Qur’anic Verses for Stuffy Noses
No, I’m not talking about verses of the Qur’ān that can be used to treat nasal congestion. I’m interested in finding out which verses can be pronounced correctly even when the reciter has a stuffy nose.
There is a property called ghunna that applies to some of the letters in the Qur’ān. Basically, in order to recite a letter with ghunna, the nose has to play a role in the pronunciation; the mouth and throat are not enough to generate the correct sound. There are some verses in the Qur’ān that contain no instances of ghunna. For example, the first verse of Sūrah 113: al-Falaq (if recited correctly) will sound the same whether you pinch your nose or not – try it!
قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ ٱلْفَلَقِ
My question is: how many verses are there in the Qur’ān that have this property?
First of all, we need to lay down the criteria for when a letter is pronounced with ghunna. There are only two consonant sounds in the Arabic language that have the property of ghunna: the “n” sound and the “m” sound, which correspond to the Arabic letters ن and م. So, any word with either of these two letters should be immediately excluded. (Turns out, these letters are actually very common.1)
Of course, that’s not all. In Arabic, there is also a way to produce a ن sound without actually using a separate letter at all: the tanween diacritic (in all three of its flavours: fatḥah, kasrah, and dhammah tanween.) For example, the first verse of Sūrah al-Lahab has no ن or م, but still contains ghunna because of its tanween: تَبَّتْ يَدَآ أَبِى لَهَبٍ وَتَبَّ . So, all of the verses that have a tanween also contain the property of ghunna.
…Except that this isn’t actually true. If a verse ends with a tanween (and many of them do2), then the ن sound does not need to be pronounced. Indeed, whenever a tanween occurs at a place the reciter chooses to halt the recitation, the tanween breaks and the sound of ن vanishes. It’s for this reason that the first verse of Sūrah 112: al-Ikhlāṣ can be recited without ghunna, even though it contains a tanween: قُلْ هُوَ ٱللَّهُ أَحَدٌ
We can’t take into account every place where a reciter might choose to stop, so let’s simplify things a little bit and assume that the reciter will stop:
- At the end of every verse
- Nowhere within the middle of a verse
In that case, a verse can safely end with a tanween and not have that occurrence count as an instance of ghunna. (Of course, it might still have ghunna appear elsewhere in the verse).
Is that all? Not even close! There’s another situation where the ن sound of tanween is not pronounced: in the case of complete idghām, where the tanween is immediately followed by a mutaharrik ر or ل, like in Sūrah #101 al-Qāri’ah verse 7: فَهُوَ فِى عِيشَةٍ رَّاضِيَة. In situations like these, the ن sound of the tanween is completely dropped and the ghunna is not pronounced either. So, any cases with tanween followed by the letter ر or ل also do not count as ghunna.
As a matter of fact, this rule even applies to places where we have the letter ن itself when it is bearing a sukun and followed by mutaharrik ر or ل. That means it might be possible to have a ن appear in a verse and yet not be pronounced with ghunna! (As it turns out, in practice, this makes no difference for our current objective of finding ghunna-free verses. Every verse that has an ن without ghunna for this reason actually contains a source of ghunna elsewhere in the verse anyway. But we should still be aware of this.)
One final thing. The verses of disconnected letters – ḥurūf al-muqaṭṭa’āt – need to be handled separately (as they so often do). You see, a verse like the first verse of Surah #19 Maryam: كٓهيعٓصٓ has no ن, no م, and no tanween, yet it is pronounced with ghunna. That’s because the letters are pronounced by their name, not their usual sound, and so عٓ in this verse is actually read as عَيْن which definitely has a ن. This situation doesn’t happen a lot, but it’s worth pointing out that this is something that does happen.3
Okay, to summarize all the rules we have put together, I made a flowchart. The input is a letter from a verse (assuming the ḥurūf al-muqaṭṭa’āt have been spelled out fully beforehand) and the output is whether or not the letter has ghunna or not.
We can say that a verse contains ghunna if any of its individual letters are pronounced with ghunna; otherwise, the verse does not contain ghunna. So, how many verses are there in the Qur’ān that do not contain ghunna?
Implementing the above flowchart into a program results in a total of 120 ghunna-free verses. Interestingly, a few of these verses appear consecutively in little connected chunks, and it feels natural to me to consider them as combined passages rather than separate verses (as long as the consecutive verses are all in the same surah). In that case, there are 93 contiguous passages consisting of 1 or more ghunna-free verses.
That’s a lot more than I thought it would be, considering the prevalence of the sources of ghunna in the Qur’ān. For the sake of completeness, I am going to list all of them here 😃 But before I do, here are some of my observations:
- The longest passage, by far, is the 5-verse-long passage at the start of Sūrah #56 al-Wāqi’ah at 116 letters.
- The shortest passage is the single eponymous verse at the start of Sūrah #20 Ṭāhā at just 2 letters.
- The longest single verse with no ghunna is verse 6:103 in Sūrah al-An’ām with 43 letters. No other single verse makes the top 18 verses by length in the list of passages.
- Two of the verses with wājib sajdah appear in the list (96:19 and 53:62).
- 13 of the 93 passages include the first verse of a sūrah. That means of the 114 sūrahs in the Qur’ān, 13 of them (more than 11%) do not have ghunna in their first verse.
Ok, this write-up is getting way longer than I intended, so without further ado, here are the 93 ghunna-free passages in the Qur’ān:
| Location | Length | Text |
|---|---|---|
| 56:1-5 | 116 | إِذَا وَقَعَتِ ٱلْوَاقِعَةُ لَيْسَ لِوَقْعَتِهَا كَاذِبَةٌ خَافِضَةٌ رَّافِعَةٌ إِذَا رُجَّتِ ٱلْأَرْضُ رَجًّا وَبُسَّتِ ٱلْجِبَالُ بَسًّا |
| 81:3-6 | 94 | وَإِذَا ٱلْجِبَالُ سُيِّرَتْ وَإِذَا ٱلْعِشَارُ عُطِّلَتْ وَإِذَا ٱلْوُحُوشُ حُشِرَتْ وَإِذَا ٱلْبِحَارُ سُجِّرَتْ |
| 79:19-21 | 78 | وَأَهْدِيَكَ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ فَتَخْشَىٰ فَأَرَىٰهُ ٱلْـَٔايَةَ ٱلْكُبْرَىٰ فَكَذَّبَ وَعَصَىٰ |
| 37:1-3 | 60 | وَٱلصَّـٰٓفَّـٰتِ صَفًّا فَٱلزَّٰجِرَٰتِ زَجْرًا فَٱلتَّـٰلِيَـٰتِ ذِكْرًا |
| 79:29-30 | 58 | وَأَغْطَشَ لَيْلَهَا وَأَخْرَجَ ضُحَىٰهَا وَٱلْأَرْضَ بَعْدَ ذَٰلِكَ دَحَىٰهَآ |
| 74:28-30 | 56 | لَا تُبْقِى وَلَا تَذَرُ لَوَّاحَةٌ لِّلْبَشَرِ عَلَيْهَا تِسْعَةَ عَشَرَ |
| 99:1-2 | 55 | إِذَا زُلْزِلَتِ ٱلْأَرْضُ زِلْزَالَهَا وَأَخْرَجَتِ ٱلْأَرْضُ أَثْقَالَهَا |
| 92:20-21 | 52 | إِلَّا ٱبْتِغَآءَ وَجْهِ رَبِّهِ ٱلْأَعْلَىٰ وَلَسَوْفَ يَرْضَىٰ |
| 74:3-5 | 51 | وَرَبَّكَ فَكَبِّرْ وَثِيَابَكَ فَطَهِّرْ وَٱلرُّجْزَ فَٱهْجُرْ |
| 92:15-16 | 45 | لَا يَصْلَىٰهَآ إِلَّا ٱلْأَشْقَى ٱلَّذِى كَذَّبَ وَتَوَلَّىٰ |
| 6:103 | 43 | لَّا تُدْرِكُهُ ٱلْأَبْصَـٰرُ وَهُوَ يُدْرِكُ ٱلْأَبْصَـٰرَ ۖ وَهُوَ ٱللَّطِيفُ ٱلْخَبِيرُ |
| 82:3-4 | 42 | وَإِذَا ٱلْبِحَارُ فُجِّرَتْ وَإِذَا ٱلْقُبُورُ بُعْثِرَتْ |
| 70:12-13 | 41 | وَصَـٰحِبَتِهِۦ وَأَخِيهِ وَفَصِيلَتِهِ ٱلَّتِى تُـْٔوِيهِ |
| 79:3-4 | 38 | وَٱلسَّـٰبِحَـٰتِ سَبْحًا فَٱلسَّـٰبِقَـٰتِ سَبْقًا |
| 84:11-12 | 37 | فَسَوْفَ يَدْعُوا۟ ثُبُورًا وَيَصْلَىٰ سَعِيرًا |
| 74:33-34 | 36 | وَٱلَّيْلِ إِذْ أَدْبَرَ وَٱلصُّبْحِ إِذَآ أَسْفَرَ |
| 87:2-3 | 36 | ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ فَسَوَّىٰ وَٱلَّذِى قَدَّرَ فَهَدَىٰ |
| 89:3-4 | 34 | وَٱلشَّفْعِ وَٱلْوَتْرِ وَٱلَّيْلِ إِذَا يَسْرِ |
| 33:3 | 27 | وَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ ۚ وَكَفَىٰ بِٱللَّهِ وَكِيلًا |
| 93:1-2 | 24 | وَٱلضُّحَىٰ وَٱلَّيْلِ إِذَا سَجَىٰ |
| 88:24 | 22 | فَيُعَذِّبُهُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْعَذَابَ ٱلْأَكْبَرَ |
| 96:19 | 20 | كَلَّا لَا تُطِعْهُ وَٱسْجُدْ وَٱقْتَرِب ۩ |
| 106:3 | 20 | فَلْيَعْبُدُوا۟ رَبَّ هَـٰذَا ٱلْبَيْتِ |
| 53:25 | 19 | فَلِلَّهِ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةُ وَٱلْأُولَىٰ |
| 53:62 | 19 | فَٱسْجُدُوا۟ لِلَّهِ وَٱعْبُدُوا۟ ۩ |
| 82:7 | 19 | ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَكَ فَسَوَّىٰكَ فَعَدَلَكَ |
| 93:5 | 19 | وَلَسَوْفَ يُعْطِيكَ رَبُّكَ فَتَرْضَىٰٓ |
| 88:1 | 18 | هَلْ أَتَىٰكَ حَدِيثُ ٱلْغَـٰشِيَةِ |
| 89:12 | 18 | فَأَكْثَرُوا۟ فِيهَا ٱلْفَسَادَ |
| 104:7 | 18 | ٱلَّتِى تَطَّلِعُ عَلَى ٱلْأَفْـِٔدَةِ |
| 38:84 | 17 | قَالَ فَٱلْحَقُّ وَٱلْحَقَّ أَقُولُ |
| 75:26 | 17 | كَلَّآ إِذَا بَلَغَتِ ٱلتَّرَاقِىَ |
| 75:29 | 17 | وَٱلْتَفَّتِ ٱلسَّاقُ بِٱلسَّاقِ |
| 35:21 | 16 | وَلَا ٱلظِّلُّ وَلَا ٱلْحَرُورُ |
| 53:7 | 16 | وَهُوَ بِٱلْأُفُقِ ٱلْأَعْلَىٰ |
| 88:20 | 16 | وَإِلَى ٱلْأَرْضِ كَيْفَ سُطِحَتْ |
| 89:26 | 16 | وَلَا يُوثِقُ وَثَاقَهُۥٓ أَحَدٌ |
| 20:25 | 15 | قَالَ رَبِّ ٱشْرَحْ لِى صَدْرِى |
| 52:10 | 15 | وَتَسِيرُ ٱلْجِبَالُ سَيْرًا |
| 53:33 | 15 | أَفَرَءَيْتَ ٱلَّذِى تَوَلَّىٰ |
| 85:4 | 15 | قُتِلَ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلْأُخْدُودِ |
| 85:14 | 15 | وَهُوَ ٱلْغَفُورُ ٱلْوَدُودُ |
| 91:4 | 15 | وَٱلَّيْلِ إِذَا يَغْشَىٰهَا |
| 69:21 | 14 | فَهُوَ فِى عِيشَةٍ رَّاضِيَةٍ |
| 79:32 | 14 | وَٱلْجِبَالَ أَرْسَىٰهَا |
| 80:33 | 14 | فَإِذَا جَآءَتِ ٱلصَّآخَّةُ |
| 86:12 | 14 | وَٱلْأَرْضِ ذَاتِ ٱلصَّدْعِ |
| 101:7 | 14 | فَهُوَ فِى عِيشَةٍ رَّاضِيَةٍ |
| 113:1 | 14 | قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ ٱلْفَلَقِ |
| 51:1 | 13 | وَٱلذَّٰرِيَـٰتِ ذَرْوًا |
| 51:3 | 13 | فَٱلْجَـٰرِيَـٰتِ يُسْرًا |
| 75:31 | 13 | فَلَا صَدَّقَ وَلَا صَلَّىٰ |
| 75:34 | 13 | أَوْلَىٰ لَكَ فَأَوْلَىٰ |
| 77:2 | 13 | فَٱلْعَـٰصِفَـٰتِ عَصْفًا |
| 77:4 | 13 | فَٱلْفَـٰرِقَـٰتِ فَرْقًا |
| 77:11 | 13 | وَإِذَا ٱلرُّسُلُ أُقِّتَتْ |
| 78:7 | 13 | وَٱلْجِبَالَ أَوْتَادًا |
| 79:7 | 13 | تَتْبَعُهَا ٱلرَّادِفَةُ |
| 89:29 | 13 | فَٱدْخُلِى فِى عِبَـٰدِى |
| 91:15 | 13 | وَلَا يَخَافُ عُقْبَـٰهَا |
| 92:1 | 13 | وَٱلَّيْلِ إِذَا يَغْشَىٰ |
| 94:8 | 13 | وَإِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ فَٱرْغَب |
| 100:1 | 13 | وَٱلْعَـٰدِيَـٰتِ ضَبْحًا |
| 74:17 | 12 | سَأُرْهِقُهُۥ صَعُودًا |
| 75:7 | 12 | فَإِذَا بَرِقَ ٱلْبَصَرُ |
| 78:33 | 12 | وَكَوَاعِبَ أَتْرَابًا |
| 79:9 | 12 | أَبْصَـٰرُهَا خَـٰشِعَةٌ |
| 81:17 | 12 | وَٱلَّيْلِ إِذَا عَسْعَسَ |
| 20:28 | 11 | يَفْقَهُوا۟ قَوْلِى |
| 20:31 | 11 | ٱشْدُدْ بِهِۦٓ أَزْرِى |
| 53:57 | 11 | أَزِفَتِ ٱلْـَٔازِفَةُ |
| 88:9 | 11 | لِّسَعْيِهَا رَاضِيَةٌ |
| 112:1 | 11 | قُلْ هُوَ ٱللَّهُ أَحَدٌ |
| 74:7 | 10 | وَلِرَبِّكَ فَٱصْبِرْ |
| 74:19 | 10 | فَقُتِلَ كَيْفَ قَدَّرَ |
| 80:30 | 10 | وَحَدَآئِقَ غُلْبًا |
| 80:41 | 10 | تَرْهَقُهَا قَتَرَةٌ |
| 106:1 | 10 | لِإِيلَـٰفِ قُرَيْشٍ |
| 18:85 | 9 | فَأَتْبَعَ سَبَبًا |
| 69:30 | 9 | خُذُوهُ فَغُلُّوهُ |
| 74:26 | 9 | سَأُصْلِيهِ سَقَرَ |
| 80:1 | 9 | عَبَسَ وَتَوَلَّىٰٓ |
| 80:15 | 9 | بِأَيْدِى سَفَرَةٍ |
| 86:16 | 9 | وَأَكِيدُ كَيْدًا |
| 75:11 | 8 | كَلَّا لَا وَزَرَ |
| 80:9 | 8 | وَهُوَ يَخْشَىٰ |
| 101:1 | 7 | ٱلْقَارِعَةُ |
| 52:1 | 6 | وَٱلطُّورِ |
| 69:1 | 6 | ٱلْحَآقَّةُ |
| 89:1 | 6 | وَٱلْفَجْرِ |
| 90:13 | 6 | فَكُّ رَقَبَةٍ |
| 103:1 | 6 | وَٱلْعَصْرِ |
| 20:1 | 2 | طه |
That’s all for now. For those of you with stuffy noses – rejoice, for you can recite! Also, I hope you feel better soon.
- Only 146 verses in the Qur’ān contain neither of the letters ن nor م, or approximately 2.3%. ↩︎
- About 1069 verses of the Qur’ān end with a tanween, which is about about 17% of all verses. The distribution of these verses is probably very interesting to look at. Perhaps a future post topic? ↩︎
- In particular, there are three ḥurūf al-muqaṭṭa’āt verses that contain ghunna that is only revealed once we spell the letters out: 19:1, 36:1, and 42:2. ↩︎
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