What Is the Qunut and How to Perform It?

Answered By Shaykh Dr. Muhammad Fayez Awad

Question

When is the Qunut performed, and what is its manner?

Answer

All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds. Blessings and peace be upon the Messenger of Allah, his Family, and his Companions.

Qunut in prayer is an act that fulfils the primary purpose of prayer, which is supplication (dua). It is prescribed on various occasions, with some differences among scholars regarding specific instances.

Definition of Qunut

In the Arabic language, Qunut carries several meanings, including:

– Obedience: Allah (Most High) says, “In fact, to Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and the earth—all are subject to His Will.” [Quran, 2:116]

– Prayer: Allah (Most High) says, “O  Mary! Be devout to your Lord, prostrate yourself (in prayer) and bow along with those who bow down.” [Quran, 3:43]

– Silence: As narrated by Zayd Ibn Arqam (Allah be pleased with him), “We used to talk during the prayer, a man would speak to the one next to him in prayer until the verse was revealed, ‘And stand in true devotion to Allah.’ [Quran, 2:238]. Then we were commanded to remain silent and forbidden to speak.” [Bukhari; Muslim]

– Supplication: This is the most common meaning. Imam Nawawi mentioned that Qunut refers to supplicating for good or against evil, saying, “He performed Qunut for him or against him.” [Nawawi, al-Majmu‘]

In Islamic terminology, Ibn ‘Allan defines Qunut as “a specific supplication in a specific part of the standing position during prayer.” [Ibn ‘Allan, al-Futuhat al-Rabbaniyya ‘ala al-Adhkar al-Nawawiyya]

Qunut has several occasions, and its ruling differs among scholars based on these occasions:

Qunut in Fajr Prayer

Scholars have differed regarding the ruling of performing Qunut in the Fajr prayer, with three main opinions:

Hanafi and Hanbali Schools

Qunut in the Fajr prayer is not prescribed. [Ibn Qudama, al-Mughni; Kasani, Bada’i‘ al-Sana’i‘]

They based this on the narration: “The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) performed Qunut for a month, supplicating against certain Arab tribes, and then he abandoned it.” [Bukhari; Muslim]

They argued that this indicates abrogation since abandoning it is a sign of it being abrogated.

Maliki School

Qunut in the Fajr prayer is recommended and considered a virtue. [Hattab, Mawahib al-Jalil]

They cited the narration from Anas, who said, “The Messenger of Allah continued to perform Qunut in the Fajr prayer until he departed from this world.” [Bayhaqi; Daraqutni; Ahmad]

Qunut can be performed either before or after the bowing in the second unit of prayer. If one deliberately or forgetfully omits Qunut, nothing is required. However, if one prostrates for omitting it before the Salam, the prayer becomes invalid.

Shafi‘i School

Qunut in the Fajr prayer is a Sunna. [Nawawi, al-Majmu‘]

This is supported by the narration from Anas Ibn Malik (Allah be pleased with him), who said, “The Messenger of Allah continued to perform Qunut in the Fajr prayer until he departed from this world.” [Bayhaqi; Daraqutni; Ahmad]

They stated that omitting Qunut does not invalidate the prayer, but one should perform the prostration of forgetfulness, whether the omission was intentional or due to forgetfulness. The proper place for Qunut is after rising from the bowing position in the second unit of the Fajr prayer.

This outlines the primary opinions regarding the Qunut and its practice within the Fajr prayer.

Qunut in Witr Prayer

Scholars have differed regarding the ruling of Qunut in the Witr prayer, with four main opinions:

Hanafi School

Qunut in Witr is considered necessary (wajib) throughout the entire year, and it should be performed before the bowing (ruku’). However, according to Abu Hanifa’s two companions, Abu Yusuf and Muhammad, it is regarded as Sunna throughout the year before the bowing.

Maliki School– the Well-Known View

Qunut in Witr is disliked (makruh). However, there is a narration from Imam Malik stating that Qunut can be performed in the last half of Ramadan. [ʻIllaysh, Manh al-Jalil]

Shafi’i School– the More Correct View

It is recommended (mustahabb) to perform Qunut in the Witr prayer specifically during the last half of Ramadan. If one performs Witr with a single rak‘a, they should include the Qunut in that rak‘a. If Witr is performed with more than one rak’ah, Qunut should be in the final rak’ah. [Nawawi, Rawdat al-Talibin and al-Majmu‘]

Hanbali School

Qunut in the Witr prayer is recommended throughout the entire year. It should be performed in the final rak‘a of the Witr prayer after the bowing. [Ibn Qudama, al-Mughni]

Qunut During Calamities (Qunut al-Nazila)

Scholars have also differed regarding the ruling of Qunut during calamities, with four main opinions:

Hanafi School

Qunut is not performed outside of Witr except during times of calamity, such as tribulation or disaster. In such cases, the Imam performs Qunut in the audible prayers (salat al-jahriyya). [Ibn ‘Abidin, al-Bahr al-Ra’iq wa Hashiyatuhu Minhat al-Khaliq]

Maliki School– the Well-Known View

Qunut is not performed outside of the Fajr prayer under any circumstances. [ʻIllaysh, Manh al-Jalil]

Shafi’i School – the Correct and Well-Known View among Them, and Some Malikis

If Muslims are afflicted by a calamity such as a plague, drought, harmful rain, fear of an enemy, or the capture of a scholar, they should perform Qunut in all the obligatory prayers. [Nawawi, Rawdat al-Talibin and al-Majmu‘]

This view is supported by the hadith of Ibn ‘Abbas (Allah be pleased with them both), who said: “The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace)  performed Qunut continuously for a month in the Dhuhr, ‘Asr, Maghrib, ‘Isha, and Fajr prayers after saying, ‘Sami‘ Allahu liman hamida’ in the last rak‘a, supplicating against certain Arab tribes, while those behind him would say ‘Amin.’” [Ibn Khuzayma; Hakim; Abu Dawud; Ahmad]

Hanbali School – the Most Accepted View

Qunut is disliked in all prayers except Witr unless Muslims are facing a calamity—excluding a plague (ta‘un). It is recommended for the Imam to perform Qunut in the obligatory prayers, excluding Jumu‘a, during times of calamity to seek relief from it. [Buhuti, Kashshaf al-Qina‘; Sharh Muntaha al-Iradat]

This is based on the hadith that the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) performed Qunut for a month, supplicating against a tribe from among the Arabs, and then abandoned it. [Bukhari; Muslim]

The Dua of Qunut

The Sunna provides several forms of Dua for Qunut, and among the most well-known are:

First Dua

”اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا نَسْتَعِينُكَ، وَنَسْتَغْفِرُكَ، وَنُؤْمِنُ بِكَ، وَنَتَوَكَّلُ عَلَيْكَ، وَنُثْنِي عَلَيْكَ وَلَا نَكْفُرُكَ، وَنَخْلَعُ وَنَتْرُكُ مَنْ يَكْفُرُكَ، اللَّهُمَّ إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ، وَلَكَ نُصَلِّي وَنَسْجُدُ، وَإِلَيْكَ نَسْعَى وَنَحْفِدُ، نَرْجُو رَحْمَتَكَ، وَنَخْشَى عَذَابَكَ، إِنَّ عَذَابَكَ بِالْكُفَّارِ مُلْحَقٌ.“

“O Allah, we seek Your help, we seek Your forgiveness, we believe in You, we rely on You, we praise You, and we do not deny You. We forsake and leave anyone who disobeys You. O Allah, You alone we worship, to You we pray and prostrate, and to You we strive and hasten. We hope for Your mercy, and we fear Your punishment. Indeed, Your punishment will overtake the disbelievers.” [Bayhaqi; Abu Dawud]

Second Dua

Narrated by Hasan Ibn ‘Ali (Allah be pleased with them both): “The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) taught me words to say in the Qunut of Witr:

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

‘O Allah, guide me among those whom You have guided, grant me safety among those whom You have granted safety, take me into Your care among those whom You have taken into Your care, bless me in what You have given, and protect me from the evil You have decreed. Indeed, You decree and none can decree over You. Indeed, he whom You befriend is not humiliated. Blessed are You, our Lord, and Exalted.’” [Ibn Jarud; Ibn Khuzayma; Ibn Hibban; Hakim; Abu Dawud; Tirmidhi; Ahmad]

Third Dua

Narrated by Ubayd Ibn ‘Umayr, that ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) performed Qunut after the bowing, saying:

”اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لَنَا، وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتِ، وَالْمُسْلِمِينَ وَالْمُسْلِمَاتِ، وَأَلِّفْ بَيْنَ قُلُوبِهِمْ، وَأَصْلِحْ ذَاتَ بَيْنِهِمْ، وَانْصُرْهُمْ عَلَى عَدُوِّكَ وَعَدُوِّهِمْ، اللَّهُمَّ الْعَنْ كَفَرَةَ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ الَّذِينَ يَصُدُّونَ عَنْ سَبِيلِكَ، وَيُكْذِّبُونَ رُسُلَكَ، وَيُقَاتِلُونَ أَوْلِيَاءَكَ، اللَّهُمَّ خَالِفْ بَيْنَ كَلِمَتِهِمْ، وَزَلْزِلْ أَقْدَامَهُمْ، وَأَنْزِلْ بِهِمْ بَأْسَكَ الَّذِي لَا تَرُدُّهُ عَنِ الْقَوْمِ الْمُجْرِمِينَ، بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ، اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا نَسْتَعِينُكَ وَنَسْتَغْفِرُكَ، وَنُثْنِي عَلَيْكَ وَلَا نَكْفُرُكَ، وَنَخْلَعُ وَنَتْرُكُ مَنْ يَفْجُرُكَ، بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ، اللَّهُمَّ إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ، وَلَكَ نُصَلِّي وَنَسْجُدُ، وَلَكَ نَسْعَى وَنَحْفِدُ، وَنَخْشَى عَذَابَكَ الْجِدَّ، وَنَرْجُو رَحْمَتَكَ، إِنَّ عَذَابَكَ بِالْكَافِرِينَ مُلْحِقٌ.“

“O Allah, forgive us, and the believing men and women, and the Muslim men and women. Unite their hearts, reconcile their differences, and grant them victory over Your enemies and their enemies. O Allah, curse the disbelievers among the People of the Book who divert others from Your path, deny Your Messengers, and fight against Your allies. O Allah, divide their ranks, shake their feet, and send upon them Your punishment that You do not turn back from the sinful people. In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate. O Allah, we seek Your help and ask Your forgiveness. We praise You and do not deny You. We forsake and abandon those who disobey You. In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate. O Allah, You alone we worship, to You we pray and prostrate, and to You we strive and hasten. We fear Your severe punishment, and we hope for Your mercy. Indeed, Your punishment will overtake the disbelievers.” [Bayhaqi; ‘Abd al-Razzaq; Ibn Abi Shayba]

A Muslim should strive to perform Qunut in their prayer, as following these prescribed forms of supplication aligns with the practice of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace)  and his noble Companions.

For further reading on the topic of Qunut and its rulings, see:

– Mawsu‘at al-Fiqhiyyah al-Kuwaytiyya,

– Al-Fiqh al-Islami wa Adillatuhu by Zuhayli

May Allah grant us success in all that is good. All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of all worlds.

[Shaykh] Dr. Muhammad Fayez Awad