Meem sakinah rules: ikhfa, idgham and izhar shafawi
A meem sakinah is a meem with no vowel (مْ). How you pronounce it depends only on the letter that comes next, and there are just three rules. They are called shafawi, from the Arabic for lips, because meem is a lip letter.
Last updated: 1 October 2026
What meem sakinah is
Meem sakinah appears in common words such as هُمْ, لَكُمْ and عَلَيْهِمْ. Because meem is pronounced with the lips (see makharij al huruf), its rules are simpler than those of noon sakinah and tanween: one letter for ikhfa, one for idgham, and everything else is izhar.
| Rule | Next letter | What happens | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ikhfa shafawi (lip hiding) | ب | Meem is lightly hidden, with ghunnah | تَرْمِيهِم بِحِجَارَةٍ |
| Idgham shafawi (lip merging) | م | Meem merges into the next meem, with ghunnah | كَم مِّن |
| Izhar shafawi (lip clarity) | All other letters | Meem is pronounced clearly, no ghunnah held | أَلَمْ تَرَ |
Ikhfa shafawi
When meem sakinah is followed by ب, the meem is hidden: the lips come together lightly and a ghunnah is held for about two counts before moving to the baa, as in تَرْمِيهِم بِحِجَارَةٍ (Al-Fil 105:4). This rule also covers a noon that has turned into a hidden meem by iqlab.
Idgham shafawi
When meem sakinah is followed by another meem, the two merge into one doubled meem with a full ghunnah of about two counts, as in كَم مِّن. It is also called idgham mithlayn saghir (merging two identical letters).
Izhar shafawi
Before every other letter, the meem is pronounced clearly, without holding a ghunnah: أَلَمْ تَرَ, هُمْ فِيهَا. Take particular care before و and ف, where the lips are already close and the meem is easily lost.
For the nasal sound in these rules, see ghunnah; for all the rule families together, see our tajweed rules guide. A teacher can hear the difference immediately in our tajweed course.
Frequently asked questions
What are the three rules of meem sakinah?
Ikhfa shafawi (before ب), idgham shafawi (before م) and izhar shafawi (before every other letter).
Do you close the lips in ikhfa shafawi?
Teachers differ. Many teach the lips lightly closed; others teach a very slight gap. Both are taught with a ghunnah of about two counts. Follow the way your teacher recites.
Why is izhar shafawi stressed before و and ف?
Because the lips are close to the position of meem for both letters, so it is easy to hide or merge the meem by mistake. The meem must be pronounced clearly.
Is meem sakinah the same as meem mushaddad?
No. A meem with shaddah (مّ) always has a full ghunnah of about two counts. Meem sakinah is a meem with no vowel, and its rule depends on the next letter.
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