Close Letters (Taqārub)

First: Definition and Ruling of Taqārub

Taqārub (closeness) is the relationship between two letters that are close in either articulation point, characteristics, or both. When the first letter is non-voweled and the second is voweled, it may result in assimilation (idghām). However, not every case of closeness results in assimilation.

In the narration of Ḥafṣ from ʿĀṣim, assimilation due to closeness is limited to four cases.¹

Second: Occurrences of Taqārub Assimilation in Hafs' Narration

1 - Assimilation of qāf into kāf: Example: ﴿نَخۡلُقكُّم﴾ [Al-Mursalāt: 20] It is read with Complete assimilation with the disappearance of qāf and its quality (elevation), pronouncing a doubled kāf.

2 - Assimilation of lām into rāʼ where ever it occurs throughout Quran: Example: ﴿وَقُل رَّبِّ﴾ Note: Complete assimilation where lām’s body and attributes both disappear, and we pronounce a doubled rāʼ. An Exception is : ﴿كَلَّاۖ بَلۡۜ رَانَ﴾ [Al-Muṭaffifīn: 14], where the pause on lām prevents assimilation, this is an exception that was transmitted through narration.

3 - Solar lām (definite article followed by a solar letter which are( Shin,Sin,Zay,ra,thal,dal,tha’,ta’,waw,nun, ẓa’, ṭā’, Ḍād,sad)) which are collected into this poetic verse:)first letter from each word):

طِبْ ثُمَّ صِلْ رَحِمًا تَفُزْ صِفْ ذَا نِعَمْ دَعْ سُــــوءَ ظَــنٍّ زُرْ شَـرِيفًا للكَــرَمْ

Example: ﴿ٱلطَّآمَّةُ﴾ The ṭā’ came after the solar lām, the of lām disappears and and we pronounce a doubled ṭā’ , so it’s a complete assimilation, and so is the case with all solar letters following a solar lām.

Note: Complete assimilation—lām disappears completely(body and attributes)and is not pronounced and the solar letter is doubled. An exception is if the solar of lām is followed by another of lām, it is considered identity assimilation instead, because they are both of lām Example:”الليل”.

4 - Sākin nūn and tanwīn before letters of 'Yarmalū' (ي ر م ل و ن):

Complete assimilation: with rāʼ, lām, and mīm because the body and characteristics of nūn disappears and the letter of idgham becomes doubled. Idhgam with Mīm is with ghunnah, because Ghunnah is an essential attribute of Mīm example:”من مال” it is read : "ممّال" with two counts of Ghunnah, but with rāʼand lām the Idgham is without Ghunnah example:"مالاً لبداً"and "من رّبهم" they are read : “ماللبداً” and "مرّبهم" without Ghunnah.

Incomplete assimilation: with wāw and yāʼ—nūn’s body disappears, and its ghunnah attribute remains , so we pronounce the letter of Idgham (wāw and yāʼ)doubled with Ghunnah example: “ومن يعمل” and “ من ولي” we pronounce it as : “وميّعمل “ and “موّلي” without Ghunnah.