Al-Rawm and Al-Ishmam — Signaling Without Full Pronunciation
readings
Level: advanced
terminology
rdg-015
إِيَّاكَ نَعۡبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسۡتَعِينُ
— الفاتحة 5
When stopping on a marf'u or majrur word:
The default is to stop with sukun. But some readers signal the original vowel using one of two methods:
Al-rawm: Producing two-thirds or half the vowel — a faint audible sound indicating the original vowel. Perceived by hearing.
Al-ishmam: Pursing the lips as a signal of damma after pronouncing sukun — no sound. Perceived by sight, not hearing (cannot be perceived by the blind).
Example: "Nasta'in" — original damma on final nun. At stop: pure sukun; or rawm (faint sound); or ishmam (lip pursing without sound).
Source: Al-Nashr (2/118); Al-Dani (p.60); Al-Shatibiyya
Question: What is the difference between rawm and ishmam? How is each perceived?
Answer: Rawm: faint audible sound with the vowel — perceived by hearing. Ishmam: lip pursing without sound — perceived by sight, not audible to the blind.