Examples of Ghunnah in Tajweed

Ghunnah is a nasal sound that is essential in the pronunciation of certain Arabic letters, especially in the context of Tajweed. This sound is produced by directing airflow through the nose while articulating specific letters. Ghunnah occurs when the letters are followed by a nasalized sound, particularly in cases of “Idgham” (assimilation) with a specific focus on the letters that carry this nasalized sound.

Here are several examples illustrating where and how Ghunnah appears in the Qur’an:

Examples of Idgham with Ghunnah:

The letters that cause a nasalized sound through Ghunnah are: نون (n), ميم (m), واو (w), and ياء (y). When these letters follow ن (a Sakinah or a Tanween), they cause the nasal sound to be articulated.

Example 1:

“وَمَن يَعْمَلْ” (Surah At-Tawbah 9:105)

Here, “من” followed by “يعمل” causes the Ghunnah to be pronounced as a nasal sound due to the presence of ن followed by ي.

Example 2:

“أَمَنَةً نُّعَاسًا” (Surah Al-Anfal 8:11)

The Tanween here is followed by a ن sound, and the Ghunnah is maintained as both ن sounds merge smoothly with a nasal tone.

Example 3:

 “مِن وَالٍ” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:219)

The “من” is followed by والٍ, and the Ghunnah is observed due to the sequence of the ن and و letters.

Example 4:

“صِراطاً مُسْتَقِيماً” (Surah Al-Fatiha 1:6)

This verse also demonstrates the application of Ghunnah when م is preceded by the sound of noon in tanween of in مستقيماً.

At Learn Quran Tajweed Academy, our Beginner Tajweed Course dedicates specific modules to developing Ghunnah accuracy from the very first encounter with Noon and Meem rules — helping students build the nasal resonance correctly before advancing to complex rule interactions.

Begin your Tajweed journey with a free lesson

Read also: Ghunnah Rules in Tajweed

Examples of Idgham Baghunnah (with the presence of Ghunnah):

In these examples, we notice the integration of the Tanween sound into the letter that causes the Ghunnah, preserving the nasal sound as intended in Tajweed pronunciation.

Example 5:

“مَلِكاً نُقاتِلْ” (Surah Al-A’raf 7:127)

In this verse, مَلِكاً ends with a Tanween that merges smoothly with the following ن in نقاتل with a clear Ghunnah sound.

Examples of Non-Ghunnah Idgham (Idgham without Ghunnah):

There are instances where Idgham occurs without Ghunnah, specifically with the letters لام (l) and راء (r).

Example 6:

“مِن لَّبَنٍ” (Surah An-Nahl 16:11)

In this case, the ن is followed by لام, and there is no nasal sound, hence no Ghunnah.

Example 7:

“غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ” (Surah At-Tawbah 9:99)
Similarly, the ن is followed by راء, which also results in no Ghunnah sound.

Working with Ijazah-certified instructors at Learn Quran Tajweed Academy through our Practical Tajweed Course is particularly valuable here, as the subtle positioning differences between different Ikhfa’ combinations require ear-trained feedback that no written guide can fully replace.

Join our Practical Tajweed Course and get a free trial

Quran Verses Examples of Ghunnah

One of the benefits of Tajweed is that it enables us to accurately and correctly recite the Quran. Here are some examples of verses where Ghunnah is evident:

• {الَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالْغَيْبِ وَيُقِيمُونَ الصَّلَاةَ وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ}: [Surah Al-Baqarah: 3] 

(Allatheena yuminoona bialghaybi wayuqeemoona alssalata wamimma razaqnahum yunfiqoona). 

In the word (ممّا), the second meme is emphasized, and there is Ghunnah assimilation.

• {فَمَنْ يَعْمَلْ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ خَيْرًا يَرَهُ}: [SurahAz-Zalzalah: 7]

(Faman yaAAmal mithqala tharratin khayran yarahu). 

In the phrase (خيرًا يره), where the tanween in (خيرًا) is followed by the letter ya in (يره), thus the tanween rule becomes assimilation with Ghunnah.

• {وَلَقَدْ جِئْنَاهُم بِكِتَابٍ فَصَّلْنَاهُ عَلَى عِلْمٍ هُدًى وَرَحْمَةً لِّقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَ}: [SurahAl-A’raf: 52]

(Walaqad jinahum bikitabin fassalnahu AAala AAilmin hudan warahmatan liqawmin yuminoona). 

The ya after the tanween in (لقومٍ يؤمنون).

• {وَمَا بِكُم مِّن نِّعْمَةٍ فَمِنَ اللَّهِ ۖ ثُمَّ إِذَا مَسَّكُمُ الضُّرُّ فَإِلَيْهِ تَجْأَرُونَ}: [SurahAn-Nahl: 53] 

(Wama bikum min niAAmatin famina Allahi thumma itha massakumu alddurru failayhi tajaroona) Ghunnah in (مِّن نِّعْمَةٍ).

• {وَآتُوهُم مِّن مَّالِ اللَّهِ الَّذِي آتَاكُمْ}: [SurahAn-Nur: 33] 

(waatoohum min mali Allahi allathee atakum) Ghunnah in (مِّن مَّالِ).

• {وَمَا أَنْتُمْ بِمُعْجِزِينَ فِي الأَرْضِ وَلا فِي السَّمَاءِ وَمَا لَكُمْ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ مِنْ وَلِيٍّ وَلا نَصِيرٍ}: [SurahAl-Ankabut: 22]

(Wama antum bimuAAjizeena fee alardi wala fee alssamai wama lakum min dooni Allahi min waliyyin wala naseerin) When the noon sakina comes before the waw in a word like (مِنْ وَلِيٍّ).

• {أَيَحْسَبُونَ أَنَّمَا نُمِدُّهُمْ بِهِ مِنْ مَالٍ وَبَنِينَ}: [SurahAl-Mu’minun: 55]

(Ayahsaboona annama numidduhum bihi min malin wabaneena) When the noon sakina comes before the meem in a word like (مِنْ مَالٍ).

Perfect Your Quran Recitation Today

Join expert-led Tajweed classes, and recite the Quran with confidence and clarity.

Start Your Free Trial

Begin Your Ghunnah Mastery with Learn Quran Tajweed Academy Today

Ghunnah is present in hundreds of Quranic verses — getting it right means every recitation is more accurate, more beautiful, and more honoring of the Quran’s divine preservation.

Learn Quran Tajweed Academy offers:

• Ijazah-certified instructors specializing in Hafs ‘an ‘Asim recitation
• 1-on-1 personalized sessions with real-time Ghunnah correction
• Flexible scheduling available 24/7 for Western-based students
• Structured progression from Beginner through Advanced Tajweed Course levels
• Tajweed Ijazah Program for certification-track students

Book your free trial Tajweed lesson today and let a certified Qari hear your Ghunnah in person — because accurate feedback changes everything.

Check out the best tajweed course for your needs:

• Practical Tajweed Course
• Beginner Tajweed Course
• Intermediate Tajweed Course
• Advanced Tajweed Course
• Quran Tarteel Course
• Tajweed Ijazah Program
• Tajweed Course for Sisters
• Tajweed course for Kids

Conclusion

Ghunnah appears across every Juz of the Quran — in mushaddad letters, in Idgham and Ikhfa’ rules, in both Noon and Meem categories. Each application carries its own intensity level and articulation requirement that must be understood distinctly.

Mastering these examples is not simply about following rules mechanically. It is about training your nasal passage, your listening, and your timing to reflect the precision with which this sacred text was revealed and preserved.

The path to confident, beautiful recitation runs directly through the details — and Ghunnah, small as it sounds, carries enormous weight in that pursuit. Alhamdulillah for a science that preserves every nuance.