Dua qunut is a supplication recited while standing in prayer, most commonly in the witr prayer. The word qunut means devotion and humble standing.
Al-Hasan ibn Ali said: “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ taught me words to say in the witr” (Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, Nasa’i).
The Dua of al-Hasan
“Allahummah-dini 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, wa la ya’izzu man ‘adayt, tabarakta Rabbana wa ta’alayt.”
Meaning: “O Allah, guide me among those You have guided, grant me wellbeing among those You have granted wellbeing, take me as an ally among those You have taken, 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. He whom You befriend is never humiliated, and he whom You oppose is never honoured. Blessed are You, our Lord, and Exalted.”
The Hanafi Qunut
The Hanafi school commonly recites: “Allahumma inna nasta’inuka wa nastaghfiruka wa nu’minu bika wa natawakkalu ‘alayka wa nuthni ‘alaykal-khayr… Allahumma iyyaka na’budu wa laka nusalli wa nasjud…” narrated from Umar.
Positions of the Schools
| School | Qunut in witr | Qunut in Fajr |
|---|---|---|
| Hanafi | Wajib, before ruku’, all year | Not regularly |
| Maliki | Not in witr generally | Recommended in Fajr, before ruku’ |
| Shafi’i | In the second half of Ramadan | Sunnah in Fajr, after ruku’ |
| Hanbali | Sunnah, after ruku’, all year | Only in calamity |
Qunut an-Nawazil
In times of calamity, the Prophet ﷺ made qunut in the obligatory prayers for a month, praying against those who killed the Quran reciters at Bi’r Ma’unah (Bukhari, Muslim).
Scholars allow this in times of crisis for the Ummah.
How to Perform It
- Hanafi: after recitation in the third rak’ah of witr, say takbir raising the hands, then recite qunut, then go to ruku’.
- Shafi’i and Hanbali: after rising from ruku’, raise hands and recite.
Raising the Hands
Many scholars recommend raising the hands in qunut, based on reports from Umar and others.
If You Don’t Know It
Recite any dua you know, or “Rabbana atina fid-dunya hasanah…” until you learn it.
The Status of Dua in Islam
The Prophet ﷺ said: “Dua is worship” (Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi), and then recited: “And your Lord says: Call upon Me; I will respond to you” (Ghafir 40:60).
Learning Dua Qunut is part of learning how to talk to Allah in the words that the Quran and the Prophet ﷺ taught.
Prophetic duas are comprehensive, brief and full of meaning, and reciting them carries the reward of following the Sunnah as well as the reward of the dua itself.
| Etiquette of dua | Evidence or explanation |
|---|---|
| Begin with praise of Allah and salawat | Tirmidhi: the Prophet ﷺ taught this order |
| Face the qiblah and raise the hands | Practice of the Prophet ﷺ |
| Be certain of a response | “Call upon Allah while certain of a response” (Tirmidhi) |
| Be persistent and do not rush | “He is answered as long as he does not become hasty” (Bukhari) |
| Eat and earn halal | The hadith of the traveller with unlawful food |
| Ask with humility and hope | Al-A’raf 7:55–56 |
Best Times for Dua
- The last third of the night, when Allah descends to the lowest heaven (Bukhari, Muslim)
- Between the adhan and iqamah (Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi)
- In sujood: “The closest a servant is to his Lord is when he is prostrating” (Muslim)
- At the end of the prayer before salam
- On Friday, especially the last hour before Maghrib
- While fasting and at iftar
- While travelling and when it rains
Understanding the Words of Dua Qunut
Reciting a dua with understanding transforms it from a ritual into a conversation.
Take each phrase of Dua Qunut, learn the meaning of its key Arabic words, and reflect on what you are asking for.
Many Arabic words in duas come from the same roots as Quranic vocabulary, so learning them also strengthens your understanding of the Quran.
If you are not yet fluent in Arabic, read the translation once before reciting, then recite in Arabic with the meaning in mind. Over time, the words will come alive in your heart.
Memorising Dua Qunut
- Listen to a recording of the dua recited correctly.
- Break it into short phrases.
- Repeat each phrase five times, then join them.
- Write it on a small card and keep it in your wallet or phone.
- Recite it at its proper time every day for a week.
- Teach it to someone else.
Duas in Your Own Language
You may also make dua in your own words and language, especially outside the prayer. Allah understands every language and knows what is in the heart.
Combine prophetic duas with personal requests, and pour out your needs, fears and hopes to Allah.
Within the obligatory prayer, scholars recommend keeping to Arabic, and many schools require it.
Why Some Duas Seem Unanswered
The Prophet ﷺ said: “There is no Muslim who makes a dua without sin or cutting of ties except that Allah gives him one of three: He answers it quickly, saves it for him in the Hereafter, or turns away from him an equivalent evil” (Ahmad). No sincere dua is wasted.
Teaching Dua Qunut to Children
Children can memorise short duas from a very young age. Recite Dua Qunut aloud at its proper time so they hear it daily, and soon they will join in.
Explain its meaning in simple words, and connect it to their experience: thanking Allah, asking Him for help or seeking His protection.
Praise them when they remember it on their own. A child who grows up talking to Allah through dua develops a personal relationship with Him that lasts a lifetime.
Duas and the Quran
Many of the most powerful duas come from the Quran itself: the duas of Adam, Ibrahim, Musa, Yunus, Zakariyya and the believers.
Learning the Quran with understanding opens a treasure of duas you can use daily. When you recite a verse containing a dua, pause and say it from your heart.
Studying the Quran with a teacher helps you recognise these duas and recite them correctly.
A Dua to Close Your Study of Dua Qunut
The Prophet ﷺ used to seek refuge in Allah from knowledge that does not benefit, and he asked Allah for beneficial knowledge every morning after Fajr: “Allahumma inni as’aluka ‘ilman nafi’an, wa rizqan tayyiban, wa ‘amalan mutaqabbala” — O Allah, I ask You for beneficial knowledge, good provision and accepted deeds (Ibn Majah).
End your study of Dua Qunut with this dua, and add the dua of Musa: “My Lord, expand for me my chest and ease for me my task” (Ta-Ha 20:25-26).
Ask Allah to make what you learned a light in your heart, a guide for your actions and a proof in your favour on the Day of Judgement.
Then thank Him for the blessing of learning, because the desire to know His religion is itself a sign of His love: “When Allah wants good for someone, He gives him understanding of the religion” (Bukhari, Muslim).
Questions to Discuss at Home
Learning becomes stronger when it is shared. After reading about Dua Qunut, sit with your family or a study partner and discuss a few simple questions.
What is the single most important idea in this topic? Which verse or hadith mentioned here moved you the most, and why?
How did the Prophet ﷺ and his Companions put this teaching into practice, and what would that look like in our own home, school or workplace today?
What mistakes or misunderstandings about this subject are common among people we know, and how can we correct them gently and with wisdom?
Finally, agree on one small, practical action that everyone will try during the coming week, and check on each other’s progress at the end of it.
Children especially benefit from this kind of conversation, because it shows them that Islamic knowledge is not only for the classroom but for everyday life, and that their questions are welcome.
A Plan for the Next Thirty Days
Knowledge grows when it is given time and attention. For the next thirty days, set aside ten to fifteen minutes each day for Dua Qunut.
In the first week, reread this guide and write down the key points in your own words.
In the second week, look up the verses and hadith mentioned and read them in a trusted translation with a short commentary.
In the third week, put one lesson into practice every day and note how it affects your worship, your character and your relationships.
In the fourth week, teach what you have learned to a family member or friend, and list the questions you still have so you can take them to a qualified teacher.
At the end of the month, thank Allah for what He taught you and choose the next topic to study.
Consistency matters more than quantity; the Prophet ﷺ said that the most beloved deeds to Allah are the most regular, even if they are small.
A small daily effort, sustained over months and years, builds a deep and lasting understanding of the religion.
A Short Reflection on Dua Qunut
Every topic in Islamic knowledge is meant to bring the heart closer to Allah. As you finish this guide on dua qunut, pause for a moment and ask yourself three honest questions.
What did I learn today that I did not know before? What is one thing I will do differently because of it?
Who in my family or community would benefit from hearing it? Writing short answers to these questions turns reading into learning and learning into action.
Return to your notes after a month and see what has changed.
The scholars of the past used to say that knowledge calls out for action; if it is answered, it stays, and if not, it departs.
Make dua that Allah makes this knowledge a proof for you and not against you, and keep learning with patience and consistency, one step at a time.
Learning Dua Qunut With a Teacher
Books and articles are a valuable start, but Islamic knowledge has always been passed from teacher to student.
The Companions learned directly from the Prophet ﷺ, the Successors learned from the Companions, and so on through the generations.
A qualified teacher can correct misunderstandings, answer the questions that arise as you read, and show how a topic connects to the rest of the religion.
When you study Dua Qunut with a teacher, you also gain the adab of learning: patience, humility, respect and the habit of acting on what you know.
If you cannot attend a local circle, a structured online class with a trusted teacher can give the same benefit, as long as the lessons are regular and the teacher follows the Quran and Sunnah as understood by the early generations.
Keeping This Lesson Alive
The scholars of the early generations used to say that whoever learns a matter and then reviews it three times will rarely forget it.
Review the main points of this guide on Dua Qunut today, again after a week, and once more after a month.
Share one benefit with someone at home or with a friend, because teaching is among the strongest ways to remember.
Link what you learned to your daily worship: recall it in your prayer, in your dhikr after salah and in your duas before sleep.
Over time, these small habits turn information into understanding, and understanding into a heart that is constantly aware of Allah, which is the meaning of ihsan: to worship Allah as if you see Him, knowing that even if you do not see Him, He sees you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is dua qunut obligatory?
The Hanafis consider qunut in witr wajib; others consider it sunnah.
When is qunut recited?
In witr, and in Fajr according to the Shafi’is and Malikis.
What if I forget qunut?
Hanafis perform sajdat as-sahw; others say the prayer is valid.
Final Thoughts
Dua Qunut is a beautiful supplication that the Prophet ﷺ taught his grandson.
Memorise it, learn your school’s practice, and stand before Allah in humble devotion every night in witr.
Learn authentic duas with a teacher.