Idgham Kamil vs Idgham Naqis: Mutamathilain, Mutajanisain, and Mutaqaribain

Key Takeaways

Idgham means merging one letter completely into the next, creating a single stressed (mushaddad) sound.

Idgham Kamil removes both the letter and its attribute entirely; Idgham Naqis removes the letter but retains the Ghunnah.

Idgham Mutamathilain occurs when two identical letters meet; Mutajanisain when same-makhraj letters with different sifat meet.

Idgham Mutaqaribain occurs when two letters are close in makhraj and sifat, such as Lam followed by Ra.

The six Idgham letters in Noon Sakinah rules are grouped by the word يَرْمَلُون, covering both Kamil and Naqis cases.

Idgham is the rule of merging in Tajweed, and it divides into Idgham Kamil (complete merging) and Idgham Naqis (incomplete merging). 

Understanding which type applies — and to which of the three categories (Mutamathilain, Mutajanisain, or Mutaqaribain) — is essential for any student serious about reciting the Quran with accurate Tajweed.

What Is Idgham?

Idgham is the Tajweed rule of merging the first of two consecutive letters into the second, so that both are pronounced as a single mushaddad (doubled/stressed) letter. 

Idgham applies across several Tajweed contexts, most prominently in the rules of Noon Sakinah and Tanwin. 

Classical Tajweed scholars established this rule because the Arabic tongue naturally gravitates toward the ease of a single stressed sound over two adjacent sounds that share closeness in their articulation.

In our Online Tajweed Classes at Buruj Academy, taught by Al-Azhar University graduates and Ijazah-certified instructors, Idgham is one of the first Noon Sakinah rules students encounter — and also one of the most misapplied. 

The confusion almost always comes from not distinguishing Kamil from Naqis, or from grouping all three Idgham types (Mutamathilain, Mutajanisain, Mutaqaribain) under one identical pronunciation rule.

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What Is Idgham Kamil?

Idgham Kamil is the complete merging in which both the essence (dhat) of the first letter and its attribute (sifah) disappear entirely into the second letter. The result is a single mushaddad letter with no trace — no echo, no nasal resonance, no residual sound — of the original first letter.

The word “Kamil” (كامل) means complete, and the name is fully descriptive: nothing of the first letter survives the merger. 

In recitation, the tongue or lips move directly into the second letter with full stress, as if the first letter never existed. 

This is the ruling for the letters ر، ل in Noon Sakinah and Tanwin rules, as well as the full Mutamathilain and Mutaqaribain mergers detailed below.

Idgham Kamil in Noon Sakinah and Tanwin

When a Noon Sakinah or Tanwin is followed by ر or ل, the Noon disappears completely — including its Ghunnah. These two letters produce Idgham Kamil bila Ghunnah (without nasal resonance).

وَأَنْهَارٌ مِّن لَّبَنٍ
Wa anhaarum min labanin lam yataghayyar ta’muhu
“And rivers of milk the taste of which never changes” (Muhammad 47:15) 

The Noon Sakinah in من merges completely into the Lam لَبَنٍ — no Ghunnah remains.

أُولَٰئِكَ عَلَيْهِمْ صَلَوَاتٌ مِّن رَّبِّهِمْ
Ulaa’ika ‘alayhim salawaatum mir rabbihim
“Those are the ones upon whom are blessings from their Lord” (Al-Baqarah 2:157) 

Tanwin on صَلَوَاتٌ merges completely — no Ghunnah.

What Is Idgham Naqis?

Idgham Naqis is the incomplete merging in which the first letter’s essence disappears into the second, but its attribute — specifically the Ghunnah — remains audible. The name “Naqis” (ناقص) means deficient or incomplete, reflecting that the merger is not total.

In practical recitation, this means the first letter is not independently pronounced, yet a nasal resonance of two counts (two beats) is heard before the second letter is fully articulated. 

This applies in Noon Sakinah and Tanwin rules when followed by ي or و, producing Idgham Naqis bil Ghunnah (with nasal resonance).

Idgham Naqis in Noon Sakinah and Tanwin

فَمَن يَعْمَلْ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ خَيْرًا يَرَهُ
Faman ya’mal mithqala dharratin khayray yarah
“So whoever does an atom’s weight of good will see it.” (Az-Zalzalah 99:7) 

The Noon Sakinah in مَن merges into Ya — the Noon disappears, but Ghunnah of two counts remains.

مِن وَلِيٍّ وَلَا نَصِيرٍ
Min waliyyiw wa laa naseer
“No protector and no helper.” (Al-Baqarah 2:107)

Noon Sakinah merges into Waw — Ghunnah remains, the Noon’s dhat is gone.

If you are beginning your Tajweed path, our Tajweed for Beginners course provides structured, step-by-step instruction from Ijazah-certified instructors trained at Al-Azhar University who teach these rules through sound before theory.

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What Is Idgham Mutamathilain?

Idgham Mutamathilain (إدغام المتماثلين) occurs when two identical letters meet — the first is sakin (resting) and the second carries a vowel. Since the two letters are identical in both makhraj (articulation point) and all sifat (attributes), they merge into one mushaddad letter.

This is categorized under Idgham Kamil: the first letter vanishes completely, leaving only the stressed second letter. This type of Idgham is widespread throughout the Quran and applies in many contexts beyond just Noon Sakinah rules.

First Letter	Second Letter	Example	Surah:Verse
ت sakin	ت	رَبِحَت تِّجَارَتُهُمْ	Al-Baqarah 2:16
ل sakin	ل	قُل لَّا أَقُولُ لَكُمْ	Al-An’am 6:50
ب sakin	ب	اضْرِب بِّعَصَاكَ	Al-A’raf 7:160
ن sakin	ن	فَمَن نَّشَاءُ	Yusuf 12:56

Idgham Mutamathilain Examples

رَبِحَت تِّجَارَتُهُمْ
Rabihat tijaaratuhum
“Their transaction has profited them.” (Al-Baqarah 2:16) 

The Ta of رَبِحَت merges completely into the Ta of تِّجَارَتُهُمْ — one mushaddad Ta.

قُل لَّا أَقُولُ لَكُمْ
Qul laa aquulu lakum
“Say: I do not tell you.” (Al-An’am 6:50) 

Lam of قُل merges into Lam of لَّا — one mushaddad Lam.

One important special case in Mutamathilain is the verse مَالِيَهْ هَلَكَ (Al-Haqqah 69:28–29). Classical Tajweed scholars permit two readings here: the preferred recitation is Sakt (a brief pause without breathing), while Idgham is the second permitted option.

Read also: Idgham Shafawi

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What Is Idgham Mutajanisain?

Idgham Mutajanisain (إدغام المتجانسين) occurs when two letters share the same makhraj (articulation point) but differ in some of their sifat (attributes). The first letter merges into the second, and the second is recited with full stress.

This is also classified under Idgham Kamil in most of its cases, with one exception (the Idgham of Ta into Ta with residual sifat — discussed below as a Naqis case). 

In our experience teaching this rule at Buruj Academy, students often recognize the concept quickly but struggle to identify the correct letter pairs without drilling.

The Six Letter Pairs of Idgham Mutajanisain

First Letter	Second Letter	Quranic Example	Reference
ت	د	قَدْ أُجِيبَت دَّعْوَتُكُمَا	Yunus 10:89
د	ت	قَد تَّبَيَّنَ	Al-Baqarah 2:256
ث	ذ	يَلْهَث ذَّلِكَ	Al-A’raf 7:176
ذ	ظ	إِذ ظَّلَمُوا	An-Nisa 4:64
ت	ط	وَدَّت طَّائِفَةٌ	Al-Imran 3:69
ب	م	ارْكَب مَّعَنَا	Hud 11:42

Idgham Mutajanisain Examples

قَدْ أُجِيبَت دَّعْوَتُكُمَا
Qad ujeebat da’watukuma
“Your supplication has been answered.” (Yunus 10:89) 

Ta merges into Dal — both share the front-of-tongue makhraj but differ in Jahr/Hams.

ارْكَب مَّعَنَا
Irkab ma’ana
“Embark with us.” (Hud 11:42)

Ba merges into Mim — both are shafawi (labial) letters sharing the lips as makhraj.

يَلْهَث ذَّلِكَ
Yalhathu dhaalik
“He pants.” (Al-A’raf 7:176)

Tha merges into Dhal — both are interdental letters.

The Naqis Case within Mutajanisain

When ط (first, sakin) is followed by ت, the merger is Idgham Naqis — the Tta disappears but its attribute of Isti’la (elevation) remains, giving the Ta a slightly heavier sound than normal. Examples include بَسَطتَ and أَحَطتُ. 

This case is confirmed through oral transmission (mushafahah) and must be learned directly from a qualified instructor.

At Buruj Academy, our Advanced Tajweed Course are taught by Al-Azhar University graduates and Ijazah-certified instructors with 12+ years of experience teaching non-Arabic speakers. 

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What Is Idgham Mutaqaribain?

Idgham Mutaqaribain (إدغام المتقاربين) occurs when two letters are close — though not identical and not from the same makhraj — in both their articulation point and their attributes. The first letter merges into the second with full stress.

This type also falls under Idgham Kamil in its main cases. The closeness of the two letters — near enough in production to allow effortless merger — is what distinguishes Mutaqaribain from the fully distinct letters that would simply be pronounced separately.

Read also: What Happens if You Accidentally Drop the Quran?

The Main Cases of Idgham Mutaqaribain

First Letter	Second Letter	Quranic Example	Reference
ل	ر	وَقُل رَّبِّ	Al-Isra 17:24
ق	ك	أَلَمْ نَخْلُقكُّم	Al-Mursalat 77:20
ن sakin/Tanwin	م ، ن ، ل ، ر	كَعَصْفٍ مَّأْكُولٍ	Al-Fil 105:5
لام التعريف	Shamsiyyah letters	وَالشَّمْسِ وَضُحَاهَا	Ash-Shams 91:1

Idgham Mutaqaribain Examples

وَقُل رَّبِّ
Wa qur Rabb
“And say: My Lord.” (Al-Isra 17:24)

Lam of قُل merges into Ra — Lam and Ra are close in the front of the tongue makhraj.

أَلَمْ نَخْلُقكُّم
Alam nakhluqkum
“Did We not create you?” (Al-Mursalat 77:20) 

Qaf merges into Kaf — both are back-of-tongue letters, close in makhraj and attributes.

كَعَصْفٍ مَّأْكُولٍ
Ka’asfim ma’kool
“Like eaten straw.” (Al-Fil 105:5)

Tanwin on عَصْفٍ merges into Mim — Idgham Kamil bil Ghunnah under Noon Sakinah rules.

The Shamsiyyah Lam: A Special Mutaqaribain Case

The Lam of the definite article ال merges into any of the fourteen Shamsiyyah letters that follow it. This is among the most frequently occurring Idgham Mutaqaribain in the Quran, encountered in virtually every page of recitation.

وَالشَّمْسِ وَضُحَاهَا
Wash-shamsi wa duhaha
“By the sun and its brightness.” (Ash-Shams 91:1) 

Lam of الـ merges into Sheen — a Mutaqaribain merger producing one mushaddad Sheen.

For a broader view of how these rules connect to the Noon Sakinah system, our detailed guide on Idgham rules in Tajweed covers the full picture alongside Ikhfa and Iqlab.

The Complete Comparison: Idgham Kamil vs Idgham Naqis vs All Three Types

Feature	Idgham Kamil	Idgham Naqis
First letter’s dhat (essence)	Disappears	Disappears
First letter’s sifah (attribute)	Also disappears	Remains (Ghunnah or Isti’la)
Result in recitation	Single stressed letter, no trace of first	Stress + residual nasal or heavy sound
Found in Noon Sakinah	ر ل ن م	ي و (and Tta-Ta)
Ghunnah present?	No (for ر ل) / Yes but belongs to 2nd letter (for ن م)	Yes — belongs to the Ghunnah of merger

Idgham Type	Relationship of Two Letters	Category	Ghunnah?
Mutamathilain	Identical (same makhraj + same sifat)	Kamil	Depends on letters
Mutajanisain	Same makhraj, different sifat	Kamil (mostly) / Naqis (Tta-Ta)	No (mostly)
Mutaqaribain	Close in makhraj and sifat	Kamil	No (except Noon rules)
Naqis (ي و)	Noon Sakinah + ي or و	Naqis	Yes

Understanding Ghunnah and its rules is essential here — because what makes Idgham Naqis “naqis” is precisely the survival of the Ghunnah, which is the defining sifah of the Noon and Tanwin.

Read also: Idgham With Ghunnah and Idgham Without Ghunnah

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Idgham rules — in all their types and subdivisions — are among the most layered in classical Tajweed science. Knowing the theory is only the first step; applying it correctly in live recitation requires trained ears and consistent correction.

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Conclusion

Idgham is not a single rule — it is a family of merging principles, each with its own conditions, letter pairs, and recitation outcome. Idgham Kamil erases both the letter and its trace; Idgham Naqis erases the letter but preserves the Ghunnah. Across Mutamathilain, Mutajanisain, and Mutaqaribain, the governing principle remains the same: letters that are close enough in production are merged for ease of articulation — a design rooted in the natural speech patterns of classical Arabic.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Idgham Kamil and Idgham Naqis