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Dua Qunoot Dua Qunoot

Dua Qunoot Dua Qunoot — sourced from authentic Quran and hadith references.

The most common form of Duʿāʾ al-Qunūt taught by the Prophet ﷺ is the supplication for protection, guidance, and seeking refuge, often recited during the Witr prayer. While authenticity of various wordings is subject to scholarly grading, the well-known version transmitted from al-Ḥasan ibn ʿAlī is widely practiced and recorded in the major hadith collections.

The Meaning and Usage of Qunūt

The term “qunūt” linguistically means obedience, humility, and standing in devotion. In Islamic terminology, it refers to a specific supplication recited while standing, most commonly in the Witr prayer. The Prophet ﷺ would recite Duʿāʾ al-Qunūt during the Witr prayer, and the most famous transmitted wording comes from his grandson, al-Ḥasan ibn ʿAlī.

The core of this dua revolves around seeking guidance, forgiveness, protection from evil, and expressing reliance upon Allah. It is not a fixed obligatory formula; rather, the Prophet ﷺ taught different wordings depending on circumstances.

The Main Authentic Wording

The most widespread version of Duʿāʾ al-Qunūt is narrated by al-Ḥasan ibn ʿAlī, who said: “The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) taught me some words to say in the Witr prayer.” The hadith is recorded in the four Sunan collections and is considered ḥasan (good) by scholars.

اللَّهُمَّ اهْدِنِي فِيمَنْ هَدَيْتَ، وَعَافِنِي فِيمَنْ عَافَيْتَ، وَتَوَلَّنِي فِيمَنْ تَوَلَّيْتَ، وَبَارِكْ لِي فِيمَا أَعْطَيْتَ، وَقِنِي شَرَّ مَا قَضَيْتَ، فَإِنَّكَ تَقْضِي وَلاَ يُقْضَى عَلَيْكَ، وَإِنَّهُ لاَ يَذِلُّ مَنْ وَالَيْتَ، تَبَارَكْتَ رَبَّنَا وَتَعَالَيْتَ

Allāhumma ihdinī fīman hadayt, wa ʿāfinī fīman ʿāfayt, wa tawallanī fīman tawallayt, wa bārik lī fīmā aʿṭayt, wa qinī sharra mā qaḍayt, fa innaka taqḍī wa lā yuqḍā ʿalayk, wa innahu lā yadhillu man wālayt, tabārakta rabbanā wa taʿālayt.

Translation: “O Allah, guide me among those whom You have guided, grant me well-being among those whom You have granted well-being, take me into Your charge among those whom You have taken into Your charge, bless me in what You have given me, and protect me from the evil of what You have decreed. For indeed You decree and none can decree over You. Indeed, he whom You support is never humiliated. Blessed are You, our Lord, and Exalted.”

Sunan Abi Dawud · Witr Prayer 1425

When and How to Recite It

Duʿāʾ al-Qunūt is recited in the last rakʿah of the Witr prayer after rising from rukūʿ (bowing). The worshipper raises the hands while reciting it. It is recommended but not obligatory. The Prophet ﷺ also recited qunūt in the Fajr prayer during times of calamity, but the regular practice was in Witr.

Scholars differ on whether qunūt is prescribed in all Witr prayers year-round or only in the last half of Ramaḍān. The Ḥanafī school prescribes it year-round in Witr, while the Shāfiʿī school prescribes it in the last half of Ramaḍān. The evidence for constant recitation is based on the hadith of al-Ḥasan ibn ʿAlī, which shows the Prophet ﷺ taught it as a regular practice.

Other Authentic Wordings

The Prophet ﷺ also taught alternative supplications for qunūt. One such version is the supplication for refuge from punishment, recorded in authentic narrations:

اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا نَسْتَعِينُكَ وَنَسْتَغْفِرُكَ وَنُؤْمِنُ بِكَ وَنَتَوَكَّلُ عَلَيْكَ وَنُثْنِي عَلَيْكَ الْخَيْرَ وَلَا نَكْفُرُكَ اللَّهُمَّ إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَلَكَ نُصَلِّي وَنَسْجُدُ وَإِلَيْكَ نَسْعَى وَنَحْفِدُ نَرْجُو رَحْمَتَكَ وَنَخْشَى عَذَابَكَ إِنَّ عَذَابَكَ بِالْكُفَّارِ مُلْحِقٌ

Allāhumma innā nastaʿīnuka wa nastaghfiruka wa nuʼminu bika wa natawakkalu ʿalayka wa nuthnī ʿalayka al-khayra wa lā nakfuruk. Allāhumma iyyāka naʿbudu wa laka nuṣallī wa nasjudu wa ilayka nasʿā wa naḥfid, narjū raḥmataka wa nakhshā ʿadhābaka, inna ʿadhābaka bil-kuffāri mulḥiq.

This version was taught by the Prophet ﷺ and is used in the qunūt of the Witr prayer. It emphasizes seeking help, forgiveness, and fearing Allah’s punishment.

Sunan an-Nasa'i · Qiyam al-Layl 1745

Virtues and Benefits

Reciting Duʿāʾ al-Qunūt embodies profound spiritual benefits. It teaches the believer to rely solely on Allah for guidance and protection. The supplication “guide me among those whom You have guided” acknowledges that true guidance comes only from Allah. Likewise, “protect me from the evil of what You have decreed” submits to divine predestination while seeking refuge from its harmful outcomes.

The statement “indeed, he whom You support is never humiliated” instills confidence in Allah’s support, encouraging the believer to remain steadfast. This supplication strengthens tawakkul (trust in Allah) and reminds the servant of their complete dependence on the Creator.

It also serves as a regular spiritual check, aligning the heart with divine will and reinforcing the practice of duʿāʾ as an act of worship in itself.

Common Mistakes and Corrections

A common error is reciting Duʿāʾ al-Qunūt in a rushed, inattentive manner, reducing it to mere words. The Prophet ﷺ taught it as a heartfelt plea, so it should be recited with presence of mind and sincerity. Another mistake is adding extra supplications that have no basis, such as lengthy poetic compositions. While duʿāʾ is general, the transmitted wording carries specific blessings.

Some people also confuse the qunūt of Witr with the qunūt of calamity (qunūt al-nāzilah). The latter is recited in any obligatory prayer during a public calamity and uses different wording, such as “Allāhumma anʿala bihim sinīnā…” (O Allah, send upon them years of drought…). The qunūt of Witr is a regular, personal supplication.

Sources