What is dua qunoot?
Dua qunoot is a special supplication said while standing in prayer, most often in the last rak'ah of witr. The best-known version begins "Allahumma ihdini fiman hadayt" (O Allah, guide me among those You have guided). Schools differ on when exactly to say it, and it is a sunnah, not an obligation.
What "qunoot" means
Qunoot means devotion and humble standing before Allah. In prayer, it refers to a dua you make while standing, either before going into ruku' or after rising from it, with your hands raised. It is most famous in the witr prayer, the odd-numbered prayer after 'Isha.
The words of dua qunoot
The Prophet ﷺ taught his grandson al-Hasan ibn 'Ali these words to say in witr (Sunan Abi Dawud 1425, Jami' at-Tirmidhi 464):
"Allahumma ihdini 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."
Meaning: "O Allah, guide me among those You have guided, grant me well-being among those You have granted well-being, take care of me among those You take care of, bless me in what You have given, and protect me from the evil of what You have decreed. You decree and none can decree over You. The one You befriend is never humiliated. Blessed are You, our Lord, and Exalted."
Hanafis often use another version starting "Allahumma inna nasta'inuka…". Both are fine.
When is it said? The schools differ
- Hanafi: in witr all year, before ruku'. A takbir is said with raised hands before it.
- Hanbali: in witr all year, usually after rising from ruku'.
- Shafi'i: in the second rak'ah of Fajr after ruku', and in witr in the second half of Ramadan.
- Maliki: in Fajr, quietly, usually before ruku'.
There is also qunoot an-nazilah: in times of disaster or persecution, the Prophet ﷺ made qunoot in the obligatory prayers for a period of time, praying for the oppressed. Imams sometimes do this today during wars or crises.
What if I don't know it yet?
Don't worry. Qunoot is sunnah, so your witr is valid without it. Until you've memorised it, you can say any short dua, such as "Rabbana atina fid-dunya hasanah…", or read it from a card. See Can I read my duas from my phone or a paper? When praying behind an imam who recites qunoot aloud, simply say "Ameen". See Do I have to say "Ameen" after every dua? and Do I have to raise my hands when making dua?
- Dua qunoot is a dua said standing in prayer, mainly in witr.
- The classic version, "Allahumma ihdini fiman hadayt", was taught to al-Hasan (Sunan Abi Dawud 1425).
- Schools differ on timing: witr or Fajr, before or after ruku'.
- It's sunnah; your prayer is valid without it while you learn.
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