In Arabic grammar, Sukoon (ْ) denotes the absence of a vowel on a letter, aiding in pronunciation and grammatical clarity. It ensures precise articulation of words and supports correct sentence structure.
In Tajweed, Sukoon holds a profound significance. It not only signifies a vowel-less state but also governs specific rules of Quranic recitation, such as Izhar and Idgham. Mastering Sukoon is crucial for achieving accurate and melodious Quranic recitation, emphasizing both linguistic precision and spiritual expression.
Let’s dive deeper and discuss this in more detail:
What is Sukoon in Arabic?
The word shukun in the language means rest or stopping.
The Sukoon in the Arabic diacritics is represented by a small circle above the letter (ْ).
The Sukoon in grammar means the absence of a vowel, that the letter is in a sukun position (no vowels).
What is the symbol of Sukoon?
Sukoon is an optional mark placed above a letter to indicate that it does not contain a vowel. We can put it in the middle or at the end of a word. It is written above the letter in the form of a circle (ــْـ).
What are the examples of Sukoon in Arabic words?
Words that contain a Sukoon in the Arabic language are words that have a Sukoon symbol (ْ) on one of their letters. An example of this is:
مُسْلِمَتَانِ) – اَبُوْهُمَا – كَيْدُكُمْ – (منْزل
How to pronounce Sukoon in Arabic?
To pronounce a consonant, there must be a vowel before it, so it is not correct to start with a consonant. If the vowel has fatha, we enlarge the consonant somewhat, and if it has kasra, we thin it. In general, consonants are pronounced by colliding the two ends of the pronunciation without opening the mouth, lowering it, or closing it, so this is a complete lack of movement.
Is Sukoon in Arabic Different from the Sukoon in Quran and Tajweed?
Yes, the Sukoon in Arabic grammar and the Sukoon in Quranic Tajweed are essentially the same in indicating the absence of a vowel on a letter, but they differ in application.
In Arabic grammar, Sukoon marks a consonant without a vowel, aiding in pronunciation and grammatical rules. In Tajweed, Sukoon also denotes a vowel-less letter but plays a critical role in specific recitation rules, such as Izhar and Idgham, ensuring proper and beautiful Quranic recitation.
The Symbol of Sukoon in the Quran and tajweed (“حـ” above the letter) is also different from the symbols in Arabic (ْ above the letters).
What is the meaning of Sukoon Tajweed?
In the science of Tajweed, Sukoon (ْ) is the state of a letter when it is read without a vowel (i.e., without a Dammah, Fathah, or Kasrah).
A silent letter is pronounced without being followed by any vowel, and it appears in the Quran with a small “haa” حـ symbol above the letter.
Sukoon in Tajweed has great importance as it affects how letters and words are pronounced. Sukoon features several rules, such as:
Izhar: Where the silent letter is pronounced clearly.
Idgham: Where the silent letter is merged with the following letter if it belongs to the Idgham letters.
Iqlab: Where the silent letter is converted to another letter, such as the silent Noon being converted to Meem before Baa.
Ikhfa: Where the silent letter is hidden when it comes before the Ikhfa letters.
Sukoon helps in determining the correct pronunciation of letters in accordance with the rules of Quranic recitation (Tajweed).
We will explain all of this in detail below.
Sukoon letters in Tajweed:
In the context of Tajweed, “Sukoon letters” refer to letters in the Arabic script that carry a Sukoon (ْ) symbol above them, indicating that they are to be pronounced without any vowel sound. These letters are known as “ساكنة” (sakina), meaning “silent” or “resting.”
Here are a few points to elaborate on Sukoon letters:
Sukoon Symbol: The small circular mark (ْ) placed above a letter to denote that it should be read without any vowel.
Pronunciation: When a letter carries a Sukoon, it is pronounced without any added vowel sound. For example, in the word “يَذْهَبُ”, the letter “ذ” (dhal) carries a Sukoon and is pronounced without any vowel.
Understanding Sukoon and its rules helps in achieving accurate and beautiful recitation of the Quran, adhering to the principles of Tajweed.
Read more about Sifaat Al Huroof In Tajweed
Sukoon meaning in the Quran
Sukoon is the opposite of movement. It is the opposite of fatha, kasra, and dhammah. When pronouncing the consonant letter, we do not open the mouth as we open it with fatha, nor do we lower it as we lower it in kasra, nor do we close it as we close it with dhammah. That Sukoon, in short, is the complete absence of movement.
What is the Sukoon symbol in the Quranic Script?
Sukoon symbol in the Quran is a small head of “حـ” above the letter. If we find it, this indicates the absence of movement for this letter, just as the absence of all symbols from the letter means that it is a Sukoon.
Examples of Sukoon in the Quran
There are three types of Sukoon in the Holy Quran (the apparent Sukoon – the invisible Sukoon – the occasional Sukoon)
We look at examples of each of them
1- The apparent Sukoon:
It is the Sukoon which drawn on the letter with the symbol (small حـ)
For Example: In the Almighty’s saying
((صِرَٰطَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَنۡعَمۡتَ عَلَيۡهِمۡ
(the path of those whom You have favored on them)
The word (أَنۡعَمۡتَ) has a Sukoon appearing on the letter م.
2- The non-apparent:
That is, not drawn on the letter, so it is devoid of any diacritics, such as:
The three vowel letters
Which are silent even though they are devoid of signs of Sukoon.
For example, God Almighty says in Surat Al-Naba’
(And He spoke correctly)
(وَقَالَ صَوَابًا)
The Sukoon here is on the maad, so it is not decreed.
Letters followed by Tajweed rulings
Such as the rulings on idgham, ikhfaa, and iqlab with the noon sakinah, and the rulings on the meem sakinah in idgham, and ikhfaa shafawi. In these examples, the Sukoon comes without being apparent.
For Example: The Sukoon in the rule of the meem sakinah in the Almighty’s saying:
“So who does it?”
“فَمَنْ يَعْمَلْ”
3- Accidental Sukoon
It is an unoriginal sukun, as it is accidental due to the pause, and it occurs in the last letter of the word on which we stop.
For Example, the ending words in al fatiha
الْعَالَمِينَ) – الرَّحِيمِ – (نستعين
Importance of Sukoon in Understanding Arabic
Sukoon helps us to understand meanings, as it organizes reading and makes us stop at words that must be stopped at in order to clarify the correct meaning of the sentence.
Grammatical Role of Sukoon in the Arabic Language
In Arabic, the word does not begin with a Sukoon at all. This means that the first letter of the word must be a vowel. If a word exceeds three letters, it must be followed by a consonant or more. That is: we do not find in the Arabic word four vowels, except for a reason, or as a matter of anomaly according to the rule of dividing the Arabic word into syllables.
Sukoon in verbs
Sukoon is the original affirmative sign. Jazm is concerned with the present tense verb only, and the Sukoon replaces the deletion of the vowel and also the deletion of the letter Noon. Cases of Jazm the present verb with Sukoon can be illustrated in the following examples:
- يرسم = لم يرسمْ.
- يقبل = لم يقبلْ.
- ينظف = لم ينظفْ
Sukoon in Practice
Practicing grammatical rules is important to master, one of these rules is sukun and to practice pronunciation with sukun there are some points that should be focused on:
- Keep your tongue in a neutral position.
- After you say the consonant word, pause. When the consonant is followed by a consonant (non-vowel), the pause period should be shorter.
- After a short pause, take a few deep breaths before moving on to the letter that comes after “Sukoon.” This keeps the reading pace constant.
- Listen carefully to the reciters who have mastered the skill of Tajweed to learn how to pronounce the sukun and imitate them.
Sukoon and Arabic Calligraphy
Arabic has always been one of the most beautiful languages in the world in its form and script. The diacritical marks play a crucial role in adding an extra touch of beauty to Arabic calligraphy. Among these marks is the “sukoon,” which is considered an indispensable decorative element. It complements the formation and ornamentation of letters, fills in gaps, and helps in accurately pronouncing and reading words. There is an aesthetic allure to the sukun in Arabic writing.
The Difference Between Sukoon and Jazm
In Arabic, sukoon and jazm are grammatical states that differ in context and usage. Here’s an explanation of the differences between them with examples:
- Sukoon
Sukoon is a diacritical mark placed above a letter to indicate the absence of a vowel (a vowel-less state).
It is used to clarify the correct pronunciation of a word in written texts and Tajweed (the rules of Quranic recitation).
For Example:
– The word “kitab” (book) can be written in Arabic with diacritics as “كِتَابٌ”. To show the sukoon in the middle of the word, it can be written as “كِتْابٌ”, where the sukoon above the letter “ت” indicates the absence of a vowel.
- Jazm
Jazm is a grammatical case that affects verbs in the present tense (المضارع), used to express conditionality, negation, or imperative.
Jazm is marked by placing a Sukoon on the final letter of the verb, dropping the final noon in the five verbs, or dropping the final long vowel in weak verbs.
For Example:
1. Sukoon on the final letter:
– The verb “يكتب” (he writes) in the Jazm case becomes “لم يكتب” (he did not write), where the Sukoon on the final letter indicates Jazm.
2. Dropping the noon in the five verbs:
– The verb “يلعبون” (they play) in the Jazm case becomes “لم يلعبوا” (they did not play), where the final noon is dropped.
3. Dropping the final long vowel in weak verbs:
– The verb “يسعى” (he strives) in the jazm case becomes “لم يسع” (he did not strive), where the final long vowel is dropped.
Key Differences:
– Sukoon is used to indicate the pronunciation in any part of the word (middle or end) and denotes the absence of a vowel.
– Jazm is a grammatical case that affects verbs in the present tense only and is used for specific grammatical purposes like conditionality, negation, and imperative.
In summary, Sukoon is a phonetic mark indicating the absence of a vowel on a letter, while Jazm is a grammatical state affecting verbs in the present tense used for specific grammatical functions.
Alifs with Sukoon rules
In the Quran, certain Alifs with a Sukoon symbol (°) are pronounced differently depending on whether the recitation is paused or continued. These rules ensure accurate recitation, as seen in words like “أنا” and others where the Alif modifies pronunciation.
For instance, “أناْ لكم” is pronounced “أنَ لكم” when continuing but “أنا … لكم” when stopping. Understanding these rules is essential for mastering Quranic recitation and adhering to Tajweed principles, ensuring the text is recited as intended.
The alif is one of the most colorful letters, as it appears clearly in some places and in other places it is completely hidden. What are the rules for the sakinah alif in the Quran?
There are seven alifs in the Quran that are heard when you stop, and are silent when you continue the recitation. This alif is indicated by the circular shape that resembles a sukoon above it: (°)
1- All occurrences of the word “I” (أنا) that carry this symbol.
When you stop, you pronounce the alif, mada tabi’i (for two counts), but when you continue the recitation, you pronounce the alif only with a fatha.
for example:
The Holy Verse (أناْ لكم)
When you continue, it is: (أنَ لكم)
When you stop, it is: (أنا … لكم)
This rule applies to the following words in their own way:
1- In this verse (لكناْ هو)
When continuing, it is read as follows: (لاكنَّ هو)
When you stop, it is: (لاكنّا … هو)
2-In this verse (الظنوناْ (10) هنالك)
When continuing, it is read as follows: (الظنونَ هنالك)
When you stop, it is: (الظنونا … هنالك)
3-In this verse (الرسولاْ (66) وقالواْ)
When continuing, it is read as follows: (الرسولَ و قالواْ)
When you stop, it is: (الرسولا … و قالواْ)
4-In this verse (السبيلاْ (67) ربنا)
When continuing, it is read as follows: (السبيلَ ربّنا)
When you stop, it is: (السبيلا … ربّناْ)
There are some cases in which scholars have permitted stopping at two cases for alif, such as:
5- In this verse (سَلَٰسِلَاْ وَأَغْلَٰلًا)
When continuing, it is read as follows: (سلاسلَ و أغلالاً)
When you stop, it is: (سلاسلا … و أغلالاً) or (سلاسلْ … و أغلالاً)
We notice two special cases of the alif, which are in the word “Qawarira” in Surah Al-Insan, verse 16, where it is never pronounced with a long vowel when stopping. It is always pronounced with a fatha when continuing. This also applies to all occurrences of the word “Thamud” (which contains this silent alif).
Note the following:
6- In this verse ((وَأَكْوَابٍ كَانَتْ قَوَارِيرَا (15) قَوَارِيرَ مِن فِضَّة
When continuing, it is read as follows: (قواريرَ قواريرَ)
When you stop, it is: (قواريرا … قواريرَ) or (قواريرا … قواريرْ)
2- All occurrences of the word “Thamud” like the verse (وثموداْ)
when continuing: (وثمودَ)
when stopping: (وثمودْ)
How to learn Sukoon?
You can easily learn the Sukoon and its pronunciation by enrolling in an online Tajweed class through Shaykhi Academy, which offers comprehensive learning of all Arabic language rules and the necessary Tajweed rules to master the recitation of the Quran. Among the most prominent of these rules is Sukoon.
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Conclusion:
Sukoon in Arabic is a diacritical mark (ْ) indicating the absence of a vowel, placed above a letter to signify rest or stopping. It is crucial for proper pronunciation and grammar, helping distinguish between different sounds and meanings in words.
In Tajweed, the science of Quranic recitation, Sukoon also denotes a vowel-less letter but is pivotal for specific recitation rules, ensuring precise and beautiful recitation of the Quran. In the Quran, Sukoon is depicted with a small “حـ” symbol, highlighting its importance in the proper recitation and understanding of the text.
