Home · Aqeedah · Arabic · Da'wah · Tajweed · Content

Rules of Ghunnah in Tajweed

Definition of The Ghunnah

Linguistically: Ghunnah is a sound that resonates within the nasal cavity. Terminologically: it is a pleasant sound which is composed of the characteristics of either the Noon or the Meem, and the tongue does not play any part in its pronunciation. This means that the ghunnah is an inherent sound in the Meem and Noon includes the tanween, whether the Noon and Meem have a vowel or not.

Articulation point of the ghunnah: The opening of the nose that connects with the back of the mouth (the nasal passage).  The fact that the ghunnah is emitted from the nose can be demonstrated by closing off the nostrils, and trying to emit the sound of the ghunnah.  It is impossible.  

Ranks of The Ghunnah

There are four levels of the ghunnah:

1. Most Complete (أكمل)

2. Complete (كاملة)

3. Incomplete (ناقصة)

4. Most Incomplete (أنقص)

Rank of Ghunnah

Let's see the explanation of each level!

1. Most Complete Ghunnah (أكمل)

Most complete ghunnah is the longest ghunnah. The Noon sakinah and Meem sakinah that are recited with idghaam are in this category of length of ghunnah.

Noon and Meem Mushaddad

If a noon or a meem has shaddah, then pronounce a 2 beat ghunnah. This is still applied when stopping on the letter. Careful not to extend the sound of the letter, but only the ghunnah.

إِنَّا - مَلِكِ النَّاسِ

ثُمَّ - مُحَمَّدٌ

Idghaam with a ghunnah

This means when there is a Noon saakinah or tanween followed by one of Ya’ Noon, Meem, and Waw will be read with ghunnah or nasal sound and lengthen for 2 harakahs.

مَنْ يَّقُوْلُ - عَذَابٌ مُّقِيْمٌ

Idghaam mithlayn

When a Meem sakinah and a Meem with tashkeel (Meem vowel) meet, Idghaam with ghunnah appears.

وَآمَنَهُمْ مِّنْ - وَخَلَقَ لَكُمْ مَّا

2. Complete (كاملة)

The ghunnah at this level is the complete in its timing, but not as long as the most complete ghunnah. This category applies to iqlaab, ikhfaa’ haqeeqi, and ikfa’ shafawi.

Iqlaab

Iqlaab refers to the change or turning of noon sakinah (including that of tanween) into meem. This occurs when the noon is followed by one letter Baa, whether in one word or two.

Examples:

سَمِيْعًا بَصِيْرًا - مِنْ بَيْنِ

Ikhfa’ Haqeeqi

Ikhfa means to conceal (hide). If after noon sakinah or tanween there appears any of the 15 letters:

ت ث ج د ذ ز س ش ص ض ط ظ ف ق ك

make a light nasal sound and lengthen for 2 harakahs.

Examples:

مَنْ ثَقُلَتْ - فَصَبْرٌ جَمِيْلٌ

Ikhfa’ Shafawi

If the letter Baa should follow meem saakinah, the meem is concealed by it and ghunnah is retained. The lips should not be completely closed during ghunnah here to avoid making the meem evident.

Examples:

وَمَاهُمْ بِـمُـؤْمِنِيْنَ - وَمَنْ يَعْتَصِمْ بِاللهِ

3. Incomplete (ناقصة)

This ghunnah at this level is shorter in timing than the complete ghunnah. The Noon saakinah and Meem saakinah that are recited with ithhar or clearly are in this category of length of ghunnah.

Ithhar Halqi

If after Noon sakinah or tanween there appears any of the six letters of the throat:

أ ه ع ح غ خ

then read clearly with no change.

Examples:

عَلِيْمٌ حَكِيْمٌ – مِنْ غَيْرِ

 

Ithhar Shafawi

When meem saakinah is followed by any letter other than Meem or Baa, it is pronounced with ithhaar.

Examples:

حَـرَّمْنَـا - لِيَبْلُوَكُـمْ أَيُّكُمْ أَحْسَنُ

4. Most Incomplete (أنقص)

Most incomplete ghunnah is the shortest ghunnah of all. It applies to the letters Noon dan Meem with vowels.

Examples:

أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًا - وَآمَنُوْا

Note: The difference in timing between these different categories of ghunnah is very minute.  Only an experienced reader and listener can tell the difference. A reader must practice a lot under the guidance of a teacher in order to practice it properly.

Related Post:

1 Responses "Rules of Ghunnah in Tajweed"