Al Qunut (or Qunut) in Islam is a special type of supplication (dua) that is made while standing during certain prayers. It is a heartfelt prayer seeking blessings, guidance, forgiveness, and protection from Allah.
Understanding Al Qunut
The word "Qunut" linguistically means "devotion," "obedience," or "the act of standing" in prayer. In Islamic terminology, it refers to a particular supplication recited during the standing portion (Qiyam) of a prayer. While it can be a general prayer, it is most commonly associated with specific rituals, primarily the Witr prayer.
When is Qunut Performed?
The practice and timing of Qunut vary among different schools of Islamic thought. The most widely recognized instances include:
- Witr Prayer: This is the most common and often emphasized occasion for Qunut. The Witr prayer is an odd-numbered prayer performed after the Isha (night) prayer. Many Muslims recite a specific Qunut supplication during the last unit (rak'ah) of the Witr prayer, typically before or after the bowing (ruk'u).
- Fajr Prayer: In some schools of thought, particularly the Shafi'i and Maliki schools, Qunut is recommended or performed during the second rak'ah of the Fajr (dawn) prayer, after rising from bowing.
- Qunut an-Nawazil (Qunut of Calamities): This form of Qunut is performed during times of widespread distress, calamity, or injustice affecting the Muslim community. It can be recited in any of the daily obligatory prayers (Salawat al-Khams) by the Imam, collectively supplicating for relief or assistance. This is a temporary Qunut, performed until the calamity passes.
Significance and Purpose
The recitation of Qunut serves several important purposes:
- Seeking Divine Aid: It is a way for a worshipper to earnestly ask Allah for guidance, sustenance, health, and protection from harm.
- Expressing Humility and Dependence: By raising hands and supplicating, a Muslim acknowledges their complete reliance on Allah.
- Seeking Forgiveness: Qunut often includes pleas for Allah's forgiveness for sins and shortcomings.
- Community Supplication: In cases of Qunut an-Nawazil, it unites the community in collective prayer for a shared cause or challenge.
Variations Across Schools of Thought
The specific wording and placement of the Qunut supplication can differ among the major schools of Islamic jurisprudence:
- Hanafi School: Qunut is typically recited before bowing (ruk'u) in the Witr prayer.
- Shafi'i School: Qunut is generally recited after rising from bowing (ruk'u) in the last rak'ah of Witr and in the Fajr prayer.
- Hanbali School: They primarily emphasize Qunut in Witr, usually after bowing.
- Maliki School: While not emphasized in daily prayers like Fajr, they do acknowledge Qunut an-Nawazil and sometimes in Witr.
These variations highlight the richness and diversity within Islamic jurisprudence while maintaining the core spiritual essence of the supplication.
Example of a Common Qunut Dua
While there are various authentic narrations, a widely known Qunut dua attributed to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) for Witr prayer is:
"O Allah, guide me among those You have guided, grant me well-being among those You have granted well-being, take me into Your care among those You have taken into Your care, bless me in what You have given me, and protect me from the evil of what You have decreed. For indeed, You decree, and none can decree against You. And indeed, none whom You have befriended shall be humiliated, nor shall one whom You have enmity be honored. Blessed are You, our Lord, and Exalted. There is no refuge from You except to You."
This supplication encapsulates the essence of Qunut: seeking comprehensive well-being, guidance, and protection from Allah.
For more detailed information, you can refer to sources like IslamQA or Muslim Hands.
