Idgham consists of 7 main types that guide how letters are merged during Quranic recitation. The main types of Idgham are Idgham with Ghunnah and Idgham without Ghunnah. Idgham with Ghunnah involves the nasal sound (ghunnah) and applies to the letters yaa (ي), noon (ن), meem (م), and waw (و). In contrast, Idgham without Ghunnah merges the letters lam (ل) and raa (ر) without the nasal sound.
There are two main types of idgham: idgham with ghunnah and idgham without ghunnah. Idgham with ghunnah involves a nasal sound (ghunna) and occurs with the letters yaa, noon, meem, or waw. Idgham without ghunnah occurs with the letters lam and raa, and there is no nasal sound. Let’s explain in detail.
1. Idgham with Ghunna
Idgham with Ghunnah refers to the merging of a consonant letter into another vowel letter, resulting in the formation of one stressed letter. This merging is accompanied by a nasal sound known as Ghunnah. The letters involved in Idgham with Ghunnah are yaa (ي), noon (ن), meem (م), or waw (و). This phenomenon occurs when one of these letters follows a noon sakinah (a non-vocalized letter) or tanween.
What Happens in the Process of Assimilation in Idgham with Ghunna?
- Target Sounds: Idgham with Ghunna only affects the final sounds of sakina noon or the final sakina noon of a tanween.
- Transformation: The final sound is transformed to match one of four assimilated letters: yaa (ي), mim (م), waw (و), or noon (ن). This depends on the first letter of the following word.
- Tongue Placement: When assimilating, the tongue doesn’t touch the final silent vowel (sakina). The exception is when the assimilated letter is itself a noon (ن).
- Ghanna Duration: The nasalization (ghunna) sound is produced for the duration of two vowel sounds.
- Word Boundary: Assimilation only occurs between two separate words, never within a single word.
Examples of Idgham with Ghunnah in the Quran:
- “وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يَقُولُ آمَنَّا بِاللَّهِ وَبِالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ وَمَا هُم بِمُؤْمِنِينَ”
“Wamina alnnasi ma yaqoolu amanna biAllahi wabialyawmi alakhiri wama hum bimumineena” (Surat Al-Baqarah, 2:8)
- “وَإِن كُنتُمْ فِي رَيْبٍ مِّمَّا نَزَّلْنَا عَلَىٰ عَبْدِنَا فَأْتُوا بِسُورَةٍ مِّن مِّثْلِهِ”
“Wain kuntum fee raybin mimma nazzalna AAala AAabdina fatoo bisooratin mi mithlihi” (Surat Al-Baqarah, 2:23)
- “قَالَتْ لَهُمْ رُسُلُهُمْ إِن نَّحْنُ إِلَّا بَشَرٌ مِّثْلُكُمْ”
“Qalat lahum rusuluhum in nahnu illa basharun mithlukum” (Surat Ibrahim, 14:11)
- “لِّنُخْرِجَ بِهِ حَبًّا وَنَبَاتًا”
“Linukhrija bihi habba wanabatan” (surat An-Naba’, 78:15)
In these examples, the consonant letter merges smoothly with the following vowel letter, creating a single emphasized sound while maintaining the nasal quality indicated by Ghunnah.
2. Idgham without Ghunna
On the other hand, Idgham without Ghunnah involves the fusion of a consonant letter into another vowel letter without the accompanying nasal sound. This merging results in the formation of one stressed letter without the Ghunnah.
Here, in Idgham without Ghunnah, the merging process occurs with two specific letters – lam (ل) and ra (ر). This type of assimilation occurs when either of these letters follows a noon sakinah or tanween.
What Happens in the Process of Assimilation in Idgham without Ghunna?
- Transformation: The final noon (ن) sound is transformed into either raa (ر) or laam (ل) depending on the first letter of the following word.
- Resulting Sounds: The assimilation creates an Raa mushaddadah (رّ) or an Laam mushaddadah (لّ) sound. Mushaddadah means the sound is held for a slightly longer duration.
- Word Boundary: Assimilation without ghana only occurs between two separate words, never within a single word.
Examples of Idgham without Ghunnah in the Quran:
- “أُولَٰئِكَ عَلَىٰ هُدًى مِّن رَّبِّهِمْ ۖ وَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ”
“Olaika AAala hudan mi rabbihim waolaika humu almuflihoona” (Surat Al-Baqarah, 2:5)
- “وَأَنَّا كُنَّا نَقْعُدُ مِنْهَا مَقَاعِدَ لِلسَّمْعِ ۖ فَمَن يَسْتَمِعِ الْآنَ يَجِدْ لَهُ شِهَابًا رَّصَدًا”
“Waanna kunna naqAAudu minha maqaAAida lilssamAAi faman yastamiAAi alana yajid lahu shihaba rasadan” (Surat Al-Jinn, 72:9)
- “ فَإِن لَّمْ تَفْعَلُوا وَلَن تَفْعَلُوا فَاتَّقُوا النَّارَ الَّتِي وَقُودُهَا النَّاسُ وَالْحِجَارَةُ ۖ أُعِدَّتْ لِلْكَافِرِينَ”
“Fai lam tafAAaloo walan tafAAaloo faittaqoo alnnara allatee waqooduha alnnasu waalhijaratu oAAiddat lilkafireena” (Surat Al-Baqarah, 2:24)
- “وَأَنزَلَ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ مَاءً فَأَخْرَجَ بِهِ مِنَ الثَّمَرَاتِ رِزْقًا لَّكُمْ”
“waanzala mina alssamai maan faakhraja bihi mina alththamarati rizqa lakum” (Surat Al-Baqarah, 2:22)
In these examples, the consonant letters Lam and Raa seamlessly merge with the following vowel letters, creating a single emphasized sound without the nasal quality of Ghunnah.
On the other hand, There are two main classifications based on completeness of merging: Idgham Taam and Idgham Naqis. Idgham Taam involves complete assimilation, where the first letter disappears entirely and only the second is pronounced with emphasis.
Idgham Naqis is a partial assimilation, where the first letter’s sound is mostly gone but its influence (ghunnah) remains on the second letter. These rules help achieve a smooth recitation of the Quran. Let’s explain in detail.
3. Idgham Kamil or Idgham Taam (Complete Assimilation)
Idgham taam refers to complete assimilation, where the assimilated letter and its attribute (ghunnah) disappear entirely, and only the following letter is pronounced with emphasis.
In Idghaam Taam, the first letter completely vanishes, leaving its influence solely on the pronunciation of the second letter. It involves the four letters: lam (ل), ra (ر), noon (ن), and mim (م).
Example of Idgham Taam in the Quran:
- “وَمَا بِكُم مِّن نِّعْمَةٍ فَمِنَ اللَّهِ”
“Wama bikum mi niAAmatin famina Allah” (Surah An-Nahl, 53)
- “وَآتُوهُم مِّن مَّالِ اللَّهِ الَّذِي آتَاكُم”
“waatoohum min mali Allah” (Surah An-Nur, 33)
4. Idgham Naqis (Incomplete Assimilation)
Idgham Naqis occurs when the assimilated letter disappears, but its attribute, the ghunnah, remains. In Idghaam Naqis, the first letter loses most of its sound but retains a slight influence on the pronunciation of the second letter. This type primarily involves the letters ya (ي) and waw (و) merging with a noon sakinah or tanween.
Example of Idgham Naqis in the Quran:
- “فَمَن يَعْمَلْ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ خَيْرًا يَرَهُ”
“Faman yaAAmal mithqala tharratin khayran yarahu” (Surah Az-Zalzalah, 7)
- “وَمَا لَكُم مِّن دُونِ اللَّهِ مِن وَلِيٍّ وَلَا نَصِيرٍ”
“wama lakum min dooni Allahi min waliyyin wala naseerin” (Surah Al-Mujadila, 22)
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There are three types of Idgham according to the place of articulation. Idgham Mutmathileen lengthens a sound when two identical letters come together. Idgham Mutganiseen fully merges two letters with similar articulation points but different qualities. Idgham Mutaqaribain completely assimilates one letter into another when their articulation points are very close. Let’s explain in detail.
5. Idgham Mutmathileen (Assimilation of Similar Letters):
Idgham Mutmathileen refers to the assimilation of two identical, consecutive letters into a single, lengthened sound. The two letters must share the same place of articulation (makhraj) and characteristic (sifah).
Examples of Idgham Mutmathileen in the Quran:
- “فَمَا رَبِحَت تِّجَارَتُهُمْ وَمَا كَانُوا مُهْتَدِينَ”
“fama rabihat tijaratuhum wama kanoo muhtadeena” (Surat al-Baqarah 2:16)
In this verse, the two “ta” sounds are assimilated into a single, long “ta” sound.
- “قُل لَّا أَقُولُ لَكُمْ عِندِي خَزَائِنُ اللَّهِ”
“Qul la aqoolu lakum AAindee khazainu Allahi” (ٍSurat Al-An’am 6:50)
In this verse, the two “laam” sounds are assimilated into a single, long “laam” sound.
6. Idgham Mutganiseen (Assimilation of Homogenous Letters):
Idgham Mutganis involves the complete merging of two letters that share the same articulation point but differ in characteristics. The first letter disappears completely, while the second is lengthened to compensate. Here are some examples of letters that undergo Idgham Mutganiseen:
- Ta (ت) and Da (د)
- Da (د) and Ta (ت)
- Tha (ث) and Dha (ذ)
- Ta (ت) and Taa (ط)
- Ba (ب) and Mim (م)
Examples of Idgham Mutganiseen in the Quran:
- “قَالَ قَدْ أُجِيبَت دَّعْوَتُكُمَا فَاسْتَقِيمَا”
“Qala qad ojeeba daAAwatukuma faistaqeema” (Surah Yunus, 10:89)
The Ta (ت) disappears entirely when followed by the Da (د), creating a lengthened Da sound.
- “وَدَّت طَّائِفَةٌ مِّنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ لَوْ يُضِلُّونَكُمْ”
“Wadda taifatun min ahli alkitabi law yudilloonakum” (Surah Al-Imran, 3:69)
The Ta (ت) assimilates fully into the following Taa (ط), resulting in a prolonged Taa sound.
7. Idgham Mutaqaribain (Assimilation of Closely Related Letters):
Idgham Mutaqaribain occurs when two letters have articulation points in close proximity. The assimilation is so complete that the first letter vanishes entirely, leaving a lengthened and intensified pronunciation of the second letter. The letters involved in Idgham Mutaqaribain are:
- Lam (ل) and Ra (ر)
- Qaf (ق) and Kaf (ك)
Examples of Idgham Mutaqaribain in the Quran:
- “وَقُل رَّبِّ زِدْنِي عِلْمًا”
“waqul rabbi zidnee AAilman” (Surat Taha, 20:114)
The Lam (ل) assimilates completely into the Ra (ر), creating a lengthened Ra sound.
- “أَلَمْ نَخْلُقكُّم مِّن مَّاءٍ مَّهِينٍ”
“Alam nakhluqkum min main maheenin” (Surat Al-Mursalat, 77:20)
The Qaf (ق) merges entirely with the Kaf (ك), resulting in a prolonged Kaf sound.
8. Idgham Shafawi
Idgham Shafawi is one of the rules of Tajweed that deals with the pronunciation of the Arabic letter “Meem” (م). It refers to the merging of a Meem Sakinah (a Meem with a Sukun) with a Meem Mushaddadah (a Meem with a Shaddah) that comes after it. When this occurs, the two Meems are pronounced as one Meem with a Shaddah and a Ghunnah (nasalization).
In the Mushad, the sign of Idgham Shafawi is the absence of the Sukun on the Meem Sakinah and the presence of a Shaddah on the Meem Mushaddadah.
Reason for the Name:
The name “Idgham Shafawi” comes from two words:
- Idgham: meaning “to merge”
- Shafawi: meaning “related to the lips”
This is because the Meem is pronounced with the lips, and when the two Meems are merged, they are pronounced as one sound with the lips.
Other Names (Idgham Mithlain Sagheer)
Idgham Shafawi is also known as Idgham Mithlain Sagheer (the merging of two similar small letters). This is because the two Meems are similar in terms of their articulation point and manner of articulation, and the first Meem is not voweled.
Example of Idgham Shafawi in Quran
- “تِلْكَ أُمَّةٌ قَدْ خَلَتْ ۖ لَهَا مَا كَسَبَتْ وَلَكُم مَّا كَسَبْتُمْ”
“Tilka ommatun qad khalat laha ma kasabat walakum ma kasabtum” (Surat Al-Baqarah, 2:134).
The Meem Sakinah in لكم is merged with the Meem Mushaddadah in مّا to form one Meem with a Shaddah and a Ghunnah.
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Conclusion:
The different types of Idgham is vital for correct recitation. Idgham with Ghunnah creates a nasal sound, while Idgham without Ghunnah emphasizes smooth blending without nasalization. Additionally, further distinctions like Idgham Taam (complete assimilation) and Idgham Naqis (partial assimilation) allow for more detailed and accurate pronunciation. Mastering these types ensures a fluid, precise recitation in line with Tajweed rules.
