Al-Noon Al-Sakinah al-izhar (clarity)

Izhaar Rule in Tajweed: A Simple Guide to Noon Sakinah and Tanween

Introduction

The Izhaar rule is one of the important rules of Noon Sakinah and Tanween in Tajweed. It teaches Muslims how to pronounce the Noon Sakinah or Tanween clearly when it is followed by one of six specific Arabic letters. Learning this rule helps beginners improve their Quran recitation and pronounce Quranic words correctly.

Tajweed is the science of reading and reciting the Holy Quran correctly. Through Tajweed, Muslims learn how to give every Arabic letter its proper sound and pronunciation. Therefore, learning the Izhaar rule is an important step for anyone who wants to improve their Quran recitation.

The rules of Tajweed have been transmitted through generations of Quran teachers and reciters. Muslims learn these rules so they can recite the Quran correctly and follow the way of Quranic recitation taught by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.

What Does Izhaar Mean?

The Arabic word Izhaar means clarity or making something clear.

In Tajweed, Izhaar means pronouncing the Noon Sakinah or Tanween clearly without merging it with the following letter.

The Izhaar rule applies when Noon Sakinah نْ or Tanween ً ٍ ٌ is followed by one of six Arabic letters:

ء، ه، ع، ح، غ، خ

These letters are known as the Izhaar letters.

When one of these letters comes after Noon Sakinah or Tanween, the Noon sound should be pronounced clearly.

What Are the Izhaar Letters?

There are six Izhaar letters:

These letters come from the throat. Therefore, Izhaar is also known as Izhaar Halqi, meaning throat clarity.

For example, when a Noon Sakinah is followed by ء, the Noon should remain clear rather than being merged into the following sound.

Izhaar with Noon Sakinah

Noon Sakinah is the letter نْ with a Sukoon. When it appears before one of the six Izhaar letters, it must be pronounced clearly.

Here are some examples from the Quran:

• مَنْ خَافَ

• مِنْهُ

• عَنْهُ

• مِنْ أَيِّ

• شَيْءٍ أَحْصَيْنَاهُ

In each example, the Noon Sakinah is pronounced clearly because the following letter is one of the Izhaar letters.

Izhaar with Tanween

The Izhaar rule also applies to Tanween.

Tanween can appear as:

• ً — Fathatain

• ٍ — Kasratain

• ٌ — Dammatain

When Tanween is followed by one of the six Izhaar letters, the Tanween sound should be pronounced clearly.

Examples include:

• جَنَّاتٍ أَلْفَافًا

• وَاجِفَةٌ أَبْصَارُهَا

• سَرَابًا إِنَّ

• عَطَاءً حِسَابًا

• عَشِيَّةً أَوْ

These examples demonstrate how Tanween is pronounced clearly before an Izhaar letter.

Why Is the Izhaar Rule Important?

Learning Tajweed helps Muslims recite the Holy Quran with greater accuracy and confidence. In particular, the Izhaar rule helps learners understand when the Noon sound should remain clear.

For beginners, this rule can also make Quranic pronunciation easier to practice. Instead of trying to memorize every example separately, students can remember the six Izhaar letters and apply the rule whenever they encounter them.

Moreover, practicing with a qualified Quran teacher can help learners identify pronunciation mistakes that they may not notice themselves.

Learn the Izhaar Rule with a Qualified Quran Teacher

Learning Tajweed is easier when students receive direct feedback from an experienced teacher. A teacher can listen to the student's recitation, identify pronunciation mistakes, and explain how to correct them.

Eaalim provides online Quran classes with Tajweed for children and adults. Students can learn with qualified teachers and practice Tajweed rules through one-on-one lessons.

Therefore, if you want to improve your Quran recitation, learning the rules step by step can give you a stronger foundation.

Conclusion

The Izhaar rule is an essential Tajweed rule for Noon Sakinah and Tanween. It requires the Noon sound to be pronounced clearly when it is followed by one of six throat letters: ء، ه، ع، ح، غ، خ.

By learning these six letters and practicing Quranic examples, beginners can gradually improve their pronunciation and recitation. With regular practice and guidance from a qualified teacher, Tajweed can become a natural part of Quran recitation.