Quick answer: Idgham is one of the four rules of noon sakinah and tanween. It means merging the noon sound into the next letter. Its six letters are gathered in the word “yarmaloon,” and there are two types: idgham with ghunnah and idgham without ghunnah.
What is idgham?
When a noon sakinah or tanween is followed by one of the idgham letters, the noon is not pronounced separately — instead it merges into the following letter, so the two sound as one. This makes recitation flow smoothly.
The idgham letters
The six idgham letters are collected in the word yarmaloon: ya, ra, mim, lam, waw and noon. Whenever a noon sakinah or tanween is followed by one of these, idgham applies.
Idgham with ghunnah
With four letters — ya, noon, mim and waw — the merging is accompanied by a ghunnah, a two-count nasal sound. The noon blends into the next letter while the nasal hum is held.
Idgham without ghunnah
With the two letters lam and ra, the noon merges completely into the following letter with no ghunnah — the sound passes straight into the lam or ra.
How to practise idgham
Memorise the letters of yarmaloon and which cause ghunnah, then apply them in real verses. Give the ghunnah its full two counts where required, and have a teacher check your merging.
Frequently asked questions
What is idgham in Tajweed?
Idgham means merging a noon sakinah or tanween into the following letter so they sound as one; it is one of the rules of noon sakinah and tanween.
What are the idgham letters?
Six letters gathered in the word ‘yarmaloon’: ya, ra, mim, lam, waw and noon.
What is the difference between idgham with and without ghunnah?
With ya, noon, mim, waw the merging carries a two-count nasal ghunnah; with lam and ra there is no ghunnah.
Related reading
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