The
Ghunnah
Its
linguistic definition:
It is a sound that is emitted from the nasal passage, without any
function of the tongue.
Its
applied definition: A
unconditional nasalized sound fixed on the
-even if it is a tanween- and the
.
This
means that the ghunnah is an inherent sound in the
and
, whether the
and
have
a vowel or not.
The
letters of the ghunnah:
The
and
the
.
The noon includes the tanween.
Articulation
point of the ghunnah: The
opening of the nose that connects with the back of the mouth (the nasal
passage). The fact that the
ghunnah is emitted from the nose can be demonstrated by closing off the
nostrils, and trying to emit the sound of the ghunnah.
It is impossible.
Ranks
of the ghunnah
There
are four levels of the ghunnah:
1.
Most
Complete
2.
Complete
3.
Incomplete
4.
Most Incomplete
1.
Most complete ghunnah () :
This is the longest ghunnah. The
with a shaddah and
with a
shaddah fall into this category, as well as when there is an
(idghaam
with a ghunnah). This means
when there is a
saakinah
or tanween followed by one of the letters in the "
"
group, or when there is
or a
the
ghunnah is given its most complete timing.
Examples of these are:
,
2.
Complete ghunnah (): This is the second longest ghunnah. The hidden
and
ikhfa’ shafawee (hidden
) fall
into this category. When the
saakinah
or
saakinah
are followed by one of the letters of ikhfa’ the ghunnah that results
from this ikhfa’ is the complete in its timing, but not as long as the most
complete ghunnah. Examples of
this are:
3.
Incomplete
ghunnah (): This ghunnah is shorter in
timing than the complete ghunnah. The
saakinah
and
saakinah
that are recited with
,
or clearly, are in this category of length of ghunnah.
Examples are:
4.
Most incomplete
ghunnah (): This is the shortest ghunnah of all. The
and
with
vowels are in this category of length of ghunnah.
Note:
The difference in timing between these different categories of ghunnah is very
minute. Only an experienced
reader and listener can tell the difference.
To
say the ghunnah with complete technique, it is necessary that the heaviness or
lightness of the letter that follows the 
of
a
saakinah
is observed during the ghunnah. If
the
saakinah
or tanween is followed by one of these letters:
the
ghunnah then will have tafkheem or in other words, be heavy.
This tafkheem will be the same rank of tafkheem
which the next letter will have depending on its vowel, and whether or not
there is an alif after it. The concept of tafkheem and the ranks of tafkheem will be
covered in later tidbit lessons, insha’ Allah.
