Idgham mutajanisayn, mutamathilayn and mutaqaribayn explained
Idgham means merging one letter into the next so that only the second is heard, with a shaddah. Apart from the idgham of noon sakinah, tajweed has three general types, named after how closely the two letters are related: identical (mutamathilayn), related (mutajanisayn) and close (mutaqaribayn). Here is each one, with examples from the Quran, as read in the riwayah of Hafs.
Last updated: 3 October 2026
The three types at a glance
| Type | Meaning | Relationship | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mutamathilayn | Two identical letters | The same letter twice: same makhraj and same sifat. | ٱضْرِب بِّعَصَاكَ (Al-Baqarah 2:60) |
| Mutajanisayn | Two related letters | Same makhraj, different sifat. | قَد تَّبَيَّنَ (Al-Baqarah 2:256) |
| Mutaqaribayn | Two close letters | Makharij or sifat close to each other, but not the same. | بَل رَّفَعَهُ (An-Nisa 4:158) |
Idgham happens in these cases when the first letter has a sukoon and the second has a vowel. If the first letter is voweled, both are read separately.
Idgham mutamathilayn: identical letters
When a sakin letter meets the same letter with a vowel, the two are read as one doubled letter: ٱضْرِب بِّعَصَاكَ (Al-Baqarah 2:60) is read “iḍrib-bi‘aṣāk”. In عَصَوا۟ وَّكَانُوا۟ (Al-Baqarah 2:61), the waw after a fathah is not a long vowel, so it merges too. When the first letter is a long vowel, as in قَالُوا۟ وَهُمْ (Ash-Shu‘ara 26:96), there is no merge: the madd is kept.
Idgham mutajanisayn: related letters
The letters share a makhraj but differ in their sifat. In Hafs, idgham happens in these pairs:
| Pair | Example | Where |
|---|---|---|
| د into ت | قَد تَّبَيَّنَ | Al-Baqarah 2:256 |
| ت into د | أَثْقَلَت دَّعَوَا | Al-A‘raf 7:189 |
| ذ into ظ | إِذ ظَّلَمُوٓا۟ | An-Nisa 4:64 |
| ب into م | ٱرْكَب مَّعَنَا | Hud 11:42 |
| ط into ت (incomplete) | بَسَطتَ | Al-Ma’idah 5:28 |
The ط into ت case is an incomplete idgham (idgham naqis): the ت is pronounced, but the heavy, closed quality of the ط is kept. The mushaf shows this by leaving the ط without a sukoon sign.
Idgham mutaqaribayn: close letters
The letters are close in makhraj or sifat. In Hafs, the main cases are:
- ل into ر: بَل رَّفَعَهُ (An-Nisa 4:158) and وَقُل رَّبِّ (Al-Isra 17:24): the lam disappears into a doubled ra. The exception is بَلْ ۜ رَانَ (Al-Mutaffifin 83:14), where Hafs makes a brief pause without breath (sakt) after the lam, so there is no merge.
- ق into ك: نَخْلُقكُّم (Al-Mursalat 77:20): read with a complete merge in the most common way of reciting Hafs; some reciters keep the heaviness of the qaf.
The merging of lam into the “sun letters” after ال is also a kind of idgham, covered in lam shamsiyyah and qamariyyah.
How to spot idgham in the mushaf
In the Madinah mushaf, the first letter is written without a sukoon and the second carries a shaddah. That combination tells you to merge. Where the first letter still shows its sukoon, read both letters clearly. More on mushaf signs is in our tajweed rules guide; for the noon sakinah version, see noon sakinah and tanween. To practise these merges with someone who can hear you, try our tajweed course.
Frequently asked questions
What is idgham mutajanisayn?
Merging a sakin letter into the next letter when both come from the same makhraj but have different sifat, such as daal into taa in قَد تَّبَيَّنَ. In Hafs, the merge is complete except for ط into ت, where the heaviness of the ط remains.
Is idgham mutamathilayn always applied?
When the first of two identical letters has a sukoon and the second has a vowel, yes: they merge into one letter with a shaddah. The exception is a long vowel letter, such as the waw in قَالُوا۟ وَهُمْ, which stays long to keep the madd.
How is this different from idgham of noon sakinah?
Idgham of noon sakinah and tanween is a separate rule with its own six letters (يرملون). This page covers idgham between other letters. See our guide to noon sakinah and tanween.
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