In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
Welcome back, dedicated student of the Quran! In our previous Noorani Qaida lesson, we unlocked the foundational keys of recitation: the single vowels, Harakat (Fatha, Kasra, and Damma). You learned how to give voice to silent letters, turning them into beautiful sounds. Masha’Allah, that was a monumental first step in your online Quran learning journey.
Today, we will build on that knowledge by exploring a special variation of these keys. What happens when you see a vowel doubled? This is called Tanween (تَنْوِين).
Think of it as a single vowel with a beautiful echo or a clear, ringing sound that follows it. Mastering Tanween is the next critical milestone in your studies, bringing you one step closer to reciting the Quran with the elegance and precision it deserves. This is a fundamental concept taught in online Quran classes around the world, and today, you will master it.
What Exactly is Tanween? A Simple Explanation
Tanween literally means “to make a noon sound.” It is a special diacritic (marker) that appears only at the end of a word. Its function is simple but incredibly important: it adds the sound of a silent Noon with a Sukoon (نْ) to the end of a vowel sound.
So, even though you don’t see the letter Noon (ن), you pronounce its sound. This is why we often call it the “hidden Noon.” It’s one of the most important basic Tajweed rules for anyone starting their journey.
There are three types of Tanween, one for each of the foundational vowels you’ve already mastered.
Part 1: Exploring the Three Types of Tanween
Let’s meet each type of Tanween, understand its unique rules, and practice its sound. This is a core part of Quran recitation for beginners.
1. Fathatain (ــًـ) – The “an” Sound
Fathatain, also known as Tanween Al-Fath, is simply the doubling of the Fatha.
- Shape: It appears as two diagonal lines on top of a letter: ــًـ.
- Sound: It combines the short “a” sound of a Fatha with the “n” sound of the hidden Noon. Together, they make the sound “an”.
- Example: The letter بَ (ba) with Fathatain becomes بًا and is pronounced “ban”.
The Special Rule of Alif (ا) with Fathatain
This is a very important rule specific to Fathatain. Most of the time, when a letter takes Fathatain, a silent Alif (ا) is added after it. This Alif acts as a “stand” or a “chair” for the Tanween but is not pronounced.
- Correct: قَلَمًا (qalaman)
- Incorrect: قَلَمً (This is usually written with the Alif)
You simply pronounce the “an” sound on the letter before the Alif. This is a key detail that our tutors in our online Quran academy always emphasize.
There are a few exceptions where the Alif is not added, such as on a word ending in Ta Marbuta (ة) like مَدْرَسَةً (madrasatan) or a Hamza (ء) preceded by an Alif like مَاءً (maa’an). For now, just remember the general rule of adding the silent Alif.
Fathatain Practice Drills
Let’s practice adding Fathatain. Notice the silent Alif in each case.
| Letter | With Fathatain | Pronunciation |
| ت | تًا | tan |
| ج | جًا | jan |
| د | دًا | dan |
| ر | رًا | ran |
| س | سًا | san |
| ف | فًا | fan |
| ك | كًا | kan |
| ل | لاً | lan |
| م | مًا | man |
| ن | نًا | nan |
2. Kasratain (ــٍـ) – The “in” Sound
Kasratain, or Tanween Al-Kasr, is the doubling of the Kasra. This one is much simpler than Fathatain.
- Shape: It appears as two diagonal lines below a letter: ــٍـ.
- Sound: It combines the short “i” sound of a Kasra with the “n” sound of the hidden Noon. Together, they make the sound “in”.
- Example: The letter بِ (bi) with Kasratain becomes بٍ and is pronounced “bin”.
- The Rule: There are no special letters to add. The Kasratain sits directly under the final letter of the word. This is a straightforward rule for those who wish to learn Tajweed online.
Kasratain Practice Drills
Let’s practice the crisp “in” sound of Kasratain.
| Letter | With Kasratain | Pronunciation |
| ت | تٍ | tin |
| ج | جٍ | jin |
| د | دٍ | din |
| ر | رٍ | rin |
| س | سٍ | sin |
| ف | فٍ | fin |
| ك | كٍ | kin |
| ل | لٍ | lin |
| م | مٍ | min |
| ن | نٍ | nin |
3. Dammatain (ــٌـ) – The “un” Sound
Dammatain, or Tanween Ad-Damm, is the doubling of the Damma.
- Shape: It appears as two Dammas on top of a letter. Sometimes it is written as one Damma with a small hook on it. Both shapes mean the same thing: ــٌـ.
- Sound: It combines the short “u” sound of a Damma with the “n” sound of the hidden Noon. Together, they make the sound “un”.
- Example: The letter بُ (bu) with Dammatain becomes بٌ and is pronounced “bun”.
- The Rule: Just like Kasratain, there are no special letters to add. The Dammatain sits directly on top of the final letter.
Dammatain Practice Drills
Let’s practice the round “un” sound of Dammatain. Remember to round your lips for the “u” part of the sound.
| Letter | With Dammatain | Pronunciation |
| ت | تٌ | tun |
| ج | جٌ | jun |
| د | دٌ | dun |
| ر | رٌ | run |
| س | سٌ | sun |
| ف | فٌ | fun |
| ك | كٌ | kun |
| ل | لٌ | lun |
| م | مٌ | mun |
| ن | نٌ | nun |
Part 2: Tanween Practice Arena – Reading Full Words
Knowing the individual sounds is one thing; applying them to actual words from the Quran is the real goal. Let’s practice reading full words. This is where your study of Arabic vowels for beginners really comes to life.
Level 1: Single Word Recognition
Read each word aloud, paying close attention to the final Tanween sound.
- كِتَابٌ (ki – taa – bun) -> A book
- رَسُولٍ (ra – soo – lin) -> A messenger
- عِلْمًا (il – man) -> Knowledge
- بَيْتٌ (bay – tun) -> A house
- نَهَرٍ (na – ha – rin) -> A river
- نُورًا (noo – ran) -> A light
- قَلَمٌ (qa – la – mun) -> A pen
- شَجَرَةٍ (sha – ja – ra – tin) -> A tree
- سَمَاءً (sa – maa – an) -> A sky
Level 2: Reading Short Phrases from the Quran
This is where we connect the words together. Notice how the Tanween sound flows at the end of a word before the next one begins.
Phrase 1: عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ (Adhaabun aleemun – a painful punishment)
- عَذَابٌ (a – dhaa – bun)
- أَلِيمٌ (a – lee – mun)
- Together: Adhaabun aleemun
Phrase 2: فِي كِتَابٍ مُبِينٍ (Fee kitaabin mubeenin – in a clear book)
- فِي (fee)
- كِتَابٍ (ki – taa – bin)
- مُبِينٍ (mu – bee – nin)
- Together: Fee kitaabin mubeenin
Phrase 3: سَلَامًا سَلَامًا (Salaaman salaaman – Peace, peace)
- سَلَامًا (sa – laa – man)
- سَلَامًا (sa – laa – man)
- Together: Salaaman salaaman
Masha’Allah! Whether you are a child or an adult, consistent practice is the key. This is the same method used to help students learn Quran for kids and adults alike.
Part 3: The Deeper Meaning – Why Tanween Matters
Tanween is not just a sound; it serves a crucial purpose in the Arabic language and in Tajweed.
1. A Sign of Indefiniteness: In Arabic grammar, Tanween is often a sign that a noun is indefinite (or “common”). For example, كِتَابٌ (kitaabun) means “a book,” while الْكِتَابُ (al-kitaabu) means “the book.” Understanding this simple difference opens a door to a deeper appreciation of the Quran’s precise and beautiful language.
2. A Foundation for Advanced Tajweed: The “hidden Noon” sound of Tanween is the subject of many advanced Tajweed rules. When you continue your studies, you will learn that this “n” sound sometimes: * Merges with the next letter (Idgham) * Changes to an “m” sound (Iqlab) * Is pronounced clearly (Izhar) * Is hidden (Ikhfa)
Mastering the basic sound of Tanween now is absolutely essential for learning these future rules correctly. Without a strong foundation here, the more advanced rules will be very difficult to apply.
Your Continuing Mission
You have now been introduced to the three single vowels and the three “echoing” double vowels. These six symbols form the backbone of Quranic recitation. To ensure this lesson becomes a permanent part of your knowledge, here is your mission:
- Isolate and Recite: Open the Quran to a short surah like Al-Ikhlas or Al-Asr. Look for the Tanween symbols (ــًـ, ــٍـ, ــٌـ) at the end of words. Just practice saying the word and its final “an,” “in,” or “un” sound.
- Explain the “Hidden Noon”: Teach a family member or friend that Tanween is a special way to write the “n” sound without using the letter Noon. Teaching is the best way to solidify your own understanding.
- Listen Actively: When you listen to a Qari recite the Quran, pay special attention to the end of words. Listen for that clear, ringing sound of Tanween. Hear how it connects the recitation in a beautiful, flowing manner.
You are building your ability to read the Quran, brick by brick. Be proud of the effort you are putting in.
May Allah (SWT) increase you in knowledge and make this journey of online Quran learning a source of immense reward for you.