The two kinds
| Kind | Letters | Ghunnah | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Idgham with ghunnah | ي ن م و (remembered as يَنْمُو) | Yes, about 2 counts | مَن يَعْمَلْ (Az-Zalzalah 99:7), مِن مَّاءٍ |
| Idgham without ghunnah | ل ر | No | مِن رَّبِّهِمْ (Al-Baqarah 2:5), هُدًى لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ (Al-Baqarah 2:2) |
When idgham does not apply
Idgham only happens between two words. When noon sakinah is followed by one of these letters inside the same word, the noon is pronounced clearly. This is called izhar mutlaq and occurs in exactly four words in the Quran: دُنْيَا, بُنْيَانٌ, صِنْوَانٌ, قِنْوَانٌ.
Recognising idgham in the mushaf
In most printed mushafs, the noon of idgham has no sukoon mark, and the next letter carries a shaddah. If the noon carries a small sukoon, the rule is izhar or something else.
Practice
Surah Al-Bayyinah (98) and the opening of Surah Al-Baqarah (2:1–5) contain several examples of both kinds.
Examples of Idgham
- Surah Al-Baqarah 2:5
أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ عَلَىٰ هُدًۭى مِّن رَّبِّهِمْ ۖ وَأُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْمُفْلِحُونَ
هُدًۭى مِّن رَّبِّهِمْ — Two idghāms in one phrase: tanwīn into mīm (with ghunnah), then nūn into rā (without ghunnah).
Those are upon [right] guidance from their Lord, and it is those who are the successful.
- Surah Quraysh 106:4
ٱلَّذِىٓ أَطْعَمَهُم مِّن جُوعٍۢ وَءَامَنَهُم مِّنْ خَوْفٍۭ
أَطْعَمَهُم مِّن — Idghām shafawī: mīm sākinah merges into the following mīm with ghunnah.
Who has fed them, [saving them] from hunger and made them safe, [saving them] from fear.