2 supplications
Dua al-Qunut in Witr
Al-Hasan ibn ‘Ali said: the Messenger of Allah ﷺ taught me words to say in the witr prayer. The qunut can be said before or after the ruku‘ of the last rak‘ah.
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
Allahummahdini fiman hadayt, wa ‘afini fiman ‘afayt, wa tawallani fiman tawallayt, wa barik li fima a‘tayt, wa qini sharra ma qadayt, fa-innaka taqdi wa la yuqda ‘alayk, wa innahu la yadhillu man walayt, tabarakta rabbana wa ta‘alayt.
O Allah, guide me among those You have guided, grant me well-being among those You have granted well-being, take me into Your care among those You have taken into Your care, bless me in what You have given, and protect me from the evil of what You have decreed. You decree and none decrees over You. Whoever You befriend is never humiliated. Blessed are You, our Lord, and exalted.
Source: Sunan Abi Dawud; Jami‘ al-Tirmidhi; Sunan al-Nasa’i
After the witr prayer×3
سُبْحَانَ الْمَلِكِ الْقُدُّوسِ
Subhanal-malikil-quddus.
Glory be to the King, the Most Holy. Three times, raising the voice and lengthening the third.
Source: Sunan al-Nasa’i; Sunan Abi Dawud
How and when to say the qunut
The qunut is said in the last rak‘ah of witr, before or after the bowing according to the narrations; both are reported from the Companions. The Hanafi school says it before the ruku‘ every night of the year, while the Shafi‘i school says it in the second half of Ramadan, and the Hanbali school after the ruku‘ all year round. The worshipper raises the hands, and the congregation says “amin” behind the imam.
The Sunnah is to recite Surah al-A‘la, al-Kafirun and al-Ikhlas in a three-rak‘ah witr (an-Nasa’i), and to say “Subhanal-Malikil-Quddus” three times after it, raising the voice on the third.
Meaning of the qunut
The qunut taught to al-Hasan ibn ‘Ali gathers the most important requests: guidance, well-being, protection, blessing in what Allah gives and protection from what He decrees of harm. It ends by affirming that whoever Allah protects is never humiliated, and whoever He takes as an enemy is never honoured. It reminds the believer each night that only Allah truly decides.
The qunut may be shortened or lengthened, and the imam may add du‘as for the believers. The Prophet ﷺ made qunut in times of calamity for the oppressed believers (al-Bukhari, Muslim), which is why imams add such prayers in difficult times.
The qunut of calamities
The Prophet ﷺ made qunut in times of calamity, praying for the oppressed believers (al-Bukhari, Muslim). This is why imams add du‘as for oppressed Muslims in hard times, an expression of the mercy of the community towards its members.
Practical tips
- Memorise the qunut line by line over a week.
- Pray witr before sleeping if you rarely wake at night.
- Recite al-A‘la, al-Kafirun and al-Ikhlas in a three-rak‘ah witr.
- Say “Subhanal-Malikil-Quddus” three times after it.
- In Ramadan, follow the imam’s qunut and say “amin”.
Dua al-Qunut in Witr: questions and answers
Can I read the qunut from a paper or phone?
In voluntary prayers like the witr, many scholars allow it for someone who has not yet memorised it.
Is the qunut obligatory in witr?
No, it is a Sunnah; the witr is valid without it.