Dua Qunoot for Witr Prayer
Dua Qunoot (دُعَاءُ القُنُوت) is the supplication recited during Witr prayer. It is a beautiful prayer seeking Allah's guidance, protection, and blessings.
What is Dua Qunoot?
Dua Qunoot (دُعَاءُ القُنُوت) is a special supplication recited while standing in the last rakah of the Witr prayer, after the bowing (ruku') in the Hanafi madhhab or before the ruku' in the Shafi'i, Hanbali and Maliki schools. The word qunoot linguistically means humble obedience and prolonged standing in worship, and the dua itself is the most well-known of several qunoot supplications taught by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to his grandson al-Hasan ibn Ali (RA). It is a comprehensive prayer combining seeking guidance, asking for pardon, requesting protection, and affirming Allah's exclusive right to bless or to withhold.
The Arabic Text of Dua Qunoot
اللَّهُمَّ اهْدِنِي فِيمَنْ هَدَيْتَ، وَعَافِنِي فِيمَنْ عَافَيْتَ، وَتَوَلَّنِي فِيمَنْ تَوَلَّيْتَ، وَبَارِكْ لِي فِيمَا أَعْطَيْتَ، وَقِنِي شَرَّ مَا قَضَيْتَ، إِنَّكَ تَقْضِي وَلَا يُقْضَى عَلَيْكَ، وَإِنَّهُ لَا يَذِلُّ مَنْ وَالَيْتَ، وَلَا يَعِزُّ مَنْ عَادَيْتَ، تَبَارَكْتَ رَبَّنَا وَتَعَالَيْتَ.
Transliteration: Allahumma ihdini fiman hadayt, wa 'afini fiman 'afayt, wa tawallani fiman tawallayt, wa barik li fima a'tayt, wa qini sharra ma qadayt, 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, grant me well-being among those You have granted well-being, take me as Your ally among those You have taken as Your allies, bless me in what You have bestowed, and protect me from the evil of what You have decreed. For verily You decree and none can decree against You. Verily, the one whom You befriend is never humiliated, and the one whom You oppose is never honoured. Blessed are You, our Lord, and Exalted are You."
Source: Sunan Abu Dawud 1425; Sunan al-Tirmidhi 464 (graded sahih); Sunan al-Nasa'i 1746. Al-Hasan ibn Ali (RA) said: "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ taught me these words to say in the Witr." Some narrations add at the end: "wa sallallahu 'ala an-Nabiyy" ("and may Allah send blessings upon the Prophet").
When to Recite Dua Qunoot in Witr
In the Hanafi school, Witr is three rakahs prayed jointly with one tasleem; the qunoot is recited in the third rakah after the recitation and before the ruku', with hands raised and a soft takbir before beginning. The Shafi'i, Hanbali and Maliki madhahib also place the qunoot in Witr, generally after the ruku' in the standing position, and many Hanbalis hold it as Sunnah throughout the year while others recommend it specifically in the second half of Ramadan. Whichever position one follows, leaving the qunoot does not invalidate Witr — the prayer remains valid and the act is recommended (Sunnah), not obligatory. If one forgets the qunoot, the sujud al-sahw (prostration of forgetfulness) is recommended in the Hanafi madhhab.
Meaning and Reflection on the Words
Every clause of Dua Qunoot is a complete request packed into a few words. "Guide me among those You have guided" places the worshipper in the company of the previously guided — the prophets, the truthful, the martyrs and the righteous. "Grant me well-being" ('afiyah) is a request for protection from sickness, trial and sin together; the Prophet ﷺ said that no one is given anything better than 'afiyah after certainty of faith (Sunan al-Tirmidhi 3558). "Take me as Your ally" is a plea to be among the awliya' Allah mentioned in Surah Yunus 10:62. The closing affirmation — that no one Allah befriends is ever humiliated and no one He opposes is ever honoured — anchors the worshipper in absolute reliance on Him alone, no matter what the world looks like.
Common Questions About Dua Qunoot
What if I don't have the dua memorised yet?
Recite what you remember, and supplement with any other authentic supplication you know. Many scholars allow reciting Surah al-Fatihah or Allahumma rabbana atina fi'd-dunya hasanah while you are learning the full text. Keep practising — most Muslims memorise the Qunoot within a few weeks of consistent reading.
Is Qunoot al-Nazilah different from Qunoot al-Witr?
Yes. Qunoot al-Nazilah is a separate supplication recited during calamity in the fard prayers — typically in Fajr — asking Allah to lift hardship from the Muslims. The Witr Qunoot above is recited regularly in the Witr prayer and is not tied to any particular crisis.
Should I raise my hands during the dua?
The Hanafi position is to raise the hands at the takbir before Qunoot and then keep them folded. The majority of the other madhahib hold that the hands are raised throughout the dua, with the palms facing upward, in the manner of supplication. Both practices are reported from the Companions and are valid.
Can I add my own duas?
Yes. After the established text, scholars permit adding extra dua — especially during the second half of Ramadan in qiyam al-layl — provided the additions are sincere, in Arabic where possible, and do not contradict the Sunnah.