين (nunation) at the end of two words, idgham with ghunna is required. Ghunna, in this context, refers to the subtle, resonant nasal sound produced during the pronunciation of the letter containing it. Examples of idgham with ghunna include: (منْ ولي), (منْ يعمل), (منْ نعمة), and (أمنةً نعاساً).
Idgham without Ghunna
Idgham without ghunna occurs specifically with two letters: اللام (laam) and الراء (raa). This form appears when a سكون (silent noon) or تنوين (nunation) meets either of these letters in distinct words. Such idgham is only applicable in two-word scenarios. Numerous instances can be found in the Quran, including: (منْ لدنه), (تواباً رحيماً), (منْ ربهم), and (سائغاً للشاربين).
Small Idgham of Similar Letters
Small idgham is a subset of the rules concerning a silent meem. This rule takes effect when a moving meem follows a silent one, leading to their merging into a single, emphasized meem, while maintaining the nasal sound. This phonetic rule applies in both single and two-word contexts. For example, when the silent noon or nunation merges into a meem, the noon is replaced by a meem during pronunciation. An example of this is: (منْ مال). Regardless of whether the meem is original or transformed from a silent noon, it conforms to the small idgham rule. Other examples include: (كمْ من), where every emphasized meem is considered a case of small idgham, necessitating careful attention to maintain proper emphasis and nasal sound.