Rule 3 — Iqlab (converting): Iqlab (إِقْلَاب) means to flip or convert. When ن or Tanwin is followed by ب — the only trigger letter — the ن is converted into a م sound and held with Ghunnah for 2 counts. For example, مِنْ بَعْدِ is read as مِمْ بَعْدِ, and سَمِيعٌ بَصِيرٌ is read with the Tanwin becoming a nasal م before the ب.
Why the change happens: Both م and ب are made at the lips, while ن is made at the tongue tip and gum ridge. When the ن must be followed by a lip letter, the tongue cannot comfortably make the jump — so Arabic naturally converts the ن into the lip-nasal م, which matches the ب that follows. In the Mushaf, a small م is written above the ن or Tanwin to show Iqlab — the only rule with a visible written sign.
Rule 4 — Ikhfa (hiding): Ikhfa (إِخْفَاء) means to conceal or hide, and it is the most common of the four rules. When ن or Tanwin is followed by one of the 15 remaining letters — every letter not covered by the other three rules — the ن is hidden: neither fully clear like Izhar, nor fully merged like Idgham. It hangs between the two, while a Ghunnah nasal hum is held for 2 counts.
Three steps to perform Ikhfa: First, suspend the ن: hold the Ghunnah for 2 counts — the ن is neither spoken clearly nor merged. Second, tongue moves: while the Ghunnah is held, your tongue moves toward the Makhraj of the next letter — but does not touch it. Third, release: after 2 counts of Ghunnah, produce the next letter. For example, in مِنْ قَبْلِ the tongue moves toward the back of the mouth for ق without touching, and in إِنْ كُنْتُمْ it moves toward ك.
A small detail of beauty: The Ghunnah of Ikhfa takes on a slight flavour of the next letter. Before heavy letters like ق ط ظ, the Ghunnah sounds slightly heavier; before light letters, slightly lighter. You do not have to force this — it happens naturally when your tongue moves to the right place.
Example
Imagine a friend hiding behind a half-open door. You can hear her voice, but you cannot see her fully — she is neither fully visible nor fully gone.
That is Ikhfa: the ن is hidden behind the next letter. You hear its hum (the Ghunnah) for two counts, but the ن itself never fully appears.
Key Terms
- Iqlab (إِقْلَاب) — converting ن into a م sound before ب, with 2 counts of Ghunnah
- Ikhfa (إِخْفَاء) — hiding the ن between clarity and merging, with 2 counts of Ghunnah
- Ghunnah (غُنَّة) — the nasal hum held for 2 counts in Iqlab, Ikhfa, and Idgham with Ghunnah
Quran or Hadith
None used in this topic.
Fresh diagram to be drawn: A three-step diagram for Ikhfa — 1 Suspend (hold Ghunnah) → 2 Tongue moves toward next letter → 3 Release — with a small mouth icon, in Project Desk colours.
- Iqlab: only one trigger letter, ب — the ن becomes a م with 2 counts of Ghunnah.
- Ikhfa: the most common rule — ن is hidden before 15 letters, Ghunnah held 2 counts.
- In Ikhfa the tongue moves toward the next letter but does not touch it.