Ghunnah is a nasal sound that is essential in the pronunciation of certain Arabic letters, especially in the context of Tajweed. This sound is produced by directing airflow through the nose while articulating specific letters. Ghunnah occurs when the letters are followed by a nasalized sound, particularly in cases of “Idgham” (assimilation) with a specific focus on the letters that carry this nasalized sound.
Here are several examples illustrating where and how Ghunnah appears in the Qur’an:
Examples of Idgham with Ghunnah:
The letters that cause a nasalized sound through Ghunnah are: نون (n), ميم (m), واو (w), and ياء (y). When these letters follow ن (a Sakinah or a Tanween), they cause the nasal sound to be articulated.
Example 1:
“وَمَن يَعْمَلْ” (Surah At-Tawbah 9:105)
Here, “من” followed by “يعمل” causes the Ghunnah to be pronounced as a nasal sound due to the presence of ن followed by ي.
Example 2:
“أَمَنَةً نُّعَاسًا” (Surah Al-Anfal 8:11)
The “نُّ” here is followed by a ن sound, and the Ghunnah is maintained as both ن sounds merge smoothly with a nasal tone.
Example 3:
“مِن وَالٍ” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:219)
The “من” is followed by والٍ, and the Ghunnah is observed due to the sequence of the ن and و letters.
Example 4:
“صِراطاً مُسْتَقِيماً” (Surah Al-Fatiha 1:6)
This verse also demonstrates the application of Ghunnah when ن follows the sound of م in مستقيماً.
Examples of Idgham Baghunnah (with the presence of Ghunnah):
In these examples, we notice the integration of the Tanween sound into the letter that causes the Ghunnah, preserving the nasal sound as intended in Tajweed pronunciation.
Example 5:
“مَلِكاً نُقاتِلْ” (Surah Al-A’raf 7:127)
In this verse, مَلِكاً ends with a Tanween that merges smoothly with the following ن in نقاتل with a clear Ghunnah sound.
Examples of Non-Ghunnah Idgham (Idgham without Ghunnah):
There are instances where Idgham occurs without Ghunnah, specifically with the letters لام (l) and راء (r).
Example 6:
“مِن لَّبَنٍ” (Surah An-Nahl 16:11)
In this case, the ن is followed by لام, and there is no nasal sound, hence no Ghunnah.
Example 7:
“غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ” (Surah At-Tawbah 9:99)
Similarly, the ن is followed by راء, which also results in no Ghunnah sound.
Examples of Idgham with Ghunnah and the Application of Tanween:
The integration of Tanween into the letters of Ghunnah results in a nasal sound, where the letter that follows the Tanween retains the Ghunnah. This often occurs in words like:
Example 8:
“مِن نُّطْفَةٍ” (Surah Al-Insan 76:2)
Here, نُّطْفَةٍ retains the Ghunnah due to the ن sound followed by ن.
Idgham in Similar and Different Sounds:
In some cases, letters are either similar in sound or have comparable articulation, which results in a smoother merging, and the Ghunnah is pronounced.
Example 9:
“فَما رَبِحَتْ تِجارَتُهُمْ” (Surah Al-Jumu’ah 62:11)
The sound of ت merges with ت to form a compounded nasalized sound, causing the Ghunnah to remain.
Quran Verses Examples of Ghunnah
One of the benefits of Tajweed is that it enables us to accurately and correctly recite the Quran. Here are some examples of verses where Ghunnah is evident:
1. {الَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالْغَيْبِ وَيُقِيمُونَ الصَّلَاةَ وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ}: [Surah Al-Baqarah: 3]
(Allatheena yuminoona bialghaybi wayuqeemoona alssalata wamimma razaqnahum yunfiqoona). In the word (ممّا), the second meme is emphasized, and there is Ghunnah assimilation.
2. {فَمَنْ يَعْمَلْ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ خَيْرًا يَرَهُ}: [Surah Az-Zalzalah: 7]
(Faman yaAAmal mithqala tharratin khayran yarahu). In the phrase (خيرًا يره), where the tanween in (خيرًا) is followed by the letter ya in (يره), thus the tanween rule becomes assimilation with Ghunnah.
3. {وَلَقَدْ جِئْنَاهُم بِكِتَابٍ فَصَّلْنَاهُ عَلَى عِلْمٍ هُدًى وَرَحْمَةً لِّقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَ}: [Surah Al-A’raf: 52]
(Walaqad jinahum bikitabin fassalnahu AAala AAilmin hudan warahmatan liqawmin yuminoona). The ya after the tanween in (لقومٍ يؤمنون).
4. {وَمَا بِكُم مِّن نِّعْمَةٍ فَمِنَ اللَّهِ ۖ ثُمَّ إِذَا مَسَّكُمُ الضُّرُّ فَإِلَيْهِ تَجْأَرُونَ}: [Surah An-Nahl: 53]
(Wama bikum min niAAmatin famina Allahi thumma itha massakumu alddurru failayhi tajaroona) Ghunnah in (مِّن نِّعْمَةٍ).
5. {وَآتُوهُم مِّن مَّالِ اللَّهِ الَّذِي آتَاكُمْ}: [Surah An-Nur: 33]
(waatoohum min mali Allahi allathee atakum) Ghunnah in (مِّن مَّالِ).
6. {وَمَا أَنْتُمْ بِمُعْجِزِينَ فِي الأَرْضِ وَلا فِي السَّمَاءِ وَمَا لَكُمْ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ مِنْ وَلِيٍّ وَلا نَصِيرٍ}: [Surah Al-Ankabut: 22]
(Wama antum bimuAAjizeena fee alardi wala fee alssamai wama lakum min dooni Allahi min waliyyin wala naseerin) When the noon sakina comes before the waw in a word like (مِنْ وَلِيٍّ).
7. {أَيَحْسَبُونَ أَنَّمَا نُمِدُّهُمْ بِهِ مِنْ مَالٍ وَبَنِينَ}: [Surah Al-Mu’minun: 55]
(Ayahsaboona annama numidduhum bihi min malin wabaneena) When the noon sakina comes before the meem in a word like (مِنْ مَالٍ).
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Conclusion
The examples provided illustrate the importance of Ghunnah in the proper pronunciation of Arabic letters in Tajweed. Whether it’s through Idgham with Ghunnah (nasalized) or Idgham without Ghunnah (non-nasalized), understanding when and where Ghunnah occurs is crucial for accurate recitation of the Qur’an.
