In the context of Tajweed of the Quran, and the Arabic language, Sukoon (Arabic: سُكُون) refers to a state of silence or stillness, where a letter has no vowel (Haraka) associated with it. It is a significant concept of Arabic phonology, which is highly important for the correct recitation of the Quran (Tajweed) and the accurate linguistic structure of the Arabic language.
In this article, we will explore the meaning of Sukoon in both the Arabic language and the science of Tajweed. We will also provide some examples of Sukoon. Then, we will explain how to pronounce Sukoon and what its sign is in the Arabic text and the Quran, in particular.
After that, we will explore some of the Sukoon rules as well as the main types of Sukoon in the Quran. Also, we will clarify what Sukoon letters are and the importance of Sukoon in understanding Arabic and perfecting grammar. Then, we will give some tips to help learn Sukoon. Lastly, we will examine the main differences between Sukoon and Jazm in Arabic.
Table of Contents
What Is Sukoon In Arabic?
Sukoon is the absence of a vowel (Haraka) on a letter. To define Sukoon, we need to define Sakin and Mutahrik in the Arabic structure, and highlight the difference between these two terms.
Sakin (ساكن) (A Letter Without Any Haraka):
A Sakin letter is a letter that has no Haraka [Fatha [الفتحة] (َ), Damma [الضمة] (ُ) and Kasra [الكسرة] (ِ)].
For example:
“من الناس”
In the word “مِن”, the letter “ن” has no Haraka, so this letter here is Sakin.
Mutahrik (متحرك) (A Letter With A Haraka):
It is the opposite of Sakin. There are 3 main Harakat in Arabic: Fatha (َ), Damma (ُ) and Kasra (ِ). A Mutahrik letter has one of these Harakat. When pronouncing this kind of letter, the lips of the speaker move in a certain way.
For example:
“كُل الناس”
The ك letter in “كُل” is marked with a Damma (ُ), so it is a Mutahrik letter.
What Is Sukoon In Tajweed?
In Tajweed, Sukoon refers to the absence of any vowel mark (such as a Fatha, Damma, or Kasra) on a letter. It is denoted by a little حـ, placed above the letter, or by having no sign above or under the letter, in the Quranic script. The presence of Sukoon on a letter indicates that the letter is to be pronounced without any additional vowel sound, and the reciter should stop or pause briefly on it.
Examples Of Sukoon
Sukoon is a recurrent concept in both the Arabic speech and the recitation of the Quran. If Sukoon is not implemented or if it is pronounced incorrectly, this affects the meaning and can be considered Lahn Jali (manifest error) (Arabic: لحن جلي) in Tajweed. Let’s see some examples of Sukoon, both in the Quran and in everyday Arabic language.
An Example From The Quran:
“أَن كَانَ ذَا مَالٍۢ وَبَنِينَ”
[Now, ˹simply˺ because he has been blessed with ˹abundant˺ wealth and children]
The Noon sound in “أن” is Sakinah [it has no sign over or under it]. So the reciter should not elongate or add any vowel. If the reciter pronounced it as “أنَّ”, adding the Fatha Haraka [َ] along with a Shada [ّ], it will be Lahn Jali as the whole meaning of the verse will be changed.
To say it as “أنَّ” is to make a regular confirmed statement in Arabic. However, the intended meaning of the verse is for the statement [“because he has been blessed with ˹abundant˺ wealth and children”] to be the reason for a previous statement [“And do not obey the despicable, vain oath-taker,” (Quran, 68:10)]. So it is clear here that the meaning is changed once the Sukoon is changed into a Haraka.
An Example From Everyday Arabic Speech:
Sukoon is recurrent in almost every sentence of the Arabic language. Please see below some examples of words with Sukoon:
مسجد
نحلة
كهف
The second letter of each of these words (س, ح, and هـ) is Sakin. If these letters with Sukoon have any other Haraka, the word’s meaning would change or it will be meaningless.
How To Pronounce Sukoon In Arabic?
A letter with Sukoon is pronounced without elongation or vowel sound. It is produced using a collision between the two parts of the speech organ. However, in Arabic, a letter with Sukoon can never be pronounced unless it is proceeded with a Mutahrik letter.
So, for example, to pronounce the Sakin letter “مْ”, you need to pronounce another Mutahrik letter before it, such as “عَمْ”.
Also, if a Sakin letter is one of these 5 letters: ق ط ب ج د, it has to be pronounced with Qalqalah. It is the bouncing back of the sound.
For example:
“ٱقْرَأْ بِٱسْمِ رَبِّكَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ“
The reciter should stop at the word “خَلَقَ” as it is the end of the verse. So the “ق” sound in bold is changed from Mutahrik with Fatha to Sakin; and since it is one of the Qalqalah letters, it should bounce back.
What Is The Symbol Of Sukoon?
ٍSukoon is represented by a small circle (ْ) in the Arabic writing and a little حـ in the Quranic text, placed above a letter, or by no sign above or under it. Please see below how it looks in the Quran.
“وَهَدَيْنَـٰهُ ٱلنَّجْدَيْنِ”
Both “ي” in “وَهَدَيْنَـٰهُ” and “ج” in “ٱلنَّجْدَيْنِ” are Sakin, so they have the little حـ sign above them.
What Are The Rules Related To Sukoon In Tajweed?
There are some main rules related to Sukoon in Tajweed. These are very important to understand and implement in Tajweed. Let’s explore some of them below.
1- Alif Sakinah:
The letter Alif (ا), in Arabic, is always Sakin (i.e. devoid of any Haraka) and the letter before it is always Mutahrik with Fatha. Being Sakinah, it comes only in the middle or end of words, as no speech in Arabic can start with a Sakin letter.
Example:
“ثُمَّ دَنَا فَتَدَلَّىٰ”
The “ا” in both verbs “دَنَا” and “فَتَدَلَّىٰ” are Alif Sakinah (with Sukoon). So they are both preceded by Mutahrik letters: “نَ” and “لَ”, respectively.
2- A Special Rule Of Qalqalah With 5 Letters (ق ط ب ج د):
Qalqalah is the bouncing back of the sound. Five ِArabic letters have the quality of Qalqalah which are ق ط ب ج د. Qalqalah is applied when these letters have a Sukoon on them. Please see the following example from the Quran.
“لَآ أُقْسِمُ بِهَـٰذَا ٱلْبَلَد”
The reciter should stop at the word “ٱلْبَلَد” as it is the end of the verse, so the “د” sound in “ٱلْبَلَد” is changed from Mutahirk with Kasra to Sakin. Since it is one of the five Qalqalah letters, the sound of “د” should bounce back.
3- A General Ruling: Arabs Do Not Start With A Sakin Letter And Do Not Stop At A Mutahrik Letter.
Arabic speakers do not begin with a Sakin letter and do not end with a Mutahrik letter. This means that the first letter of every Arabic word MUST be Mutahrik [i.e. has Fatha, Damma, or Kasra]; while the last letter of the syllable, where the speaker pauses MUST be Sakin [with no Fatha, Damma, or Kasra].
Example:
“وَٱلْفَجْرِ”
In this verse, the first letter is ALWAYS Mutahrik [it has a Fatha]. As for the last letter (ر), it has two cases:
A- If the reciter stops at it and makes Ibtida [starts anew] with the following verse, the ر letter is Sakin. So the ر sound is pronounced without any Harakat [Fatha, Damma, or Kasra].
B- If the reciter reads “وَٱلْفَجْرِ” and continues with the following verse, the ر letter will be Mutahrik [with Kasra].
Types Of Sukoon In The Quran
In the following table, we will explore the three main types of Sukoon in the Quran. These are Manifest Sukoon (سكون ظاهر), Subtle Sukoon (سكون غير ظاهر), and Occasional Sukoon (سكون عارض). Please see below.
| Types of Sukoon in the Quran | Manifest Sukoon (سكون ظاهر) | Subtle Sukoon (سكون غير ظاهر) | Occasional Sukoon (سكون عارض) |
| Definition | It refers to a clear, permanent Sukoon that appears on a letter when there is no vowel (Harakah) following it. | It is an inferred or hidden Sukoon that occurs in specific recitation contexts, like Idgham or certain grammatical rules.It occurs in 2 cases:1- With the 3 Madd letters2- With Meem Sakinah (م) and Noon Sakinah (ن) | It is a temporary Sukoon that occurs in specific cases when reciting the Quran, especially during pauses or at the end of a verse, where a normally Mutahrik letter will momentarily appear with no Haraka. |
| Ruling | No Haraka is made all the time. | No Haraka is made all the time. | No Haraka is made, ONLY when the reciter stops at the word and then starts anew with the following word/verse. |
| Sign in the Quran | In most cases, it is in the Quran as حـ. Sometimes, it can appear as a small circle (ْ). | It is not visibly marked in the script. | The original Haraka appears above or under the letter. |
| Example(s) | “إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ”(Quran, 1:5)The Sukoon appears above the Sakin letter “عْ” in “نَعْبُدُ”. | 1- With Madd letters:“وَقَالَ صَوَابًۭا”(Quran, 78:38)The Madd Alif (ا) [in the middle of both words] has a Subtle Sukoon.2- With Meem Sakinah (م) and Noon Sakinah (ن)“ءَأَنتُمْ أَشَدُّ خَلْقًا”(Quran, 79:27)The “ن” in “ءَأَنتُمْ” is Noon Sakinah, so it has a Subtle Sukoon. | “إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ”(Quran, 1:5)Since the reciter stops at the word “نَسْتَعِينُ” as it is the end of the verse, the final letter (ن) becomes temporary Sakin, although normally it would have a Haraka [it is here Damma]. |
Sukoon Letters
All Arabic letters can be Sakinah [have a Sukoon]. However, some additional rules apply when some letters are Sakin. Let’s see two of them as examples:
1- The 5 Qalqalah letters (ق ط ب ج د):
When they are Sakin, they have the Qalqalah ruling [While making a Sukoon, the sound should bounce back].
For example, when we say “قِطْ”, the ط sound should bounce back after Sukoon.
2- The 10 Hams letters (ف ح ث هـ ش خ ص س ك ت):
When they are Sakin, some air should come from the mouth with the Sukoon.
For example, when saying “الكْهف”, some air is allowed to come after pronouncing the Sakin كـ sound.
Importance Of Sukoon In Understanding Arabic
In Arabic, the placement of Sukoon can affect the meaning of a word. Many words in Arabic may look similar but can have entirely different meanings depending on the vowels [Harakat] and the presence of Sukoon.
For example:
- سَكَن (Sakana) means “to settle”.
- سَكْنٌ (Saknun) means “a dwelling” or “residence”.
In this case, the presence of Sukoon in the letter “ن” (Noon) in the second word helps distinguish the noun form (“a dwelling”) from the verb form (“to settle”).
Grammatical Role Of Sukoon In The Arabic Language
In Arabic, Sukoon helps distinguish between roots and grammatical forms. It helps define the role of words in a sentence, maintaining grammatical accuracy.
For example:
- “إن أذكر أنجحْ” [If I study, I succeed].
- “أنا أنجحُ كل عام” [I succeed every year]ز
The difference is clear between both sentences. Although it is “I succeed” in English in both cases, the Harakh of the Arabic verb [أنجح] is different, due to the different grammatical structure of the sentences. So in Arabic, if the structure differs, the grammatical ruling differs, and Sukoon is one factor that makes this distinction.
How To Learn Sukoon
Learning Sukoon involves understanding its different types and when it occurs in the Arabic text and speech. You can apply some or all of the following tips to help you learn Sukoon.
1- Understand the concept of Sukoon and when it should be applied.
2- Recognize the types of Sukoon (Manifest Sukoon, Subtle Sukoon, and Occasional Sukoon).
3- Learn the Rules of Sukoon in Tajweed. You can enroll in one of the online Tajweed classes at Riwaq Al Quran to learn the basics of Tajweed.
4- Practice with examples (for example, you can stop (make Waqf) at the end of verses and learn to pronounce the letters with Sukoon correctly).
5- Listen to qualified reciters [recommended reciters to listen to are Shaikh Al Hossary and Shaikh Al Minshawy]. Pay special attention to how they apply Sukkon in different contexts. You can always look at the verses when listening to the recitation, noting the positions of Sukoon and how they are pronounced.
7- Record yourself practicing what you have learned so that you can spot your weaknesses.
8- Receive feedback from qualified teachers. You can join Riwaq Al Quran to receive guidance and feedback from highly qualified Quran teachers and mentors.
Difference Between Sukoon And Jazm
In Arabic grammar, “Sukoon” (سكون) and “Jazm” (جزم) refer to different linguistic concepts related to the ending of verbs and the way they are pronounced or conjugated. Here is the difference between the two.
Sukoon is much simpler than Jazm. Sukoon is just an absence of vowel sound, while Jazm is a complete set of grammatical rulings, one of which is applying Sukoon. In the following table, we will explore some main differences between Sukoon and Jazm.
| Feature | Sukoon (سكون) | Jazm (جزم) |
| Definition | A phonetic state where a letter has no vowel. | A grammatical rule affecting verbs, particularly in negation or imperative forms. |
| Nature | Phonetic (pronunciation-related) | Grammatical (syntax-related) |
| Sign | Marked with a small circle (◌) above the letter in Arabic text and a small حـ in the Quranic text. | Marked with a small circle (◌) above the letter in grammatical forms. |
| Usage | Applied to letters, especially the last letter of a word in pauses. | Applied to verbs in certain grammatical contexts (e.g., negation, imperatives). |
| Example(s) | مصْرقطْبمنْ | لم يفعلْ.إن تذاكر، تفلحْ. |
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Conclusion
To sum up, understanding and applying Sukoon correctly is essential for accurate Quranic recitation and the mastery of the Arabic language. To learn Sukoon effectively, you need to understand its types and the rules behind it. With consistent practice, listening to proficient reciters, and receiving feedback from qualified teachers, you will be able to master the correct use of Sukoon in Arabic. Be patient and remember that persistence is the key.
