What is Tanween Pesh (Dammatayn) in Noorani Qaida?

Tanween Pesh (known in Urdu as 'Do Pesh' and Arabic as 'Dammatayn') consists of two Dammas or a single Damma with a reversed hook/tail placed above an Arabic letter (ـٌ). It represents a Damma followed by a hidden Noon Saakinah, producing the sound 'un' (for example: بٌ = بُ + نْ = 'Bun').

Does Tanween Pesh require a carrier Alif at the end of the word?

No. Like Tanween Zer, Tanween Pesh NEVER takes a carrier Alif. An Alif is only added for Tanween Zabar. Tanween Pesh is written directly on top of the letter itself (e.g. نُزُلٌ, مَلَكٌ, سَكَنٌ).

How do you pause (Waqf) on a word ending with Tanween Pesh in the Quran?

When pausing or stopping (Waqf) on a word ending with Tanween Pesh, the Tanween is dropped completely and replaced with a Sukoon (Jazm). For example, قَتَرٌ is recited on Waqf as 'Qatar' (قَتَرْ), and مَلَكٌ becomes 'Malak' (مَلَكْ). It does not produce a Madd.

Why is Tanween Pesh written in two different styles in Quranic scripts?

In standard Uthmani mushafs, Tanween Pesh is printed as two sequential Dammas (ـُـُ) to indicate an Idgham (merging) or Ikhfa (hiding) rule with the following letter, and as a single Damma with an inverted tail (ـٌ) to indicate clear pronunciation (Izhar).

Lesson 10: Tanween Pesh (Double Damma) with Audio

Understanding Tanween Pesh (تنوين پيش / الضمتان)

Welcome to Lesson 10 of Noorani Qaida. In this lesson, students complete the trilogy of Tanween (Nunation) with Tanween Pesh (Urdu: تنوين پيش / دو پيش, Classical Arabic: ضَمَّتَانِ / Dammatayn). Tanween Pesh is visually rendered either as two tiny Dammas side-by-side or as a single Damma with an inverted curved tail or hook (ـٌ) sitting atop an Arabic letter.

Tanween Pesh couples the short vowel Damma ("u") with an unwritten, silent Noon Saakinah (نْ), producing the robust syllable "-un" (e.g. بٌ = بُ + نْ = "Bun").

The Tanween Orthography Rule: No Carrier Alif Needed!

Just like Tanween Zer (Lesson 8) and unlike Tanween Zabar (Lesson 6), Tanween Pesh NEVER takes a carrier Alif! The two Pesh marks are inscribed directly over the letter itself (e.g. مَلَكٌ, رُسُلٌ, خُلُقٌ). Adding an Alif to a word ending in Tanween Pesh is an orthographic error in the Quran.

Phonetic Mechanics: Combining Lip Rounding & Nasalization

Producing an impeccable Tanween Pesh demands a seamless dual-stage articulation:

Stage 1 — Deep Damma Aperture: Firmly purse and round both lips into a small circle (Inmidam al-Shafatayn) to pronounce the "u" portion cleanly without flattening into "on".
Stage 2 — Noon Saakin Closure: Immediately return the lips toward neutral while touching the tip of the tongue to the upper gum ridge behind the front incisors to seal the sound with Noon Saakin (نْ).
Nasal Chamber (Khayshoom): Allow the intrinsic nasal ringing (Ghunnah) of Noon Saakin to resonate gently for an instant before concluding the syllable.

Golden Tajweed Rule: Waqf (Stopping) on Tanween Pesh

Mastering how to halt at the end of verses (Waqf) is vital when reciting Quranic passages containing Tanween Pesh:

Drops Directly to Sukoon (جزم): When pausing on a word ending with Tanween Pesh, both the Damma and the hidden Noon are completely discarded, and the final consonant is recited with a Sukoon.
• Continuous Reading (Wasl): قَتَرٌ is read "Qatarun".
• Stopping (Waqf): قَتَرٌ is read "Qatar" (قَتَرْ).
Special Rule for Ta Marbuta (ـةٌ): When Tanween Pesh sits upon a round Ta (Ta Marbuta, as in غَبَرَةٌ or قَتَرَةٌ), pausing transforms the letter into a whispering Haa Saakinah (هْ): "Ghabarah" and "Qatarah"!

The Two Calligraphic Forms of Tanween Pesh in the Quran

When students progress from Noorani Qaida to the Holy Quran, they frequently encounter two distinct calligraphic presentations of Tanween Pesh:

1. Inverted Tail / Composite Hook (ـٌ): A single Damma with a reversed hook clasping its head. This script indicates Izhar (Clear Pronunciation). It informs the reciter that the following letter is one of the 6 throat letters (Huroof Halqi), requiring the Noon sound to be articulated sharply without prolonged nasal humming.
2. Two Sequential Dammas (ـُـُ): Written as two separate Damma signs side by side or slightly staggered. This script indicates Idgham (Merging) or Ikhfa (Concealment). It alerts the reader that the Tanween must either assimilate into the following letter or be hidden with 2 counts of Ghunnah.

Deconstructing Rich Practice Combinations

The practice section above features multi-syllabic Quranic words testing varying combinations of all three vowels leading into Tanween Pesh:

1. رُسُلٌ (Ru - su - lun)

All three letters carry Damma! The first syllable رُ is heavy, سُ is light with rounded lips, and لٌ resolves on Tanween Pesh. On Waqf, pause on the Lam with quiet Sukoon: "Rusul".

2. خُلُقٌ (Khu - lu - qun)

A phenomenal workout between heavy and light sounds: heavy upper-throat خُ, delicate لُ, ending on heavy uvular قٌ with Tanween Pesh. When stopping, perform a bold bouncing Qalqalah on the Qaf: "Khuluq"!

3. قِطَعٌ (Qi - ta - 'un)

Combines Kasra, Fatha, and Dammatayn! Start with heavy قِ (5th degree Tafkheem), jump to heavy طَ (with open mouth), and end on deep throat عٌ with rounded lips.

4. غَبَرَةٌ (Gha - ba - ra - tun)

Practices 4 syllables: heavy غَ, light بَ, heavy رَ, and ending on Ta Marbuta with Tanween Pesh ةٌ. On Waqf, stop cleanly as "Ghabarah".

Common Pitfalls to Avoid in Lesson 10

Pronouncing as flat "on" (Majhool): Saying "Bon, Ton, Mon" (like English 'bon-bon'). The sound must be pure "Bun, Tun, Mun" with round pursed lips.
Failing to drop Tanween on Waqf: Reading نُزُلٌ on pause as "Nuzulun". In Arabic Quranic recitation, stopping on Tanween requires dropping the 'un' completely to sound "Nuzul".
Pronouncing Ta Marbuta as 'T' on pause: Pausing on قَتَرَةٌ as "Qatarat". The round Ta must convert to a soft, breathy Haa ("Qatarah") whenever stopping.
Adding an Alif after Tanween Pesh: Writing or visualizing an Alif at the end of مَلَكٌ. Remember: carrier Alifs only belong to Tanween Zabar.

Frequently Asked Questions About Lesson 10

What is the difference between Pesh and Tanween Pesh?

Single Pesh (ـُ) produces the simple 1-count short vowel 'u'. Tanween Pesh (ـٌ) adds a hidden Noon Saakinah onto the vowel, producing the nasalized syllable '-un' (e.g. بُ is 'Bu', while بٌ is 'Bun').

What are the three forms of Tanween in Noorani Qaida?

The three forms are: Tanween Zabar / Fat-hatayn (ـً) producing '-an', Tanween Zer / Kasratayn (ـٍ) producing '-in', and Tanween Pesh / Dammatayn (ـٌ) producing '-un'. Together, they represent the complete nunation system of the Arabic language.

Why is Tanween Pesh important for Tajweed rules?

Because Tanween intrinsically contains a hidden Noon Saakinah, all four sacred rules of Noon Saakin and Tanween (Izhar, Idgham, Iqlab, and Ikhfa) apply directly whenever Tanween Pesh meets adjacent letters in the Quran.

How should I practice Lesson 10 using the audio cards?

Click on each audio card above to hear Qaari Nouman Mehmood's authentic recitation. Focus on lip posture during the first half of the sound, and ensure your tongue seals cleanly against the upper teeth for the Noon ending.

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Lesson 10: Tanween Pesh (Double Damma)

Practice Examples

Practice Rules