Qunut (Supplication with Raised Hands)

Qunut (Arabic: قنوت) is a du'a (supplication) recited during the Islamic prayer with the hands raised before the face. In Shia Islam, qunut is a strongly recommended (mustahab) part of all obligatory and voluntary prayers, performed in the second rak'ah after the recitation of Surah Al-Fatiha and the additional surah, before going into ruku.

According to Shia narrations, Imam al-Sadiq (peace be upon him) said: "Qunut is in all prayers, obligatory and voluntary, in the second rak'ah before ruku" (Al-Kafi by Shaykh al-Kulayni, vol. 3). This differs from some Sunni schools of law that only recommend qunut in specific prayers such as Fajr or Witr.

During qunut, one may recite any du'a, but there are several recommended formulations from Ahl al-Bayt. One of the most well-known is: "Rabbana atina fid-dunya hasanatan wa fil-akhirati hasanatan wa qina adhab an-nar" (Our Lord, give us good in this world and good in the hereafter, and protect us from the punishment of the Fire).

Shia scholars emphasize that qunut is a moment of deep personal connection with Allah. Imam Ali al-Ridha (peace be upon him) said: "Qunut is the closest a servant is to his Lord" (Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 82). Although it is recommended to recite Arabic du'as, it is also permitted to pray in one's own language during qunut, making it a particularly personal moment in the prayer.