The Qunut

The qunût is a supplication recited at the close of the ‘isha [night] stated prayer, while the worshipper is still assuming his standing position [see Fig. 4] at the third rak’a of the witr posture. The most well-known qunût is the following: -

Allâhumma ih-dina fi-man hadayta, wa a’fina fi-man a’fayta, wa tawallana fi-man tawal-layta, wa bârik lanâ fi mâ a’tayta wa qina shar-ra mâ qadyta fa-in-naka taqdî wa la yuqda ‘alayka wa in-na-hu lâ yazillu man wal-layta wa lâ-ya-‘izzu man qâdayta, nastaghfi-ruka wa natûbu ilayka wa sallal-lâhu ‘alâ nabiyinâ Muhammad wa ‘alâ âlihi wa sahbihi wa sallam. [Transliteration]

“O God! Guide us among those whom You have guided aright, and preserve us among those whom You have preserved in good health and befriend us among those whom You have befriended, and bless us in all You have granted to us; and protect us from the evil of all You have judged as evil; for surely You are the only judge, and none can judge against Your judgment. O God! We invoke your increasing blessings and favours upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon his family and upon his companions.” [Translation]

Another Recommended Style of Qunût.

The following supplication of Qunût is also commonly adopted:- Allâhmuma innâ nasta’înu-bika wa nastaghfiruka wa nu’minu bika wa natawakkalu ‘alayka wa nuthni ‘alaykal-khayra wa nashkuruka wa lâ nakfuruka wa nakhla’u wa natruku man yafjuruka. Allâhumma iyyâka n’abudu wa laka nusalli wa nasjud wa ilayka nas’a wa nahmid wa narjû rahmataka wa nakhâfu ‘azâbaka inna ‘azabaka bilkuffâri muhlik.        [Transliteration]

“O God! We beseech Your help and Your forgiveness as we are faithful to You and depend wholly upon Your Divinity. We laud You in the best. We thank You and shall never forget Your favours. We cast off and forsake him who is unmindful to You. O God! We worship none but You. To You we pray and make obeisance and to You do we flee promptly. We hope for Your mercy and we fear Your punishment for surely Your punishment overtakes the infidel.” [Translation]