Dua e Qunoot also referred to as Dua Qunoot or Witr Dua is a special supplication taught by our Prophet (ﷺ) in his Hadith. It is often recited during standing in the last rak’ah of Witr prayer before bowing.
It is not mandatory that Qunoot be recited in the Witr prayer. If you go to any masjid across the globe you may have noticed the Imam’s reciting Duas which come straight from the heart that includes different hadith and quranic Duas.
But it is the Sunnah or mustahabb (recommended) to recite the Qunoot during Witr based on the hadith.
Table of Contents
Dua e Qunoot Meaning
The word Dua (دعاء) is the Arabic word used for “supplication”. The word Qunoot can translate to “being obedient”, Meaning surrendering to Allah, Acknowledgment of servitude, and performing acts of obedience that do not involve disobedience. While Dua e Qunoot means a certain dua said in tough times.
Dua e Qunoot versions
A number of wordings have been narrated for Duaa’ al-Qunoot in Witr prayer, including the following:
1st Dua e Qunoot in Arabic, English & Transliteration
Dua Qunoot according to Shafi (may Allah have mercy on him) is:
Transliteration
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
Pronounciation
The following video we have made will help you learn the proper pronunciation Dua word by word:
in Arabic
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
Meaning
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
Related:
2nd Dua Qunoot in Arabic, English & Transliteration
Dua Qunoot according to Hanafi (may Allah have mercy on him) is :
Transliteration
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, [wa la yaizzu man adayt], tabarakta Rabbana wa ta’alait.
in Arabic
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
Meaning
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, [and none whom You have taken as an enemy shall taste glory], blessed are You our Lord and Exalted
Which Dua Qunoot is correct
According to Ibn Uqayl al-Hanbali (may Allah have mercy on him) What is mustahabb in his view is that which was narrated by al-Hasan ibn ‘Ali from the Prophet (ﷺ) “Allahumma ihdini feeman hadayt”. But added If one adds to that the words narrated from ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), “Allahumma inna nasta‘eenuka…”, there is nothing wrong with that.
When to Recite Dua e Qunoot
Scholars agree that Dua e Qunoot is can be recited at last Rakat in witr Prayer after Ruku or bowing saying (Rabbana lakal hamd). You would then raise your hands for Dua and recite the qunot. After finishing the imam would say takbeer, “allahu akbar” and go into sujud. But if it has done before going into the ruku is acceptable as well.
Regarding reciting The Qunut in other prayers like Fajr, Scholars disagreed on whether it is Sunnah or not.
Is Dua Qunoot from the Quran?
No. Dua Qunoot is not from the Quran — its full wording is not preserved as a Quranic verse. It is from the authentic Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ. He taught it to his grandson Hasan ibn Ali (RA) to recite during the witr prayer (Sunan Abi Dawud 1425, Jami at-Tirmidhi 464 — graded sahih).
When is Dua Qunoot recited?
There are two types: Qunoot al-Witr is recited in the witr prayer after the night prayer (most commonly after Isha or during tahajjud), and is the standard daily Qunoot. Qunoot al-Nazilah is recited only during a calamity affecting the Muslim Ummah (war, oppression, plague) and is added to the second rakah of any of the five daily prayers after rising from ruku.
Should you raise hands during Dua Qunoot?
Yes, the majority of scholars (Hanafis, Shafi’is, Hanbalis) hold that the hands should be raised at chest level during Dua Qunoot, similar to the position of dua outside prayer. This is supported by reports from Umar ibn al-Khattab (RA) raising his hands during Qunoot, narrated in al-Bayhaqi. The Maliki school is the exception — they do not raise the hands.
Can the imam say Dua Qunoot in jamaa, and what should followers say?
Yes. When the imam recites Dua Qunoot aloud in congregation, the followers say “Ameen” after each request, the same way Ameen is said after Surah al-Fatihah. The imam should use the plural form (“ihdina” not “ihdini,” “a’fina” not “a’fini”) because he is supplicating on behalf of the whole congregation.
Is Dua Qunoot recited before or after the ruku in witr?
Both are reported in authentic Sunnah, and both are valid. Reciting Qunoot before going into ruku (after Surah al-Fatihah and the surah) is the position of the Hanafis. Reciting it after rising from ruku in the final rakah is the position of the Shafi’is, Hanbalis, and is supported by the hadith of Anas ibn Malik on Qunoot al-Nazilah. Both positions follow the Sunnah; pick whichever your local masjid follows.
What is the wording of Dua Qunoot the Prophet ﷺ taught Hasan?
Allahumma-hdini 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. Translation: “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 given, protect me from the evil You have decreed — for You decree and none can decree against You. He whom You befriend is never humiliated, and he whom You oppose is never honored. Blessed are You, our Lord, and Exalted.”
The second dua qunoot has wrong transliteration,please check and fix it the last 2nd line is missing.”wa la ya izzu man adai”
Jazāk Allāhu Khayran Misbahul for your feedback. we have added the missing sentence in transliteration and meaning. Keep in mind that this part is an extra and not saying it doesn’t affect the Dua.