Meem Sakinah (مْ — meem with sukoon) follows three rules depending on the letter that comes after it. These rules are called "Shafawi" (شفوي) because they involve the lips (shafa = lip).

The Three Rules of Meem Sakinah

Ikhfa Shafawi — إخفاء شفوي

Hide the meem with ghunna for 2 counts. The lips barely touch and the sound is nasal.

When مْ is followed by ب (Ba) — the same lip letter

Both meem and ba use the lips. The meem is hidden (not fully merged, not fully clear) with a nasal hum.

هُمْ بِالْآخِرَةِ

Hum-bil-aakhirah

مْ + ب = Ikhfa Shafawi

وَهُمْ بِالْآخِرَةِ

Wahum-bil-aakhirah

مْ + ب = Ikhfa Shafawi

تَرْمِيهِمْ بِحِجَارَةٍ

Tarmeehim-bihijaarah

مْ + ب = Ikhfa Shafawi

أَنْتُمْ بَارِئُكُمْ

Antum-baari-ukum

مْ + ب = Ikhfa Shafawi

لَهُمْ بُشْرَى

Lahum-bushraa

مْ + ب = Ikhfa Shafawi

Idgham Shafawi — إدغام شفوي

Merge the meem into the next meem with ghunna for 2 counts. The result is one strong meem with ghunna.

When مْ is followed by م (another Meem)

Meem merges into meem — like two meems becoming one double meem with nasal sound.

لَهُمْ مَا

Lahum-maa

مْ + م = Idgham Shafawi

أَمْ مَنْ

Amm-man

مْ + م = Idgham Shafawi

وَأَنْتُمْ مُسْلِمُونَ

Antum-muslimoon

مْ + م = Idgham Shafawi

كُنْتُمْ مُنْتَظِرِينَ

Kuntum-muntadhireen

مْ + م = Idgham Shafawi

هُمْ مُؤْمِنُونَ

Hum-muminoon

مْ + م = Idgham Shafawi

Izhar Shafawi — إظهار شفوي

Pronounce the meem clearly without any ghunna. This applies before all letters EXCEPT ب and م.

When مْ is followed by any of the remaining 26 letters

أ ت ث ج ح خ د ذ ر ز س ش ص ض ط ظ ع غ ف ق ك ل ن ه و ي

All letters except ب and م = clear meem with no ghunna.

لَهُمْ فِيهَا

Lahum-feehaa

مْ + ف = Izhar Shafawi

هُمْ فِيهَا

Hum-feehaa

مْ + ف = Izhar Shafawi

أَنْتُمْ وَآبَاؤُكُمْ

Antum-wa-aabaukum

مْ + و = Izhar Shafawi

عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ

Alayhim-ghayri

مْ + غ = Izhar Shafawi

هُمْ يُوقِنُونَ

Hum-yooqinoon

مْ + ي = Izhar Shafawi

Rules of Noon Sakinah and Tanween

Next Chapter

Heavy and Light Letters — Tafkheem and Tarqeeq

القاعدة النورانية

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