Tajweed, which aims to maintain the beauty, precision, and flow of the verses revealed to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), is an integral part of reciting the Quran. Ghunna is one of the core ideas of Tajweed, among its several rules. This blog post will discuss what Ghunna in Tajweed is, its various forms, the letters that go along with it, and give Quranic instances.

Ghunna is present in the letters “م” and “ن”. So whenever pronounce any of these 2 letters the sound will go into the nasal passage which is known as Ghunna. Whenever the letter “م” or “ن” has a shadda, we pronounce the letter with a strong ghunna for 2 counts.

What is Ghunna in Tajweed (الْغُنَّة)?

Tajweed strongly depends on a nasal sound called “ghunna,” created from the nose. Some letters have a natural feature that causes the sound to vibrate inside your nose. In Tajweed, this nasalization is seen as a mustahab (recommended) component of proper pronunciation and embellishment of the Quranic recitation.

The tongue, lips, or throat are not used in the production of the Ghunna sound. It only happens with specific letters; maintaining Tajweed norms during recitation depends on its application.

What are Ghunna Letters?

Ghunna is represented by the letters Meem (م) and Noon (ن). in Tajweed. The Ghunna rules, however, are not limited to these two letters alone; they are also used when these letters occur with a Shaddah (ّ) or in conjunction with particular rules such as Ikhfa, Idgham, and Iqlab.

The following are some essential details regarding Ghunna letters:

Meem (م) and Noon (ن) are known as Ghunna letters because they have a Shaddah (ّ) that causes a nasal sound to be created.

When these letters are stressed with Shaddah, the sound of Ghunna is prolonged by two harakat (two beats).

Even if the Meem or Noon does not have a Shaddah, ghunna still happens when other Tajweed rules like Idgham, Ikhfa, and Iqlab are applied.

The Shaddah: (شدة)

When a shaddah شدة appears on one of the aforementioned letters, the Ghunnah occurs. A shaddah indicates that a letter ought to be emphasized when it appears on it. Stated differently, it amplifies the sound of a letter by two times. As you can see, the shaddah is positioned over a letter. For instance, the word Lil-latheen –لِلَّذين has two pronunciations of the second Laam ل. The sounds that are emphasized in the letters are indicated with red highlights.

The Ghunnah, according to tajweed regulations, is a sound that is made exclusively with the nose. It like a hmm, nearly. The duration of this sound should not be more than two counts. You must make a sound if you come upon a Shaddah above the midday نون or Meem ميم.

What are types of Gunnah

It is necessary to comprehend Ghunnah in Tajweed in order to properly recite the Quran. The four levels of Ghunnah each have their own guidelines and illustrations.

1. The Seeks the Deepest Ghunnah

This is Meem and Noon Mushaddad, and it is the longest form of Ghunnah. Some verses that illustrate this are “عَمَّ يَتَسَاءَلُون” and “كَلَّا إِنَّهَا تَذْكِرَة.” The duration is two counts.

Furthermore, Idgham with Ghunnah employs this kind of Ghunnah, in which Noon Saakin or Tanween blend into the following letter with a nasal sound. This is seen in the verse “فَمَن يَعْمَلْ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ خَيْرَاً يَرَه.”

2. The Complete Gunnah

The Complete Ghunnah, in its fullest form, is applicable when Noon Saakin or Meem Saakin are followed by letters that initiate Ikhfaa. Under such circumstances, the sound is discreetly muted and blended with a nasalization, producing a mixture of Izhar and Idgham.

Ikhfaa with Meem Saakin, for example, appears before the letter ب in sentences such as “أَلَمْ يَعْلَم بِأَنَّ اللهَ يَرَى.” 

Verse like “مِن شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَ” and “أَوْ إِطْعَامٌ فِي يَوْمّ ذِي مَسْغَبَة” are examples of Ikhfaa with Ghunnah.

3. The incomplete Gunnah

Comparing this type of Ghunnah to the other levels, it is less stressed and shorter. It happens when Meem Saakin or Noon Saakin are said clearly or with Izhar.

For example, in verses like “فَصَلِّ لِرَبّكَ وَانْحَر” where Noon Saakin is followed by Izhar letters, like ء, هـ, ع, ح, غ, خ, the Ghunnah is limited.

As shown in the verse “الذَينَ هُمْ عَن صَلَاتِهِم سَاهُون,” Meem Saakin also contains an incomplete Ghunnah when uttered before any letter other than ب and م.

Note: Join online tajweed classes with mishkah Academy to learn all about Ghunna properly for perfect reitation.

Rules of Ghunna in Tajweed

Several Tajweed regulations call for the use of Ghunna. Let’s review the main guidelines for applying Ghunna:


  1. Idgham with Ghunna

Idgham is the term for the assimilation of two letters into one, wherein Tanween or Noon Saakin, the first letter, becomes part of the second. Ghunna is applied when the letters Ya (ي), Noon (ن), Meem (م), or Waw (و), are followed by the Noon or Tanween.

Example: The Noon Saakin combines with the Ya in مَنْ يَعْمَلْ (Man Ya’mal), and Ghunna is applied on two counts.

  1. Ikhfa with Ghunna

 Ikhfa, when followed by specific letters, is a way to “hide” the sound of Noon Saakin or Tanween. The sound is partially articulated, but it is muffled for two counts with a nasal Ghunna. Ikhfa consists of twenty two letters of Ikhfa, such as Ta (ت), Dal (د), Kaf (σ), and so on.

Example: The Noon Saakin is hidden before the Dhal (ذ) in the phrase يُنذِرُونَ (Yunziruna), and a nasal sound is used.

  1. Iqlab with Ghunna

In Iqlab, the letter Ba (ب) is followed by a Meem  (م)which substitutes for the Noon Saakin or Tanween. This modification necessitates using Ghunna for two counts, which gives the recitation a nasal quality.

Example: The Noon Saakin is changed into Meem in مَنْ بَعَثَ (Man Ba’atha), and a nasal Ghunna is applied.

  1. Meem with Shaddah

 A complete Ghunna must be applied for two counts when the letter Meem has a Shaddah (ّ). This is comparable to Shaddah’s rule of Noon.

For instance, the Meem with Shaddah in ثُمَّ (Thumma) requires the reciter to use a full nasal Ghunna.

Examples of Ghunna in the Quran:

Ghunna is easier to understand when you see it in real Quranic recitation. Here are several instances of Ghunna’s application from the Quran:

(Surah Al-Mulk, Ayah 30): The Noon with Shaddah in demands a complete Ghunna on two counts.إِنَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ

(Surah An-Nisa, Ayah 110): The Noon Saakin unites with the Ya, exhibiting Idgham with Ghunna. مَنْ يَعْمَلْ سُوءًا.

(Surah Yasin, Ayah 40): Here, the Noon with Tanween hides before the Fa, using Ikhfa in conjunction with Ghunna. كُلٌّ فِي فَلَكٍ

 (Surah Al-Hajj, Ayah 7): Using Ghunna and Iqlab, the Noon Saakin transforms into Meem. مَنْ بَعَثَ

These examples illustrate how Ghunna is applied in Quranic recitation, enhancing the beauty and accuracy of the pronunciation.

Surah Al-Baqarah: ayah no 6

 إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ سَوَآءٌ عَلَيْهِمْ ءَأَنذَرْتَهُمْ أَمْ لَمْ تُنذِرْهُمْ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ ٦

Surah Al-Anfal: ayah no 13

ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ شَآقُّوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ ۚ وَمَن يُشَاقِقِ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ شَدِيدُ ٱلْعِقَابِ ١٣

Surah Al-Mulk: ayah no 6

وَلِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ بِرَبِّهِمْ عَذَابُ جَهَنَّمَ ۖ وَبِئْسَ ٱلْمَصِيرُ ٦   

How to Recognize a Ghunna

Knowing the letters and regulations that cause Ghunna will make it easy to identify it in the Quran. Here are a few methods from the Quran to recognize Ghunna:

  1. With Shaddah (ّ), look for the letters Noon (ن) and Meem (م). These are unmistakable signs that Ghunna is needed.
  2. Verses containing Tanween or Noon Saakin should include the following letter if it pertains to a Ghunna regulation (Idgham, Ikhfa, or Iqlab.
  3. If you want to check if you are doing Gunnah correctly or not, a simple solution is to put your finger in the middle of your nose. You will feel a vibration in the center of your nose and if this vibration is happening, it means that you are doing the gunnah perfectly.
  4. Tajweed. Ghunna is frequently marked with different colors to indicate where and when it should be used.

Conclusion

In order to learn the Quran with Tajweed rules and make noticeable progress, it is necessary to practice the above rules. If you want to delve deeper into the rules of Tajweed, you can join online Tajweed classes. In the curriculum of learning the Qur’an with Tajweed rules. Mishkat Academy have created online quran recitation course with great efforts in order to make learning the Qur’an with Tajweed easier for the online learner. So, We have spared no effort to simplify this task. Check out our Tajweed lessons for a better learning experience.