Rules of Reciting the Qur’an: Iqlab and Ikhfa’ Shafawi

Answered by Ustadh Tabraze Azam

Question: What is the opinion of the Qur’an scholars for Iqlab (nun sakinah -> ba’) and Ikhfa’ Shafawi (mim sakinah -> ba’) 1. Should we open our mouth in both cases? 2. Should we close our mouth in both cases? 3. Should we open our mouth (a little bit) in Iqlab and close it in Ikhfa’ Shafawi? If we should open our mouth, how should we do it? Should we open it from the beginning when we reading nun, should we close it first but open it when we’re pronouncing ba’, or should we open it the whole way?

Answer: Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah,

I pray that you are well, insha’Allah.

I confirmed this ruling with Shaykh `Ali Hani, a master of the Qur’an and its related sciences.

There are two permissible ways to recite the iqlab and ikhfa’ shafawi:

[1] Closing the mouth lightly, or

[2] Leaving a very small gap between the lips

Both are recited as such from the beginning of the nun/mim.

The way to perfect it is to have a living teacher who has mastered the science and can practically demonstrate the ruling to you. This is the prophetic way.

And Allah alone gives success.

Wassalam

Tabraze Azam