Dua Qunoot (Supplication of Standing) is a beautiful prayer recited during the Witr prayer. It is a humble request to Allah for guidance, forgiveness, and protection.
While there are different versions, the most common one recited in the Hanafi school of thought (and others) is widely memorized by Muslims around the world.
Dua Qunoot - Full Arabic Text
اَللَّهُمَّ إنا نَسْتَعِينُكَ وَنَسْتَغْفِرُكَ وَنُؤْمِنُ بِكَ وَنَتَوَكَّلُ عَلَيْكَ وَنُثْنِئْ عَلَيْكَ الخَيْرَ وَنَشْكُرُكَ وَلَا نَكْفُرُكَ وَنَخْلَعُ وَنَتْرُكُ مَنْ يَفْجُرُكَ اَللَّهُمَّ إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَلَكَ نُصَلِّئ وَنَسْجُدُ وَإِلَيْكَ نَسْعَى وَنَحْفِدُ وَنَرْجُو رَحْمَتَكَ وَنَخْشَى عَذَابَكَ إِنَّ عَذَابَكَ بِالكُفَّارِ مُلْحَقٌ
Transliteration
Allahumma inna nasta-eenuka wa nastaghfiruka wa nu'minu bika wa natawakkalu alaika wa nuthne alaikal khair, wa nashkuruka wala nakfuruka wa nakhla-u wa n atruku mai yafjuruka. Allahumma iyyaka na'budu wa laka nusalli wa nasjudu wa ilaika nas'a wa nahfidu wa narju rahmataka wa nakhsha azabaka inna azabaka bil kuffari mulhiq.
English Translation
"O Allah! We invoke Your help, and we ask Your forgiveness, and we believe in You, and we trust in You, and we praise You, in the best manner. We thank You and we are not ungrateful to You, and we cast off and forsake him who disobeys You."
"O Allah! You alone do we worship, and to You we pray and prostrate, and to You we fly and we are quick, and we hope for Your Mercy, and we fear Your Punishment. Without doubt, Your punishment overtakes the unbelievers."
When to Recite (Witr Prayer)
Dua Qunoot is recited in the last Rakat of the Witr prayer (usually performed after Isha).
- For Hanafis: Recited before the Ruku (bowing). After finishing the recitation of Quran in the 3rd Rakat, raise hands for Takbeer ("Allahu Akbar"), fold them again, recite Dua Qunoot, and then go into Ruku.
- For Shafi'is/Others: Often recited after the Ruku (standing up from bowing), known as Qunoot Nazilah, mainly in Fajr or times of calamity.
Memorization Tips
- Two Parts: Notice the Dua has two main sections. Part 1 is asking for help (Nasta-eenuka). Part 2 is about worship (Iyyaka na'budu). Memorize one part at a time.
- Audio Loop: Listen to it repeatedly while commuting.
- Prayer Practice: Read it from a paper (if valid in your Madhab during voluntary prayers) or repeat it immediately after prayer to solidify it.
What if I Don't Know It Yet?
If you have not memorized Dua Qunoot yet, many scholars permit reciting a shorter Dua in its place until you learn it, such as:
"Rabbana atina fid-dunya hasanatan wa fil 'akhirati hasanatan waqina 'adhaban-nar."
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