Quick Facts
- Level
- Essential
- Category
- Noon and Tanween
- When it occurs
- It occurs when Noon Sakinah or Tanween is followed by one of the fifteen Ikhfa letters: every letter of the alphabet except the six throat letters (Izhar), the six Idgham letters, and Baa (Iqlab).
- Letters involved
- ت · ث · ج · د · ذ · ز · س · ش · ص · ض · ط · ظ · ف · ق · ك
Understand the rule
Ikhfa means hiding or partial concealment. When a Noon Sakinah or tanween is followed by one of its fifteen letters, the Noon is not pronounced clearly and not fully merged: the tongue does not touch the roof of the mouth as for a clear Noon, and the sound carries a nasal quality (ghunnah) held for approximately two counts. The fifteen letters are all the letters of the alphabet except the six Izhar throat letters, the six Idgham letters, and Baa (the Iqlab letter). The learner begins by identifying Noon Sakinah or Tanween, ruling out the other three cases, and then practising the concealed nasal sound with a reliable demonstration.
When does it occur?
It occurs when Noon Sakinah or Tanween is followed by one of the fifteen Ikhfa letters: every letter of the alphabet except the six throat letters (Izhar), the six Idgham letters, and Baa (Iqlab).
Which letters are involved?
How is it pronounced?
The sound is between clear and merged: hide the Noon with the tongue untouched and hold the nasal resonance (ghunnah) for approximately two counts, learned from a qualified demonstration.
Examples
The examples below are clearly labelled teaching examples and are not from the Quran. Use them to notice the rule, then confirm your recitation with a qualified teacher.
مِنْ تَفْسِيرٍ min tafsīr (from interpretation) — Not from the Quran
Common Mistakes
- Reading the Noon as completely clear or completely merged.
- Assuming every concealment case is the same without hearing the demonstration.
Connect this lesson
Izhar
Izhar is the clear pronunciation of Noon Sakinah or Tanween before one of the six throat letters: ء ه ع ح غ خ.
Open lesson: IzharIdgham
Idgham is the merging of Noon Sakinah or Tanween into the next word when it begins with one of the six letters in يَرْمَلُونَ. Recognised exceptions are taught separately.
Open lesson: IdghamIqlab
Iqlab is the changing of Noon Sakinah or Tanween into a Meem sound when the following letter is Baa, pronounced with ghunnah.
Open lesson: IqlabRemember
If the letter is in the concealment family, the sound should not be fully pronounced as Izhar nor fully merged as Idgham.
Practice
Try to identify the trigger first, say the sound slowly, then listen and repeat. Short, accurate practice is more useful than rushing through many examples.
- How does Ikhfa differ from Izhar and Idgham?
- Why is the following letter so important here?
Question 1 of 2
Which definition does this lesson give for Ikhfa?
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ikhfa always the same sound?
The treatment is a family category. The exact sound quality is learned through a reliable demonstration and should not be guessed from text alone.
Sources and review notes
What still needs review?
- This page is a good learner-facing summary, but the exact letter set and nasal timing should be reviewed against the adopted source before final publishing.
A reference records the source used for study; it does not mean the source author approved this lesson.
Important Note
Tajweed is best learned through both understanding and listening. Written explanations can help you understand the rules, but correct pronunciation, timing, and articulation are best learned by listening to a qualified reciter or teacher and practicing along with them.
For the best results, combine reading, listening, repetition, and guidance from a qualified Tajweed teacher.