Du'ā al-Qunūt - The Qunūt Supplication

Duʿā is a flexible act of humble and earnest invocation, seeking guidance, protection, forgiveness from Allāh and expressing gratitude. Du'ā is worship itself because it is, in its essence, a request for reward and recompense from Allāh. The one who supplicates demonstrates their helplessness and need for God, acknowledging that Allāh alone is capable of granting benefit and averting harm. And this is the meaning of pure monotheismand devotion.

In the four Sunan collections, it is narrated on the authority of Nuʽmān ibn Bashīr, that the Prophet ﷺ, said: "Du'ā [Supplication] is worship." Then he recited: "

وَفِي ” السُّنَنِ الأَرْبَعَةِ” عَنِ النُّعْمَانِ بْنِ بَشِيرٍ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: إِنَّ الدُّعَاءَ هُوَ العِبَادَةُ ثُمَّ قَرَأَ: وَقَالَ رَبُّكُمُ ادْعُونِي أَسْتَجِبْ لَكُمْ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ عَنْ عِبَادَتِي سَيَدْخُلُونَ جَهَنَّمَ دَاخِرِينَ
[Sunan al-Tirmidhī]

«And your Lord says, 'Call upon Me; I will respond to you. Indeed, those who disdain My worship will enter Hell in humiliation.»(Qu'ram 40.60)

Meaning of 'Qunūt'

From a linguistic point of view, “qunūt” indicates obedience, submission, humility, silence, and perseverance in obedience to Allāh.
In Islamic jurisprudence, the qunūt is the name of a duʿā pronounced during prayer, at a specific point in the standing position (qiyām). In other words, it is a prolonged standing with invocation; as in the meaning of the prophetic saying: «The best prayer is the one in which the qunūt is longer».

Duʿā al-Qunūt (دعاء القنوت)

Duʿā al-Qunūt (دعاء القنوت) is one of the most profound supplications in Islam, offering believers a direct line to Allāh for guidance, mercy, protection, and forgiveness. Rooted in the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, it is recited in both regular prayers like al-Witr, and in special prayers during times of severe hardship - an-Nawāzil. Beyond its spiritual significance, du'ā qunūt teaches humility, reliance on Allāh, and a deep sense of devotion. Exploring this du'ā provides an opportunity to strengthen your connection with Allāh and enhance your daily worship.

Qunūt an-Nawazil

Qunūt an-Nawazil is a special, temporary supplication recited in the five daily obligatory prayers during times of severe calamity or misfortune. If a calamity befalls Muslims they supplicate to seek Allāh's help, protection, and relief until the calamity is lifted.

The supplication is recited in the final rak'ah of any of the five obligatory daily prayers after rising from the ruku', as the Prophet [peace and blessings be upon him] did when he supplicated against specific tribes.

The supplication in Qunūt an-Nawazil is hence usually tailored to the specific calamity. Whenever a calamity befell the Prophet, he would often recite Qunūt in Fajr. The prophet would as well recite the Qunūt in all the five daily prayers. He would recite Qunūt in Medina, praying against the infidels of Quraysh for expelling and harming him, and he would pray for the oppressed Muslims in Mecca, asking Allāh to deliver them from the evil of their enemy and save them. When some Bedouins attacked a group of his Companions, the prophet ﷺ prayed against them po di suoi Compagni, il Profeta ﷺ supplicò per loro for a month.

It is reported — by Anas and Abū Hurayra — that the Prophet ﷺ practiced qunūt during times of calamity in the Fajr prayer and on other occasions. Therefore, if a trial befalls the Muslims, the imams may recite qunūt in the last rakʿah of Fajr, after the rukūʿ, for the duration of the calamity (days, a month, or as long as necessary), and then stop it when the cause ceases.

As to whether Qunūt is before or after Rukū, according to most of the hadiths and according to the opinion of most of the scholars, Qunūt should come after the Rukū, but if a person recites it before the Rukū, that is also correct.

Asim [ may Allāh be pleased with him] reported: “I asked Anas whether Qunūt was observed [by the Holy prophet] before Rukū or after Rukū. He replied: Before Rukū. I said: People conceive that the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ observed Qunūt after the Rukū. He said: The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ observed Qunūt [after the Rukū as the people conceive it] for a month invoking curse upon those persons who had killed men among his Companions who were called the reciter [of the Qur'an].

وَحَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، وَأَبُو كُرَيْبٍ قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ، عَنْ عَاصِمٍ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ، قَالَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الْقُنُوتِ، قَبْلَ الرُّكُوعِ أَوْ بَعْدَ الرُّكُوعِ فَقَالَ قَبْلَ الرُّكُوعِ‏.‏ قَالَ قُلْتُ فَإِنَّ نَاسًا يَزْعُمُونَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَنَتَ بَعْدَ الرُّكُوعِ‏.‏ فَقَالَ إِنَّمَا قَنَتَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم شَهْرًا يَدْعُو عَلَى أُنَاسٍ قَتَلُوا أُنَاسًا مِنْ أَصْحَابِهِ يُقَالُ لَهُمُ الْقُرَّاءُ‏.‏
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī]

Qunūt al-Witr

Qunūt al-Witr is not obligatory. It is a voluntary [Sunnah] supplication recited regularly in the Witr prayer and particularly recommended in the last half of Ramaḍān.
There is therefore no harm in leaving it sometimes. Qunūt al-Witr serves as a moment of deep connection to seek guidance, mercy, protection, and blessings from Allāh at the close of the night prayer. It was taught by the Prophet [peace and blessings be upon him] to Al-Ḥasan ibn ʻAlī.
We do not know that the Prophet ﷺ, persisted in Qunūt al Witri, just as we do not know that he left it sometimes and did it other times. When the Prophet ﷺ taught the Qunūt to Al-Ḥasan ibn ʻAlī, [may Allāh be pleased with him], he did not tell him to leave it out some days. This indicates that if he continues, there is nothing wrong with that. The Companions of the prophet ﷺ consequently performed Qunūt in Witr during the last half of the month. This practice [of Qunūt during the second half of Ramadan] is established through authentic reports from ʾUbayy ibn Kaʿb. When ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb gathered the people to pray Tarāwīḥ in congregation [Qiyām Ramaḍān], he instructed ʾUbayy ibn Kaʿb to lead them. When ʾUbayy ibn Kaʿb, led the people in prayer [during the time of ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb], he would leave the Qunūt sometimes.

Du'ā al-Qunūt [supplication] can be performed in several forms. The most commonly recited Du'ā for Qunūt al Witri is: Allahumma ihdini fiman hadayta, wa ‘afini fiman ‘afayta, wa tawallani fiman tawallayta, wa barik li fima a‘tayta, wa qini sharra ma qadayta, fa innaka taqdi wa la yuqda ‘alayk, wa innahu la yadhillu man walayta, , tabarakta Rabbana wa ta‘alayta.

One of the most notable mentions comes from Al-Ḥasan ibn ʻAlī [may Allāh be pleased with him], who reported that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught him the words of Qunūt al-Witri, saying:

“O Allāh, guide me among those whom You have guided. Grant me safety among those whom You have granted safety. Take me into Your charge among those whom You have taken into Your charge. Bless me in what You have given me. Protect me from the evil that You have decreed, for You decree and nothing is decreed for You. And there is no humiliation for whom You take as a ward. Blessed and Exalted are You, our Lord”
عَنْ أَبِي الْحَوْرَاءِ، قَالَ قَالَ الْحَسَنُ عَلَّمَنِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَلِمَاتٍ أَقُولُهُنَّ فِي الْوَتْرِ فِي الْقُنُوتِ ‏ "اللَّهُمَّ اهْدِنِي فِيمَنْ هَدَيْتَ وَعَافِنِي فِيمَنْ عَافَيْتَ وَتَوَلَّنِي فِيمَنْ تَوَلَّيْتَ وَبَارِكْ لِي فِيمَا أَعْطَيْتَ وَقِنِي شَرَّ مَا قَضَيْتَ إِنَّكَ تَقْضِي وَلاَ يُقْضَى عَلَيْكَ وَإِنَّهُ لاَ يَذِلُّ مَنْ وَالَيْتَ تَبَارَكْتَ رَبَّنَا وَتَعَالَيْتَ ‏ [Sunan Abī Dāwūd]

The other well-known versions of the supplications of du'ā al-Qunut that bring you closer to Allāh, are:

“اللهم إنا نستعينك ونستهديك ونستغفرك، ونؤمن بك ونتوكل عليك، ونثني عليك الخير كله، ونشكرك ولا نكفرك، ونخلع ونترك من يفجرك.”
اللهم اهدنا فيمن هديت، وعافنا فيمن عافيت، وتولنا فيمن توليت، وبارك لنا فيما أعطيت، وقنا واصرف عنا برحمتك شر ما قضيت، فإنك تقضي ولا يقضى عليك، ومن تواله لا يذل، ومن عاداك لا يعز. تباركت يا ربنا وتعاليت، لك الحمد على ما قضيت، ولك الشكر على ما أعطيتنا. نستغفرك ونتوب إليك. اللهم اقسم لنا من خشيتك ما يحول بيننا وبين معصيتك، ومن طاعتك ما تبلغنا به جنتك، ومن يقين يهون علينا مصائب الدنيا

«Oh Allāh, guide us among those whom you have guided, and grant us well-being among those whom You have granted well-being, and take us into Your charge among those whom You have taken into Your charge, and bless us in what You have given us, and save us and keep away from us with Your mercy the evil of what You have decreed. For verily You decree and non can pass decree upon You. He whom You show allegiance to is never abased. And he whom You oppose shall not be honored. Blessed are You, O Lord, and Exalted. Praise is to You for what You have decreed, and to You is thanks for what You have given us. We seek Your forgiveness, and we turn to You in repentance. O Allāh, apportion for us a fear of You, that shall come between us and disobedience of You, and obedience to You, which will allow us to attain Your Paradise, and conviction which shall make the afflictions of the world easier for us [to endure]”.»

When and how it is recited in Witr

Qunūt al-Witr is recited in the last (third) rakʿah of the Witr prayer, usually after the recitation of the surah and before or after the rukūʿ (before entering into sujūd). It is also permissible to ask for any good for this life and the Hereafter. It is recommended to pray for the Prophet ﷺ after the supplication, and for those praying behind the imam, it is recommended to say “Āmīn” to his invocations.

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