The hadith mentions a unique prayer known as dua qunoot, which is also sometimes called dua-e-qunoot or qunut dua. It is well-known for being associated with the Witr salah and is frequently performed.
But those who follow the Shafi’i school might be aware that the qunoot dua is said during Salatul Fajr prayer on a daily basis. And there are additional roles at other institutions.
Thus, whose perspective is correct?
It is accurate to say that the Qunut dua can be said at any time. Numerous reliable hadith narrations mention the Prophet (ﷺ) saying the Qunut in the morning at Fajr, evening at Maghrib, and evening at Isha. 1, 2, 3
It is no longer required to recite qunut during the Witr Salah. If you visit any masjid in the world, you’ve probably seen the Imams performing heartfelt duas, which can comprise various hadith and Quranic duas.
However, based on hadith, it is the Sunnah or mustahabb (recommended) to recite the Qunoot during Witr.
THE QUNOOT DUA IN ARABIC:
Narrated by Al-Hasan ibn Ali (who is the grandson of Muhammad (ﷺ)) he said he was taught by the Prophet (ﷺ) to say the Qunoot dua in Arabic as follows:
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 وَلاَ يَعِزُّ مَنْ عَادَيْتَ تَبَارَكْتَ رَبَّنَا وَتَعَالَيْتَ
TRANSLITERATION DUA-e-QUNOOT Or QUNOOT DUA
Allahumma ihdini feeman hadayt, wa a’fini fiman afait, wa tawallani fiman tawallait, wa barik Li fima atait, wa qini sharra ma qadait, fa Innaka taqdi wa la yuqda Alaik, wa innahu la yadhillu man walait, tabarakta Rabbana wa ta’alait.
ENGLISH TRANSLATION DUA-e-QUNOOT Or QUNOOT DUA
“O Allah guide me among those You have guided, pardon me among those You have pardoned, befriend me among those You have befriended, bless me in what You have granted, and save me from the evil that You decreed. Indeed You decree, and none can pass decree, and none can pass decree upon You, indeed he is not humiliated whom You have befriended, blessed are You our Lord and Exalted.”
Hanafi frequently recite the Dua-E-Qunot in its second rendition.
اَللَّهُمَّ إنا نَسْتَعِينُكَ وَنَسْتَغْفِرُكَ وَنُؤْمِنُ بِكَ وَنَتَوَكَّلُ عَلَيْكَ وَنُثْنِئْ عَلَيْكَ الخَيْرَ وَنَشْكُرُكَ وَلَا نَكْفُرُكَ وَنَخْلَعُ وَنَتْرُكُ مَنْ ئَّفْجُرُكَ اَللَّهُمَّ إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَلَكَ نُصَلِّئ وَنَسْجُدُ وَإِلَيْكَ نَسْعأئ وَنَحْفِدُ وَنَرْجُو رَحْمَتَكَ وَنَخْشآئ عَذَابَكَ إِنَّ عَذَابَكَ بِالكُفَّارِ مُلْحَقٌ
TRANSLITERATION DUA-e-QUNOOT Or QUNOOT DUA (Hanafi)
Allahumma inna nasta-eenoka wa nastaghfiruka wa nu’minu bika wa natawakkalu alaika wa nusni alaikal khair, wa nashkuruka wala nakfuruka wa nakhla-oo wa natruku mai yafjuruka, Allah humma iyyaka na’budu wa laka nusalli wa nasjud wa ilaika nas aaa wa nahfizu wa narju rahma taka wa nakhshaa azaabaka inna azaabaka bil kuffari mulhik
ENGLISH TRANSLATION DUA-e-QUNOOT Or QUNOOT DUA (Hanfi)
O Allah! We invoke you for help, and beg for forgiveness, and we believe in you and have trust in you and we praise you, in the best way we can; and we thank you and we are not ungrateful to you, and we forsake and turn away from the one who disobeys you. O Allah! We worship you and prostrate ourselves before you, and we hasten towards you and serve you, and we hope to receive your mercy and we dread your torment. Surely, the disbelievers shall incur your torment.
QUNOOT DUAL HADITH SOURCES:
[1] Muhammad bin Seereen recounts the story of Qunoot in Fajr: Anas was asked, “Did the Prophet (ﷺ) recite Qunut in the Fajr prayer?” Anas gave a positive response. One further question was posed to him: “Did he recite Qunut before bowing?” “He recited Qunut after bowing for some time (for one month),” Anas retorted. Al-Bukhari Sahih 1001
[2] Qunoot during Maghrib and Subh prayers “The Prophet (S) would perform the Qunut in the Subh and Maghrib prayers,” according to the narration of Al-Bara bin Azib. [Darussalam] Sahih (Jami At-Tirmidhi 401
[/3] Qunoot in the third rakat of Witr – According to a story told by Ubayy bin Ka’b, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to pray with three rak’ahs during witr. He would say, “Glorify the Name of Your Lord, the Most High,” “Say, O you disbelievers!” in the second, and “Say, He is Allah, (the) One” in the third. Prior to bowing, he would recite the Qunut three times, lengthening the syllables the last time, and then utter Subhanal-Malikil-Quddus (Glory be to the Sovereign, the Most Holy). Sunan an-Nasa’i, Sahih (Darussalam) 1699
[4] Abu Dawud stated in Qunnot in Witr: “This version of tradition is not well known.” It is unlikely that Hafs learned about this practice from a different source than Mis’ar. According to Abu Dawud, during the latter part of Ramadan, Ubayy (b. Ka’b) would say the supplication (in the witr). Al-Albani’s Sahih Sunan Abi Dawud
[5] in 1427 The following is the source for the Qunoot recitation: Al-Hasan ibn Ali recounted: I say some phrases that I learned from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) at the witr. (Ibn Jawwas’ version has: I utter them in the witr’s supplication.) They were as follows: “O Allah, lead me among those You have led, give me protection among those You have given protection to, take charge of me among those You have taken charge of, bless me in what Thou hast given, and protect me from the evil of that which Thou hast decreed, for Thou doest decree, and nothing is decreed for Thee. The person you choose as a friend is not debased. O Lord, thou art exalted and blessed. Sunan Abi Dawud, Sahih (Al-Albani) 1425
[6] Qunoot Before or After Ruku: It was reported that Anas bin Malik stated, “We used to recite Qunut before Ruku’ and afterwards,” in response to a question regarding Qunut in the Subh prayer. Hasan Sunan Ibn Majah 1183 (Darussalam)
FQA
CAN THE QUNOOT DUA BE FOUND IN THE QURAN?
No, the dua e-qunoot is not mentioned in the Qur’an it is the Sunnah of the Prophet (ﷺ).