Levels of ghunnah, from strongest to weakest
- ن or م with shaddah: إِنَّ, ثُمَّ, الْجِنَّةِ وَالنَّاسِ (An-Nas 114:6)
- Idgham with ghunnah (noon sakinah before ي ن م و): مَن يَعْمَلْ (Az-Zalzalah 99:7)
- Ikhfa and iqlab: مِن شَرِّ, مِنۢ بَعْدِ
- Noon or meem sakinah pronounced clearly (izhar): a slight natural ghunnah only
- Noon or meem with a vowel: the weakest, natural ghunnah
How long is two counts?
A count (harakah) is roughly the time it takes to say one short vowel at a natural pace. Two counts is the same length as a natural madd. Your teacher will set the timing by demonstrating, and consistency matters more than the exact number.
Common mistakes
- Cutting ghunnah short on إِنَّ and ثُمَّ, especially at speed.
- Adding ghunnah to izhar letters where none belongs.
- Producing the nasal sound from the throat rather than the nose.
Practice
Hold your nose lightly and say إِنَّ. If the sound is blocked, the ghunnah is coming from the right place. Then practise Surah An-Nas (114), which ends with two consecutive ghunnahs in الْجِنَّةِ وَالنَّاسِ.
Examples of Ghunnah
- Surah An-Nas 114:1
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ ٱلنَّاسِ
ٱلنَّاسِ — Doubled nūn: hold the nasal sound for about two counts.
Say, "I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind,
- Surah Al-Baqarah 2:6
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ سَوَآءٌ عَلَيْهِمْ ءَأَنذَرْتَهُمْ أَمْ لَمْ تُنذِرْهُمْ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ
إِنَّ — Doubled nūn with shaddah: full ghunnah.
Indeed, those who disbelieve - it is all the same for them whether you warn them or do not warn them - they will not believe.
- Surah Al-Masad 111:5
فِى جِيدِهَا حَبْلٌۭ مِّن مَّسَدٍۭ
مِّن مَّسَدٍۭ — Idghām of nūn into mīm carries a ghunnah.
Around her neck is a rope of [twisted] fiber.