Du'a al-Qunut (The Qunut Supplication in Witr)
The special supplication recited during the last rak'ah of the Witr prayer.
Du'a al-Qunut is the special supplication recited in the standing position during the last rak'ah of the Witr prayer (or in certain situations in the Fajr prayer). It is based on narrations from the Prophet (peace be upon him), who taught it to his grandson al-Hasan ibn Ali.
The most well-known version reads: "Allahumma ihdini fiman hadayt, wa 'afini fiman 'afayt, wa tawallani fiman tawallayt..." (O Allah, guide me among those You have guided, and grant me well-being among those You have granted well-being, and take charge of me among those You have taken charge of...). This du'a is narrated in Sunan Abu Dawud and Sunan al-Tirmidhi.
The Hanafi school recites qunut in Witr throughout the year, while the Shafi'i school primarily recites qunut in the Fajr prayer and in Witr during the last half of Ramadan. The Maliki school has qunut only in Fajr, and the Hanbali school has qunut in Witr only during the last half of Ramadan. There is also a "qunut al-nazilah" (calamity qunut), which is recited during special circumstances such as war or natural disasters.
Related terms
Rak'ah (Prayer Cycle)
A single cycle of movements and recitations in the Islamic prayer.
Akhirah (The Hereafter)
Life after death — the eternal life that prayer prepares the believer for.
Tasbihat al-Zahra (Fatimah's Tasbih)
A special dhikr consisting of 34+33+33 repetitions, taught by the Prophet to his daughter Fatimah.
Hijri (Islamic Calendar)
The Islamic lunar calendar, which begins with the Prophet's migration to Medina.
Ayat al-Kursi (The Throne Verse)
The mighty verse from Surah Al-Baqarah (2:255), describing Allah's omnipotence.
Salat al-Ghufaylah (Prayer Between Maghrib and Isha)
A specially recommended prayer prayed between Maghrib and Isha in Shia Islam.