The meem sakinah rules are some of the easiest Tajweed rules to learn. There are only 3 of them. Each one tells you what to do with an "m" sound before the next letter. Tajweed means the rules for saying each sound of the Quran the right way.
This guide is a partner to our post on noon sakinah and tanween rules. Read them both, and you will see how alike they are. Most examples here come from Juz Amma (the last of the 30 parts of the Quran). So children can practice with surahs they already know.
We write the examples in English letters to help you find them. Each one has its surah and verse number. Check it in a printed mushaf (copy of the Quran) and read from the Arabic page. This guide follows the Hafs reading, the way used in most printed copies.
What Is Meem Sakinah?
Meem sakinah is a meem (م) that carries a sukoon. A sukoon is a small mark on top of a letter. It means the letter has no vowel. So you hear a plain "m" with no a, i or u after it.
You meet it all the time. It is in words like hum (they), lakum (for you) and alam (did not). Sometimes it is inside a word. Sometimes it is the last letter of a word.
The rule you use depends on one thing only. Look at the letter that comes right after the meem. If you stop on the meem at the end of a verse, there is no next letter. Then no rule applies, and you just say a plain "m".
Why Are They Called Lip Rules?
These rules have a second name. They are called shafawi rules. Shafawi means "of the lips". The meem is made by closing your two lips. So every rule here is about what your lips do.
Try it now. Say "mmm" with your lips closed. Then say "b". Your lips close for both. Now say "f". Your top teeth touch your bottom lip. These letters are all made at the lips, so they sit close to the meem. That is why baa, meem, waw and faa need extra care.
The 3 Meem Sakinah Rules at a Glance
Here is the whole topic in 3 lines. Learn this list first. The sections below explain each line.
Memory trick: "B hides, M joins, the rest are clear." There are 28 letters in the Arabic alphabet. Baa and meem each have their own rule. The other 26 letters all share the last rule.
- Ikhfa shafawi (hide it): before baa (ب) only. Close the lips lightly and hum for 2 counts. Example: tarmeehim bi-hijaarah (105:4).
- Idgham shafawi (merge it): before meem (م) only. Join the 2 meems into one strong meem and hum for 2 counts. Example: wa aamanahum min khawf (106:4).
- Izhar shafawi (say it clearly): before all the other letters. Say a clean "m" with no long hum. Example: alam tara (105:1).
Rule 1: Ikhfa Shafawi (Before Baa)
Ikhfa means "to hide". When a meem sakinah comes before baa, the meem is hidden a little. You do not say a hard, full "m". You close your lips gently and hum through your nose for 2 counts. Then you open into the baa.
What is the hum? It is called ghunnah. Close your lips and say "mmm". Now pinch your nose. The sound stops. That sound from the nose is ghunnah.
Teachers differ a little on the lips. Some close them softly. Others leave a tiny gap. Both are taught, so copy your own teacher.
In many printed copies, such as the Madinah mushaf, the meem has no sukoon mark here. That missing mark is a clue to hum. Here are 2 examples from Juz Amma:
- tarmeehim bi-hijaaratin (105:4): meem sakinah before baa
- inna rabbahum bihim (100:11): meem sakinah before baa
Rule 2: Idgham Shafawi (Before Meem)
Idgham means "to merge". When a meem sakinah comes before another meem, the 2 meems join. You read them as one strong, doubled meem. Keep your lips closed and hum for 2 counts. Then open into the vowel.
Some books call this rule idgham mithlayn. Mithlayn means "two of the same". That fits, because both letters are meem.
In many printed copies, the first meem has no sukoon mark. The second meem has a shaddah, which is the doubling mark. When you see that, you know to merge and hum.
Surah Quraysh has this rule twice in one verse:
- at'amahum min joo' (106:4): read as at'amahum-min, with one long hummed meem
- wa aamanahum min khawf (106:4): read as aamanahum-min, with one long hummed meem
Rule 3: Izhar Shafawi (All Other Letters)
Izhar means "to make clear". Before any letter that is not baa or meem, you say the meem clearly. Close your lips, make a short, clean "m", and move on. Do not hold a long hum.
In many printed copies, the meem shows a clear sukoon mark here. That tells you to say it plainly.
Take extra care before waw (و) and faa (ف). These letters are made at the lips too. So the mouth is tempted to hide or merge the meem. Do not let it. Keep the "m" short and clear, then say the waw or faa. Here are some examples:
- alam tara (105:1): meem before taa
- alam nashrah (94:1): meem before noon
- lakum deenukum (109:6): meem before daal
- kaydahum fee tadleel (105:2): meem before faa, so take care
- 'alayhim wa lad-daalleen (1:7): meem before waw, so take care
What Mistakes Do Learners Make?
These mistakes are hard to hear in your own voice. Here are some common ones, and the fix for each:
- Pressing the lips hard before baa. This makes a heavy "mm-b" sound. Fix: let the lips meet lightly and let the hum carry the sound.
- Cutting the hum short. Ikhfa and idgham shafawi both need about 2 counts. Fix: count slowly on your fingers while you hum.
- Saying 2 meems in idgham. Some learners stop between the 2 words. Fix: join them into one long meem with no gap.
- Hiding the meem before waw or faa. This is a very common slip. Fix: say a short, clean "m" first, then the next letter.
- Humming on every meem. Izhar has no long hum. Fix: before most letters, say "m" and move straight on.
Can You Pass This Quick Quiz?
Test yourself. Name the rule for each meem sakinah. The answers are just below.
- Question 1: alam yaj'al (105:2). What comes after the meem?
- Question 2: tarmeehim bi-hijaarah (105:4). Which rule is it?
- Question 3: at'amahum min joo' (106:4). Which rule is it?
- Question 4: kaydahum fee (105:2). Is it hidden or clear?
- Question 5: lakum deenukum (109:6). Which rule is it?
- Answers: 1 is izhar, because ya is not baa or meem. 2 is ikhfa shafawi, before baa. 3 is idgham shafawi, before meem. 4 is izhar, so keep it clear before faa. 5 is izhar, before daal.
Meem Sakinah vs Noon Sakinah: What Is the Difference?
Noon sakinah has 4 rules. Meem sakinah has only 3. Both use the same ideas: hide, merge and say it clearly. Both hum for 2 counts when they hide or merge.
The big difference is the place. Noon is made with the tip of the tongue. Meem is made with the lips. So the noon rules are about the tongue, and the meem rules are about the lips.
There is one more link. In iqlab, a noon sakinah before baa turns into a meem. Then it is read just like ikhfa shafawi. Learn one, and the other gets easier. Our guide to tajweed rules for beginners shows where both fit in the full list.
How Can You Practice at Home?
Rules stick when you use them every day. Try this 5-day plan. Each day takes about 10 minutes. Parents can do it with their child.
- Day 1: Learn the list. Say the 3 rule names and their letters out loud.
- Day 2: Read Surah Al-Fil (105). Find each meem sakinah and name its rule.
- Day 3: Read Surah Quraysh (106). Hum each idgham shafawi for 2 counts.
- Day 4: Read Surah Al-Kafirun (109). Keep every izhar short and clean.
- Day 5: Listen to a well-known reciter read the same surahs. Then read them again and fix the rule you found hardest.
Who Can Check My Meem Sounds?
A teacher can hear what you cannot. In our Tajweed course, a tutor listens to each line in a live 1-on-1 class. The tutor stops you at the mistake and helps you fix it. Women who prefer a female tutor can join our Tajweed classes for sisters.
Want to try first? Book a free trial class. It lasts 30 minutes. Read a few lines, and your tutor will tell you which rules you do well and which need work.