In the name of Allah, Most Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy.
All praise is due to Allah, Whose Hearing encompasses all voices, Who answers Du’as (supplications) and relieves hardships, difficulties and afflictions. I bear witness that there is no deity but Allah alone without partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger. May Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him in abundance. To proceed:
Dear brothers and sisters! The supplication (Du’a) of Qunut is one wonderful Du’a recited in Witr prayer. Even though it is a great supplication, not many people are aware of it and its benefits.
Respected brothers and sisters! What are the meaning and benefits of reciting Du’a Qunut Witr? Let’s find out:
The word Qunut is translated to “the act of standing in devotion”, “obedience”, or “humility.” The reason why it is called Du’a Qunut is because it is supplicated while standing in a humble posture during the Witr prayer. Witr prayer is a one Raka’ah prayer, and it is prayed after the Isha’i prayer and before the Fajr prayer.
Du’a Qunut is recited to ask Allah to protect us, give us peace, security, happiness and tranquility; guide us, and ask for Allah’s mercy and forgiveness. People usually supplicated it when going through hardships, calamities and difficulties to ask Allah for help and guidance.
Du’a Qunut is of great importance to every Muslim believer, that our beloved Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) taught it to his companions.
Al-Hasan Bin Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said:
“Allah’s Messenger taught me some phrases to say during Al-Witr:
“اللَّهُمَّ اهْدِنِي فِيمَنْ هَدَيْتَ وَعَافِنِي فِيمَنْ عَافَيْتَ وَتَوَلَّنِي فِيمَنْ تَوَلَّيْتَ وَبَارِكْ لِي فِيمَا أَعْطَيْتَ وَقِنِي شَرَّ مَا قَضَيْتَ فَإِنَّكَ تَقْضِي وَلاَ يُقْضَى عَلَيْكَ وَإِنَّهُ لاَ يَذِلُّ مَنْ وَالَيْتَ تَبَارَكْتَ رَبَّنَا وَتَعَالَيْتَ.”
“Allahummahdini fiman hadait, wa a’fini fiman afait, wa tawallani fiman tawallait, wa barik Li fima atait, wa qini sharra ma qadait, fa Innaka taqdi wa la yuqda Alaik, wa innahu la yazillu man walait, tabarakta Rabbana wa ta’alait.”
“O Allah guide me among those You have guided, pardon me among those You have pardoned, befriend me among those You have befriended, bless me in what You have granted, and save me from the evil that You decreed. Indeed You decree, and none can pass decree, and none can pass decree upon You, indeed he is not humiliated whom You have befriended, blessed are You our Lord and Exalted.” [Sahih at-Tirmidhi]
Dear servants of Allah! When you feel like you’re in deep need of Allah’s help recite Du’a Qunut and Allah will help you. When reciting this Du’a you are relying on Allah, asking for his guidance, protection, and mercy. The Du’a starts by asking for Allah’s guidance, and then asking Allah to protect you from any evil and ends with glorifying Allah.
Reciting Du’a Qunut can strengthen your Iman (faith), give some peace of mind, and remind you that Allah is there for you to help you out of the hardship and calamity you are going through. Whenever you feel like troubles and hardships are suffocating you, making you unable to breathe recite the Du’a Qunut to remember that you are not alone and that all the hardships and difficulties you are going through will come to an end In Shaa Allah. All you need is to be patient and ask Allah for his guidance and help.
My beloved people! Du’a Qunut is recited in Witr prayer after bowing, but some Islamic scholars say that it is okay to recite it before bowing.
Shaikhul-Islam Ibn Taimiyyah said in Majmu’ul-Fatawa, volume 23, page 100:
“With regard to Qunut: there are two extreme views and one middle or moderate view. Some say that Du’a Qunut should only be recited before bowing and some say that it should only be recited after bowing. The jurists (Fuqaha) among the scholars of Hadith, such as Imam Ahmad and others, say that both are allowed, because both are mentioned in the Sahih Sunnah, but they preferred reciting Qunut after bowing because this is mentioned more often.”
And remember, Du’a Qunut is not Compulsory (wajib) in Witr prayer. There are no Hadiths to prove that our beloved Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) used to recite it every day. The Hadith we know about Qunut In Witr is that our beloved Prophet (Peace be upon him) taught Al-Hasan Bin Ali to recite the Du’a during Witr prayer but no proof that it is obligatory to recite daily.
Du’a Qunut is a great supplication to recite when you are going through hardships to ask Allah to guide you and protect you. it is recited in the Witr prayer which is the last prayer prayed before Fajr. You can recite it before or after bowing but it is better to recite it after bowing.
Du’a Qunut is a deeply moving supplication of humble devotion, recited to seek Allah’s mercy, guidance, and protection. Whether spoken in the quiet stillness of the Witr prayer or as Qunut Nazilah during communal hardships, it serves as a powerful spiritual anchor to surrender completely to the Creator (Allah).
As mentioned above, the word Qunut linguistically means “obedience” or “standing in humble devotion.” When you recite it, you aren’t just reading a passage; you are having an intimate, direct conversation with Allah the Almighty. The most common Du’a of Qunut, taught by the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) to his grandson Al-Hasan Ibn Ali, is a perfect blend of praise and pleading.
And one of the most beautiful spiritual lessons from Qunut is realising that being a humble servant to Allah frees you from bondage to the rest of creation. Acknowledging Allah as the ultimate Ally ensures you will never truly be humiliated, even when tested by the world.
When life’s hardships feel too heavy and you run out of words, Qunut serves as a safety valve. It reminds Muslim believers that all power belongs to Allah alone, fostering deep patience and a tranquil soul.
By continuously asking for forgiveness, the soul is cleansed of arrogance. It recalibrates your inner compass, turning your focus away from worldly anxieties and toward your ultimate purpose.
No doubt, Du’a Qunut is a powerful, deeply moving supplication of humility and obedience recited in Islamic prayers, primarily during the Witr or in times of distress (Nazilah). It serves as a spiritual anchor, allowing Muslim believers to acknowledge their human frailties, seek Allah’s divine guidance, and ask for protection from trials.
Respected servants of Allah! I repeat, “Qunut” translates to obedience, humility, and standing in devotion. Spiritually, it is the moment a servant strips away worldly arrogance, standing before their Creator (Allah) to confess their weaknesses while actively asking for strength against sin.
When we recite the famous Du’a Qunut, we unlock profound educational and moral lessons. Reciting Qunut in the stillness of the night fosters a pure, unfiltered emotional dialogue with Allah. It teaches that Allah knows your unarticulated pain even when you cannot voice it. The prayer reminds us of our ultimate dependence. Earthly power is temporary; true honour and dignity are granted only by Allah. Reciting it during distress helps unload the soul, giving peace and courage when facing life’s biggest hurdles.
Dear brothers and sisters! Please, do not lose hope, do not despair, Nigeria will overcome all her difficulties and her enemies In Shaa Allah, for victory is not determined by numerical strength or advanced weaponry, but by the will of Allah and the steadfastness of the Muslim believers. True victory is promised to those who remain patient, united, and are sincere in their Iman (faith).
When obstacles seem insurmountable and the nation faces threats from within and without, our greatest shield is our hope in Allah. History shows us that no matter how intense the trial, the final victory belongs to the truthful and steadfast. A Muslim believer’s mindset is never one of despair. When the companions of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) asked:
“When will the help of Allah come?”
The answer was assured:
“Verily, the help of Allah is near!”
No doubt, we are facing challenges in our great nation, but as the noble Qur’an says:
“If you suffer hardship, the enemy also suffers the same hardship.”
And for us to succeed, we must actively support the truth, establish justice, give sadaqah and feed the poor. Also true empowerment comes when we fight our own vices—greed, selfishness, corruption, and laziness. A nation that suffers from betrayal, selfishness, and disunity is weakened from within before an external enemy even attacks. To ensure victory, we must, as a nation, stand against injustice and corruption in our own ranks. As the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) noted, we must stand against evil when we see it.
When the Muslims faced a vastly superior army at the battle of Badr, they relied on two things: absolute reliance on Allah and tireless preparation. We must agree and understand that victory is a gift from Allah, not just a result of human effort. Therefore we must “tie our camel”—do all necessary physical preparation—and then trust in Allah to protect our nation. Allah the Almighty says:
“Do not lose hope, nor be sad. You will surely be victorious if you are true believers.” [Qur’an, 3:139]
In times of darkness, our kindness, trustworthiness, and unity make us strong. The struggle we face is part of a divine plan to test and elevate us. Keep your hope alive, support one another, and trust in the promise of Allah. Our nation will overcome, In Shaa Allah.
Ya Allah, grant victory to Islam and honour to the Muslims, and destroy the disbelieving criminals, terrorists and bandits.
Ya Allah, send tranquility upon the hearts of those striving in Your path, rescue Your oppressed servants, and raise high the banner of the religion, by Your power, O Strong, O Firm.
Ya Allah, grant us safety in our homelands, rectify our leaders and those in authority over us, and entrust our affairs to those who fear You, are mindful of You, and seek Your pleasure.
Every mark of slavery and reproach upon us and our family is removed from today by the grace of Allah the Almighty!
Henceforth Allah will give us reasons for celebration instead of shame and disgrace by the grace of Allah the Almighty!
Allah will deliver the blessings and treasure of this nation to us by the grace of Allah the Almighty!
Our generation will not suffer hunger and poverty, but Allah will feed us with fruit of the land continually by the grace of Allah the Almighty!
Allah will take us to our promise land by the grace of Allah the Almighty.
Ya Allah, forgive us our sins, our ignorance, and our excesses in our affairs, and what You know better than we do. Ya Allah, forgive us our seriousness and our joking, our mistakes and our deliberate actions, and all of that is within us. Ya Allah, forgive us for what we have done in the past and what we may do in the future, what we have concealed and what we have made public, and what You know better than we do. You are the One Who brings forward and the One Who delays, and You are over all things Competent.
Ya Allah, Revealer of the Book, Swift to account, defeat the groups (of all criminals and enemies). Ya Allah, defeat them and shake them.
Our Lord! Establish our feet firmly, and help us against those that reject Faith.
Our Lord, grant us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and protect us from the punishment of the Fire, ameen Ya Hayyu Ya Qayyum!
Murtadha Muhammad Gusau is the Chief Imam of Nagazi-Uvete Jumu’ah and the late Alhaji Abdur-Rahman Okene’s Mosques, Okene, Kogi State, Nigeria. He can be reached via: [email protected] or +2348038289761 or +2348024192217.
