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Noor Quranنُورُ القُرْآن

Meem sakinah

أَحْكَام الْمِيم السَّاكِنَة

Meem sakinah rules

A meem with sukun is hidden before ba (ikhfa shafawi), merged before another meem (idgham shafawi) and read clearly before every other letter (izhar shafawi).

Definition

The meem sakinah rules are called “shafawi” (labial) because the meem is made with the lips. There are three: ikhfa shafawi (before ba), idgham shafawi (before meem) and izhar shafawi (before any other letter).

Letters

  • ب
  • م

Ba triggers ikhfa, meem triggers idgham; every other letter gives izhar.

Ikhfa shafawi

How to pronounce it

  1. 1

    Before ba: close the lips lightly and hum for about two counts, then release into the ba.

  2. 2

    Before meem: merge into the second meem, which is read with a shadda and about two counts of ghunnah.

  3. 3

    Before any other letter: pronounce the meem clearly with closed lips, without a hum. Take extra care before waw and fa so the meem is not hidden.

Examples from the Quran

Only the letters that follow this rule are coloured. Press play to hear the ayah, or open it for the full page.

Ikhfa shafawi: meem before ba

Idgham shafawi: meem before meem

Izhar shafawi: meem before any other letter

Common mistakes

  • Hiding the meem before waw or fa because the lips are close to those letters.
  • Pressing the lips hard in ikhfa shafawi.

Related rules

Frequently asked questions

What is Meem sakinah rules?

A meem with sukun is hidden before ba (ikhfa shafawi), merged before another meem (idgham shafawi) and read clearly before every other letter (izhar shafawi).

What does shafawi mean?

“Of the lips”: the meem is articulated with both lips.

How many meem sakinah rules are there?

Three: ikhfa shafawi, idgham shafawi and izhar shafawi.

Cite this

Permanent link: https://holy-quran-noor.vercel.app/learn/tajweed/meem-sakinah

Plain
Meem sakinah rules: Tajweed Rule, Letters & Quran Examples | মীম সাকিনের নিয়ম (Tajweed). Noor Quran. https://holy-quran-noor.vercel.app/learn/tajweed/meem-sakinah
APA
Noor Quran. (n.d.). Meem sakinah rules: Tajweed Rule, Letters & Quran Examples | মীম সাকিনের নিয়ম [Tajweed]. Retrieved November 13, 2026, from https://holy-quran-noor.vercel.app/learn/tajweed/meem-sakinah
MLA
“Meem sakinah rules: Tajweed Rule, Letters & Quran Examples | মীম সাকিনের নিয়ম.” Tajweed. Noor Quran, https://holy-quran-noor.vercel.app/learn/tajweed/meem-sakinah. Accessed 13 Nov. 2026.
Markdown
[Meem sakinah rules: Tajweed Rule, Letters & Quran Examples | মীম সাকিনের নিয়ম](https://holy-quran-noor.vercel.app/learn/tajweed/meem-sakinah) — Tajweed, Noor Quran

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