What is Noon Sakinah? Noon Sakinah (نُون سَاكِنَة) is a Noon (ن) that carries a Sukun (ْ) — it has no vowel of its own. It is found in the middle or at the end of words, such as مِنْ (min). Tanwin (التَّنوِين) is the double vowel sign (ً ٌ ٍ) at the end of a word, like كِتَابٌ (kitabun). Tanwin is pronounced as a Noon Sakinah, so the same four rules apply to both.
The simple key: When a Noon Sakinah or Tanwin is followed by another letter, the next letter decides the rule. Look at the letter after the ن or Tanwin, identify it, and apply its rule. One letter, one rule — no exceptions.
Rule 1 — Izhar (clear): Izhar (إِظْهَار) means to make something clear. When ن or Tanwin is followed by one of the 6 throat letters — ء ه ع ح غ خ — pronounce the ن clearly and distinctly, with no merging and no extra nasal sound. The six letters are remembered by the phrase أَخِي هَاكَ عِلْمًا حَازَهُ غَيْرُ خَاسِرٍ. It works because the ن is made at the tongue tip while the throat letters are far away — merging is physically impossible, so the ن stays clear.
Rule 2 — Idgham (merging): Idgham (إِدْغَام) means to merge one letter into another so they become one letter with Shaddah. When ن or Tanwin is followed by one of the 6 letters of يَرْمَلُون (ي ر م ل و ن), the ن disappears into the next letter. With ي ن م و (يَنمُو) the merge carries a 2-count Ghunnah, as in مِنْ يَشَاءُ (miyyashaa'). With ل and ر there is no Ghunnah — the merge is silent and complete, as in مِنْ رَبِّهِمْ.
The one exception: If the ن and the letters و or ي come from within the same word, there is no Idgham. Words like الدُّنْيَا, بُنْيَانٌ, قِنْوَانٌ and صِنْوَانٌ are read with a clear ن. Scholars kept these words clear because merging here would cause confusion — these four words are called Idgham Naqis (the incomplete merging).
Example
Imagine pouring two cups of water into one jug — the two waters become one, and you cannot tell them apart. That is Idgham: the ن disappears into the next letter.
Now imagine two people standing far apart, each speaking clearly in their own place. That is Izhar: the ن and the throat letter stay separate and clear.
Key Terms
- Noon Sakinah (نُون سَاكِنَة) — a Noon that carries a Sukun and has no vowel of its own
- Tanwin (التَّنوِين) — the double vowel signs (ً ٌ ٍ) at the end of a word, pronounced as a Noon
- Izhar (إِظْهَار) — clear pronunciation, no merging
- Idgham (إِدْغَام) — merging one letter into the next so they become one
Quran or Hadith
None used in this topic.
Fresh diagram to be drawn: A simple trigger table — all 28 letters in four coloured groups: 6 throat letters = Izhar, 6 letters of Yarmaloon = Idgham, ب = Iqlab, 15 letters = Ikhfa — in Project Desk colours.
- Noon Sakinah is a ن with Sukun; Tanwin is pronounced as a Noon.
- The letter after ن or Tanwin decides which of the four rules applies.
- Izhar: clear ن before 6 throat letters. Idgham: ن merges into يرملون.