Meem sakinah & ghunnah
أحكام الميم الساكنة والغنة
Ikhfa shafawi, idgham shafawi, izhar shafawi, and the ghunnah of shaddah.
Three rules of meem sakinah
Before ب: ikhfa shafawi — lips lightly closed with ghunnah. Before another م: idgham shafawi with ghunnah. Before anything else: izhar shafawi — clear meem, and especially careful before و and ف where the ghunnah must not leak.
Ghunnah of shaddah
Any نّ or مّ with a shaddah carries a full two-count ghunnah, whether you are continuing or stopping.
Examples
تَرْمِيهِم بِحِجَارَةٍ
tarmīhim bi-ḥijārah
Ikhfa shafawi — lips meet gently, nasal sound for two counts.
لَهُم مَّا يَشَآءُونَ
lahum mā yashā'ūn
Idgham shafawi — the two meems become one with ghunnah.
ثُمَّ
thumma
Meem mushaddad — a full ghunnah of two counts.
Interactive practice
Clear izhar shafawi in أَلَمْ تَرَ and heavy ص in أَصْحَٰب.
أَلَمْ تَرَ كَيْفَ فَعَلَ رَبُّكَ بِأَصْحَٰبِ ٱلْفِيلِ
alam tara kayfa fa'ala rabbuka bi-aṣḥābi-l-fīl · Al-Fil 105:1
Quiz
1. Meem sakinah followed by ب is called…
2. Which letters demand extra care to avoid ghunnah after meem sakinah?
Lesson status
Quiz —% · Pronunciation —% · pass mark 80% on both.