If you've ever prayed Witr behind an Imam, you've heard Dua e Qunoot — that quiet pause where hands are raised before the final Ruku. Many Muslims recite it from memory without realizing that there are actually two authentic versions, each with its own source and its own place in the prayer.
This guide gives you the full Arabic text of both versions, their translation, and a clear explanation of when to recite Dua e Qunoot in Witr. No guesswork, no folklore — just what's actually recorded in the authentic sources.
What Is Dua e Qunoot?
Dua e Qunoot is a special supplication recited while standing in the third rak'ah of Witr prayer, just before bowing into Ruku (in the Hanafi school) or after rising from Ruku (in the Shafi'i school). The word "Qunoot" itself means devout obedience or standing in humble submission before Allah.
It is one of the few supplications the Prophet ﷺ taught directly to a companion, word for word, which is part of why it holds such a special place in Witr prayer.
Is Qunoot in Witr Obligatory or Sunnah?
This is where scholars genuinely differ, and it's worth knowing before you assume there's only one "correct" practice.
- In the Hanafi school, Qunoot in every Witr prayer is considered wajib (obligatory), recited in the third rak'ah before Ruku.
- In the Shafi'i, Maliki, and Hanbali schools, it is generally treated as sunnah, and some scholars limit it to the last half of Ramadan rather than every night.
Neither view is a mistake. They reflect different, well-established interpretations of the same authentic narrations. If you're unsure which applies to you, it's worth asking a local scholar who follows your madhhab.
Version 1: The Dua Taught to Hasan ibn Ali (RA)
This is the most widely recognized version, and it comes with the strongest chain of narration. The Prophet ﷺ personally taught these words to his grandson, Hasan ibn Ali (RA), to recite in Qunoot (recorded in Abu Dawood, Tirmidhi, and An-Nasa'i, and graded authentic by multiple hadith scholars).
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 ihdini fiman hadayt, wa 'aafini fiman 'aafayt, 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.
Meaning: O Allah, guide me among those You have guided, grant me safety among those You have kept safe, take me as a friend among those You have befriended, bless what You have given me, and protect me from the evil You have decreed. Indeed, You decide, and none decides over You. Whoever You befriend is never humiliated, and whoever You oppose is never honored. Blessed and Exalted are You, our Lord.
Reading Arabic supplications like this one with correct pronunciation makes a real difference to how confidently you recite them in prayer. If the script still feels unfamiliar, our Noorani Qaida course starts from the very basics and builds that confidence letter by letter.
Version 2: The Dua of Umar ibn Al-Khattab (RA)
The second version is linked to Umar ibn al-Khattab (RA), who recited it in Qunoot during Witr before the companions. It's recorded through several chains, including in Imam Malik's Muwatta and Al-Bayhaqi's compilation, and is widely accepted, particularly within the Hanafi tradition, which combines both duas in Witr.
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 نَرْجُو رَحْمَتَكَ وَنَخْشَى عَذَابَكَ إِنَّ عَذَابَكَ بِالْكُفَّارِ مُلْحِقٌ
Transliteration: Allahumma inna nasta'eenuka wa nastaghfiruka wa nu'minu bika wa natawakkalu 'alayka wa nuthni 'alaykal khayr, wa nashkuruka wa la nakfuruk, wa nakhla'u wa natruku man yafjuruk. Allahumma iyyaka na'budu wa laka nusalli wa nasjudu wa ilayka nas'a wa nahfidu, narju rahmataka wa nakhsha 'adhabak, inna 'adhabaka bil kuffari mulhiq.
Meaning: O Allah, we seek Your help, we seek Your forgiveness, and we believe in You. We rely on You, we praise You with all that is good, and we thank You. We do not disbelieve in You, and we turn away from and abandon whoever disobeys You. O Allah, You alone we worship, to You we pray and prostrate, and toward You we hasten. We hope for Your mercy and fear Your punishment, for Your punishment truly overtakes the disbelievers.
Understanding these two duas word by word, rather than reciting them purely by memory, is exactly what a guided Quran translation course can help with. You'll begin to notice this same style of language across the Quran itself once you study it properly.
Which Version Should You Recite?
Both duas are authentic, and neither cancels the other out. Practice varies by school of thought:
- Hanafi: Recites both duas together, generally the Hasan (RA) dua followed by the Umar (RA) dua, though local practice can vary slightly.
- Shafi'i, Maliki, and Hanbali: Typically recite only the dua taught to Hasan ibn Ali (RA).
If you're new to Witr or unsure which to follow, start with the Hasan ibn Ali (RA) version. It is the version with the most direct link to the Prophet ﷺ, and it's accepted across all four schools.
When and How to Recite Dua e Qunoot in Witr
- Recited in the third rak'ah of Witr, standing, with hands raised as in dua.
- In the Hanafi school, it comes right after the Qira'ah (recitation) and before bowing into Ruku.
- In the Shafi'i school, it's typically recited after rising from Ruku, in the final rak'ah.
- It can be recited every night, though some scholars limit its regular practice to the second half of Ramadan, based on differing narrations.
- If you haven't yet memorized the Arabic, reciting it in your own language is permitted until you learn it properly. Learning it correctly, however, is always encouraged.
A Word on Authenticity
You may come across longer, decorated versions of Qunoot online, sometimes with extra lines added or claims of special miraculous rewards for reciting it a certain number of times. Stick to the two versions above. They are the ones with real, traceable authenticity, and that is what makes them worth reciting with confidence, not just repetition.
Learn to Recite Dua e Qunoot with Confidence
Memorizing Dua e Qunoot properly, with correct Tajweed and a clear understanding of its meaning, is a small investment that pays off every single time you pray Witr.
At Quran Institute Online, our one-on-one courses are built exactly for this kind of learning:
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dua e Qunoot only recited in Ramadan? No. Many scholars recommend it every night in Witr, though some traditions emphasize it more strongly in the second half of Ramadan.
Can I recite Dua e Qunoot in English if I don't know Arabic yet? Yes, it's permitted while you're learning, though reciting it in Arabic is always encouraged once you're able to.
Where exactly is Dua e Qunoot recited in Witr? In the third rak'ah, generally before Ruku in the Hanafi school, and after Ruku in the Shafi'i school.
Are both versions of Dua e Qunoot authentic? Yes. The Hasan ibn Ali (RA) version has the strongest, most direct chain, and the Umar (RA) version is also well documented and widely practiced.
Final Thoughts
Dua e Qunoot is short, but it carries real weight — a moment in Witr where you stand, raise your hands, and ask Allah directly for guidance, protection, and mercy. Whichever authentic version you recite, what matters most is understanding the words and saying them with sincerity, not just repeating them from memory.
