The three rules
| Rule | Next letter | What you do | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ikhfa shafawi | ب | Lips lightly close on the meem, with a two-count ghunnah, then the ب | تَرْمِيهِم بِحِجَارَةٍ (Al-Fil 105:4) |
| Idgham shafawi | م | The two meems become one meem with shaddah and a two-count ghunnah | خَلَقَكُم مِّن نَّفْسٍ (An-Nisa 4:1) |
| Izhar shafawi | any other letter | Pronounce the meem clearly with no nasal lengthening | أَلَمْ تَرَ (Al-Fil 105:1) |
Two letters that need care
Izhar shafawi before و and ف needs extra care. Because و is also a lip letter and ف is close to the lips, learners tend to hide the meem or add ghunnah. The meem must stay clear: عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا, هُمْ فِيهَا.
Practice
Surah Al-Fil (105) is a compact practice text. Read it and mark every meem sakinah, then decide which rule applies. Recite it to your teacher.
Examples of Rules of Meem Sakinah
- Surah Quraysh 106:4
ٱلَّذِىٓ أَطْعَمَهُم مِّن جُوعٍۢ وَءَامَنَهُم مِّنْ خَوْفٍۭ
أَطْعَمَهُم مِّن — Idghām shafawī: mīm into mīm with ghunnah.
Who has fed them, [saving them] from hunger and made them safe, [saving them] from fear.
- Surah Al-Fil 105:4
تَرْمِيهِم بِحِجَارَةٍۢ مِّن سِجِّيلٍۢ
تَرْمِيهِم بِحِجَارَةٍ — Ikhfāʾ shafawī: mīm sākinah before bā.
Striking them with stones of hard clay,
- Surah Al-Fatihah 1:7
صِرَٰطَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ ٱلْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا ٱلضَّآلِّينَ
عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ — Iẓhār shafawī: mīm sākinah before ghayn is pronounced clearly.
The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have evoked [Your] anger or of those who are astray.