Labial Concealment (Ikhfāʾ Shafawī)

First: Definition and Letter of Labial Ikhfāʼ

Labial ikhfāʼ is the pronunciation of a non-voweled mīm (mīm sākinah) before a bāʼ in a manner that is between idghām (assimilation) and iẓhār (clarification), without doubling the mīm (shaddah), while maintaining ghunnah (nasalization) for two counts.

Labial ikhfāʼ has only one letter: **bāʼ**. When a voweled bāʼ follows a mīm sākinah, the mīm is concealed by closing the lips without leaving a gap and without pressing them tightly, and with ghunnah for two counts, without doubling the mīm (shaddah).

Second: Examples of Labial Ikhfāʼ

Labial ikhfāʼ does not occur within a single word, but only between two words—where the mīm sākinah is at the end of the first word and the bāʼ begins the second. Examples include: - ﴿هُم بَٰرِزُونَ﴾ - ﴿تَرۡمِيهِم بِحِجَارَةٖ﴾