Complete reference for Quranic recitation rules
Merging / Assimilation
Noon sakinah or tanween merges into the following letter when it is one of يَرْمَلُون (Ya, Ra, Meem, Lam, Waw, Noon).
Concealment / Hiding
Noon sakinah or tanween is hidden (not fully pronounced) before 15 specific letters, with a nasal sound for 2 counts.
Conversion / Changing
Noon sakinah or tanween changes to a meem sound when followed by the letter ب (ba), with nasalization for 2 counts.
Manifestation / Clear
Noon sakinah or tanween is pronounced clearly without nasalization when followed by one of the six throat letters.
Nasalization
A nasal resonance produced from the nose, lasting 2 counts, on noon or meem with shaddah.
Labial Concealment
Meem sakinah is hidden with ghunnah when followed by the letter ب (ba).
Natural Elongation
The natural stretching of alif, waw, or ya vowel sounds for exactly 2 counts.
Connected Elongation
When a madd letter is followed by hamzah within the same word, elongate for 4–5 counts.
Separated Elongation
When a madd letter ends a word and the next word begins with hamzah, elongate for 4–5 counts.
Necessary Elongation
When a madd letter is followed by a sukoon or shaddah in the same word, elongate for 6 counts.
Echo / Bouncing
A slight bouncing or echoing sound produced when the letters ق ط ب ج د have sukoon.
Heavy / Full Pronunciation
Certain letters are always pronounced with a heavy, full mouth sound by raising the tongue toward the palate.
Light / Thin Pronunciation
Most Arabic letters are pronounced with a light, thin sound — the tongue stays low and flat.
Sun Letter Assimilation
When "al" (الـ) precedes a sun letter, the lam is silent and the sun letter is doubled.
Stopping / Pausing
Rules for pausing during recitation, including where it is obligatory, recommended, permissible, or forbidden.
Brief Pause
A brief pause without taking a breath, used at specific marked locations in the Quran.