Nun Sukun & Tanwin

Ikhfa Haqiqi

Concealed + nasalisation.

إِخْفَاء حَقِيقِي
▶ Open the full lesson + audio in the app

What is this rule?

A silent nun / tanwin meeting one of the 15 ikhfa letters is read faintly — between izhar and idgham — with a nasal hum of about 2 counts.

How to read it

The 'n' is neither clear nor gone; it is held faintly at the top of the nose while preparing for the next letter.

Trigger letters

15 letters — everything other than the izhar, idgham, and iqlab letters.

تثجدذزسشصضطظفقك
NoteThis is the most frequent nun rule. If the letter doesn't belong to another rule, it's most likely ikhfa.

Examples of Ikhfa Haqiqi in the Qur'an

Surah Al-Falaq 113:2
مِن شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَ

min syarri mā khalaq

"From the evil of that which He created"

Surah Quraysh 106:4
أَطْعَمَهُم مِّن جُوعٍ

aṭ'amahum min jū'

"Who has fed them, [saving them] from hunger and made them safe, [saving them] from fear."

Surah Al-Baqarah 2:4
وَمَآ أُنزِلَ مِن قَبْلِكَ

wa mā unzila min qablik

"And who believe in what has been revealed to you, [O Muḥammad], and what was revealed before you, and of the Hereafter they are certain [in faith]."

Surah Al-Bayyinah 98:8
مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَٰرُ

min taḥtihal-anhār

"Their reward with their Lord will be gardens of perpetual residence beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever…"

Surah Al-Bayyinah 98:8
جَزَآؤُهُمْ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ

jazā'uhum 'inda rabbihim

"Their reward with their Lord will be gardens of perpetual residence beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever…"

Surah Al-'Asr 103:2
إِنَّ ٱلْإِنسَٰنَ لَفِى خُسْرٍ

innal-insāna lafī khusr

"Indeed, mankind is in loss,"

Surah Al-Furqan 25:23
هَبَآءً مَّنثُورًا

habā'am manṡūrā

"And We will approach [i.e., regard] what they have done of deeds and make them as dust dispersed."

Surah An-Nazi'at 79:43
أَنتَ مِن ذِكْرَىٰهَآ

anta min dhik'rāhā

"In what [position] are you that you should mention it?"

Surah Ash-Shams 91:9
أَفْلَحَ مَن زَكَّىٰهَا

aflaḥa man zakkāhā

"He has succeeded who purifies it,"

Surah Al-Ma'un 107:5
هُمْ عَن صَلَاتِهِمْ

hum 'an ṣalātihim

"[But] who are heedless of their prayer -"

Surah Al-Ghashiyah 88:6
إِلَّا مِن ضَرِيعٍۢ

illā min ḍarī'in

"For them there will be no food except from a poisonous, thorny plant"

Surah An-Nazi'at 79:37
فَأَمَّا مَن طَغَىٰ

fa-ammā man ṭaghā

"So as for he who transgressed"

Surah Ali 'Imran 3:117
حَرْثَ قَوْمٍۢ ظَلَمُوٓا۟

ḥartha qawmin ẓalamū

"The example of what they spend in this worldly life is like that of a wind containing frost which strikes the harvest of a people who have wronged…"

Surah Ali 'Imran 3:115
مِنْ خَيْرٍۢ فَلَن

min khayrin falan

"And whatever good they do - never will it be denied them. And Allāh is Knowing of the righteous."

Surah Al-'Alaq 96:16
نَاصِيَةٍۢ كَـٰذِبَةٍ

nāṣiyatin kādhibatin

"A lying, sinning forelock."

Frequently asked questions

What is Ikhfa Haqiqi in tajwid?

Concealed + nasalisation. A silent nun / tanwin meeting one of the 15 ikhfa letters is read faintly — between izhar and idgham — with a nasal hum of about 2 counts.

How do you pronounce Ikhfa Haqiqi?

The 'n' is neither clear nor gone; it is held faintly at the top of the nose while preparing for the next letter.

Which letters trigger Ikhfa Haqiqi?

There are 15 letters: ت ث ج د ذ ز س ش ص ض ط ظ ف ق ك. 15 letters — everything other than the izhar, idgham, and iqlab letters.

What is an example of Ikhfa Haqiqi in the Quran?

One example is in Surah Al-Falaq 113:2: "مِن شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَ" (min syarri mā khalaq) — "From the evil of that which He created".

Other rules in Nun Sukun & Tanwin

Izhar Halqi
Pronounced clearly, no nasalisation.
إِظْهَار حَلْقِي
Idgham Bighunnah
Merged, with nasalisation.
إِدْغَام بِغُنَّة
Idgham Bilaghunnah
Merged, without nasalisation.
إِدْغَام بِلَا غُنَّة
Iqlab
The nun turns into a mim.
إِقْلَاب

See all Nun Sukun & Tanwin rules → · Complete list of rules →