Dua e Qunoot: Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning

Dua qunoot is a supplication recited in Witr prayer — specifically in the last rakat, either before or after ruku depending on your madhab. It is one of the most frequently recited duas in a Muslim's life, given that Witr is prayed every night. The primary narration comes from Hasan ibn Ali (may Allah be pleased with him), who reported that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) taught him these words.

The Dua — Common Version (Used by Shafi'i, Hanbali, and Many Others)

This shorter version is the most widely authenticated. It was taught directly by the Prophet ﷺ to his grandson Hasan ibn Ali.

Arabic:

اللَّهُمَّ اهْدِنِي فِيمَنْ هَدَيْتَ، وَعَافِنِي فِيمَنْ عَافَيْتَ، وَتَوَلَّنِي فِيمَنْ تَوَلَّيْتَ، وَبَارِكْ لِي فِيمَا أَعْطَيْتَ، وَقِنِي شَرَّ مَا قَضَيْتَ، فَإِنَّكَ تَقْضِي وَلَا يُقْضَى عَلَيْكَ، وَإِنَّهُ لَا يَذِلُّ مَنْ وَالَيْتَ، وَلَا يَعِزُّ مَنْ عَادَيْتَ، تَبَارَكْتَ رَبَّنَا وَتَعَالَيْتَ

Transliteration:

Allahumma-hdini fiman hadayt, wa 'afini fiman 'afayt, wa tawallani fiman tawallayt, wa barik li fima a'tayt, wa qini sharra ma qadayt. Fa innaka taqdi wa la yuqda 'alayk. Wa innahu la yadhillu man walayt, wa la ya'izzu man 'adayt. Tabarakta Rabbana wa ta'alayt.

Translation:

"O Allah, guide me among those You have guided, grant me wellbeing among those You have granted wellbeing, take me under Your care among those You have taken under Your care, bless for me what You have given me, and protect me from the evil of what You have decreed. For You decree and none decrees against You. Whoever You befriend is not humbled, and whoever You oppose cannot be honored. You are blessed, our Lord, and exalted."

Source: Narrated by Abu Dawud, 1425; al-Tirmidhi, 464; al-Nasa'i, 1745. Al-Tirmidhi graded it hasan sahih.

The Dua — Longer Hanafi Version

The Hanafi madhab commonly uses a longer version of qunoot, which adds explicit praise of Allah (SWT) and further supplication. This version is widely taught in Hanafi institutions and is the one most South Asian, Turkish, and Central Asian Muslims learn by default.

Arabic:

اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا نَسْتَعِينُكَ وَنَسْتَغْفِرُكَ وَنُؤْمِنُ بِكَ وَنَتَوَكَّلُ عَلَيْكَ وَنُثْنِي عَلَيْكَ الْخَيْرَ، وَنَشْكُرُكَ وَلَا نَكْفُرُكَ، وَنَخْلَعُ وَنَتْرُكُ مَنْ يَفْجُرُكَ، اللَّهُمَّ إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَلَكَ نُصَلِّي وَنَسْجُدُ، وَإِلَيْكَ نَسْعَى وَنَحْفِدُ، وَنَرْجُو رَحْمَتَكَ وَنَخْشَى عَذَابَكَ، إِنَّ عَذَابَكَ بِالْكُفَّارِ مُلْحِقٌ

Transliteration:

Allahumma inna nasta'inuka wa nastaghfiruk, wa nu'minu bika wa natawakkalu 'alayk, wa nuthni 'alaykal-khayr. Wa nashkuruka wa la nakfuruk, wa nakhla'u wa natruku man yafjuruk. Allahumma iyyaka na'budu wa laka nusalli wa nasjud, wa ilayka nas'a wa nahfid, wa narju rahmataka wa nakhsha 'adhabak, inna 'adhabaka bil-kuffari mulhiq.

Translation:

"O Allah, we seek Your help and Your forgiveness, we believe in You and put our trust in You, and we praise You in the best way. We thank You and we are not ungrateful to You, and we forsake and turn away from whoever disobeys You. O Allah, You alone we worship, and to You we pray and prostrate, and to You we strive and hasten. We hope for Your mercy and we fear Your punishment. Verily, Your punishment will overtake the disbelievers."

Source: Reported as a narration from Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) and his companions. Narrated by al-Bayhaqi in al-Sunan al-Kubra, 2/211; Ibn Abi Shaybah, 6964. This version is well-established in Hanafi fiqh literature through the reports of the Companions.

When to Recite Dua Qunoot

When you recite qunoot depends on your madhab — and both positions have strong evidence behind them.

The Hanafi position is that qunoot in Witr is recited before ruku in the third rakat. You recite Surah Al-Fatiha and another surah, then say "Allahu Akbar" and raise your hands to recite qunoot standing, then go into ruku. According to the Hanafi school, this qunoot in Witr is wajib (obligatory). If you forget it, you must perform sujud al-sahw (prostration of forgetfulness) at the end of your prayer.

The Shafi'i and Hanbali position is that qunoot is recited after rising from ruku in the last rakat of Witr, while standing upright. It is considered sunnah in these schools — strongly encouraged but not wajib.

The Maliki madhab does not prescribe qunoot in Witr as a specific practice.

One important note on Witr itself: check your prayer times to ensure you pray Witr before Fajr enters. Witr cannot be made up easily once the time exits, so many scholars advise praying it before sleeping if you are not confident you will wake for Tahajjud.

Virtues and Benefits

The Prophet ﷺ considered qunoot important enough to teach it personally. Hasan ibn Ali reported:

"The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) taught me some words to say in the qunoot of Witr."

Source: Narrated by Abu Dawud, 1425; al-Tirmidhi, 464

What makes qunoot particularly weighty is what it asks for: guidance, wellbeing, divine protection, and blessings in what you have been given. These are not small requests. They cover your deen (religion), your body, your relationships, and your provision — essentially everything that matters in this life and the next.

The phrase "For You decree and none decrees against You" is a profound reminder of Allah ﷻ's absolute sovereignty. Whatever has been written for you cannot be overridden by anyone or anything — only Allah decrees, and His decree is final.

Scholars also note that qunoot's position in Witr — the closing prayer of the night — gives it special significance. It is your last formal conversation with Allah before sleep, making it an ideal moment for sincere supplication.

Tips for Memorization

The longer Hanafi version has two clear parts. Learn the first half ("Allahumma inna nasta'inuka...") completely before moving to the second ("Allahumma iyyaka na'budu..."). Each half has its own internal rhythm — the first is about your relationship with Allah, the second is about your worship and hope. Once you see the structure, it holds together naturally. Reciting it aloud after each Isha prayer for two weeks is typically enough to make it stick.

Related Duas

Qunoot belongs to a broader family of night supplications. The dua for the last third of the night (Tahajjud) carries some of the same spirit — intimate, private supplication in the quiet hours. The Prophet ﷺ said that Allah descends to the lowest heaven in the last third of every night, asking who will supplicate to Him (Narrated by al-Bukhari, 1145; Muslim, 758).

The istighfar said after Witr — "Subhanal-Malikil-Quddus" recited three times, the third time with a raised voice — is also directly connected. It is sunnah to say this immediately after completing Witr (Narrated by Abu Dawud, 1430; al-Nasa'i, 1699).

For a broader collection of authenticated duas organized by occasion, explore the dua collection on Islamful. If you are preparing for Ramadan, the dua for breaking fast is another essential supplication to learn. And if you ever have questions about whether specific acts in prayer are permissible, the halal and haram checker can give you instant answers grounded in Islamic sources. For night-time supplications during difficulty, see the dua for anxiety. Students making Witr part of their exam-night routine will find the dua for exams a useful companion.

Wallahu a'lam — والله أعلم — Allah knows best.