(Chapter 5a contd.)

DU'A QUNUT IN WITR PRAYER

Reading du'a Qunut in the last rakat of the Witr Prayer is a proven practice of Prophet Muhammad (saw) and it can be read before ruku or after ruku.

a) Someone who wants to read Qunut before Ruku he should read it after he has finished reciting surah Fatihah and chapter of the Holy Quran. While reciting du'a Qunut a person can cup his hands in front of him or he can leave then folded.

b) Someone who wants to read dua Qunut after the ruku he can read it with his hands cupped in front of him or he can let his hands rest at his sides. Saying dada after the ruku and cupping hands in front is preferable as this was the practice of Prophet Muhammad (saw).

Some Fuqas insist that reading du'a Qunut is compulsory in the last rakat of the Witr and some others say it is compulsory in the last rakat of the Fajr prayer, but if you study hadiths carefully you will find that it is not compulsory either in the Witr or in the Fajr prayer. Therefore, if a person leaves du'a Qunut in his wits prayer his prayer will not be deficient. But it is preferable to read it. Also, Du'a Qunut can be read in any prayer.

TEXT OF DU'A QUNUT

Hasan bin Ali (ra) said that the Messenger of Allah (saw) taught me the words which I should say in the du'a of witr :-

"Allah hum mahdinee feeman hadayta, Wa'afinee feeman''afayta, wata wal-lanee feeman tawal-layta, wa barik lee feema a'taita,waqinee shar-ra ma qadayta, fa-innaka taqdee wala yuqda'alayk, innahu la Yazil-lu ma'nw-walayt, Walaa ya'iz-zu man 'adaita,tabarakta rabbana wata alaita, nastaghfruka wanatubu ilayka, Wasal-lal lahu alan-nabee." (Abu Dawud, Nisai, Ibn Majah)

"Oh Allah, make me among those whom you have guided, and make me among those whom you have saved, and make me among those whom you have chosen, and bless whatever you have given me, and protect me from the evil which you have decreed; verily, you decide the things and nobody can decide against you; surely the person you befriended can't be disgraced, and the person! you opposed can't be honored. You are blessed, our Lord, and exalted, we ask you your forgiveness and turn to you. Peace and mercy of Allah be upon the Prophet."

"Allah humma inna nasta'eenuka wa nastaghfiruka wa nu'minu bika wa natawak-kalu 'alayka wa nuthnee 'alayk-al khayr. Wa nashkuruka wa la nakfuruka wa nakhla'u wa natruku man-y yafjurka. Allah humma iyyaka na'budu wa laka nusal-lee wa nasjudu wa ilayka nas'aa wa nahfidu wa narju rahmataka wa nakhsha 'azabaka inna 'azabaka bil kuf-fari mulhiq.

"Oh Allah, we ask you for help and seek your forgiveness, and we believe in you and have trust in you, and we praise you in the best way and we thank you and we are not ungrateful to you, and we forsake and turn away from the one who disobeys you. O Allah, we worship you only and pray to you and prostrate ourselves before you, and we run towards you and serve you, and we hope to receive your mercy, and we fear your punishment. Surely, the disbeliveers will receive your punishment."

Some ulamas recommend this du'a in the witr prayer. Of course, it can be read as it is a nice du'a but it is not one of those dua's which Prophet Muhammad (saw) read in his Witr prayer.

A person can read all these du'as together or just one of them or combine them with other du'as.