Dua e Qunoot is recited in the Witr prayer, and it’s one of the most commonly searched duas in Islam—partly because many people don’t know that there are actually two different versions commonly taught, which causes confusion about which one is “correct.” This guide covers both, in Arabic: transliteration and translation, along with when and how each is recited.
Quick Facts About Dua e Qunoot
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Recited In | Witr prayer (third/final rakah) |
| Meaning of “Qunoot” | Devout obedience, standing in humility before Allah |
| Number of Common Versions | 2 |
| Version 1 Source | Traditionally linked to Umar ibn al-Khattab (RA), widely taught in Hanafi tradition |
| Version 2 Source | Taught by the Prophet ﷺ to Hasan ibn Ali (RA)—Sunan at-Tirmidhi, Hadith 464 |
| Separate related practice | Qunoot al-Nazilah (recited during hardship, in any obligatory prayer) |
| Ruling (Hanafi view) | Reciting a Qunoot is wajib in Witr; the exact wording is flexible if not memorized |
What Is Dua e Qunoot?
“Qunoot” means devout obedience and standing in humility before Allah. Dua e Qunoot is a supplication recited standing in prayer, most commonly in the third rakah of Witr, after the Qira’ah (recitation) and before or after Ruku, depending on the fiqh followed.
The Two Versions of Dua e Qunoot
Version 1: The Shorter Dua (Commonly Taught for Witr)
This is the version most widely taught in South Asian and Hanafi tradition for daily Witr prayer, traditionally linked to Umar ibn al-Khattab (RA).
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 ‘alaika wa nuthni ‘alaikal-khair, wa nashkuruka wa la nakfuruka, wa nakhla’u wa natruku mai-yafjuruk. Allahumma iyyaka na’budu wa laka nusalli wa nasjudu wa ilaika nas’a wa nahfidu, narju rahmataka wa nakhsha ‘adhabaka, inna ‘adhabaka bil-kuffari mulhiq.
English Translation: “O Allah, we seek Your help, we ask Your forgiveness, we believe in You, and we put our trust in You. We praise You with goodness and thank You, and we are not ungrateful to You. We cast off and forsake whoever disobeys You. O Allah, You alone we worship, and to You we pray and prostrate. To You we hasten to serve, and we hope for Your mercy and fear Your punishment. Indeed, Your punishment will overtake the disbelievers.”
Urdu Translation: اے اللہ! ہم تجھ سے مدد مانگتے ہیں، تجھ سے بخشش مانگتے ہیں، تجھ پر ایمان رکھتے ہیں اور تجھ پر بھروسہ کرتے ہیں۔ ہم تیری بھلائی کے ساتھ تعریف کرتے ہیں اور تیرا شکر ادا کرتے ہیں، اور تیری ناشکری نہیں کرتے۔ ہم اس شخص سے علیحدگی اختیار کرتے ہیں اور اسے چھوڑ دیتے ہیں جو تیری نافرمانی کرے۔ اے اللہ! ہم صرف تیری عبادت کرتے ہیں، تیرے لیے نماز پڑھتے اور سجدہ کرتے ہیں، اور تیری طرف دوڑتے اور کوشش کرتے ہیں۔ ہم تیری رحمت کی امید رکھتے ہیں اور تیرے عذاب سے ڈرتے ہیں۔ بے شک تیرا عذاب کافروں کو پہنچنے والا ہے۔
Version 2: Qunoot Taught by the Prophet ﷺ to Hasan ibn Ali (RA)
This version has a direct chain back to the Prophet ﷺ himself, who taught it to his grandson Hasan ibn Ali (RA) to recite in Witr. It’s recorded in Sunan at-Tirmidhi (Hadith 464), graded Hasan (good) by most scholars of hadith.
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 feeman hadait, wa ‘aafini feeman ‘aafait, wa tawallani feeman tawallait, wa baarik li feema a’tait, wa qini sharra ma qadait, fa innaka taqdi wa la yuqda ‘alaik, wa innahu la yadhillu man walait, wa la ya’izzu man ‘aadait, tabarakta Rabbana wa ta’alait.
English Translation: “O Allah, guide me among those You have guided; grant me health among those You have granted health; take care of me among those You have taken care of; bless me in what You have given me; and protect me from the evil You have decreed. Verily, You decree, and none can decree over You. He whom You support is never humiliated, and he whom You oppose is never honored. Blessed and Exalted are You, our Lord.”
Urdu Translation: اے اللہ! مجھے ہدایت دے ان لوگوں میں شامل کر کے جنہیں تو نے ہدایت دی، اور مجھے عافیت دے ان میں شامل کر کے جنہیں تو نے عافیت دی، اور مجھے اپنی سرپرستی میں لے ان میں شامل کر کے جنہیں تو نے اپنی سرپرستی میں لیا، اور مجھے برکت دے اس میں جو تو نے مجھے عطا کیا، اور مجھے اس کے شر سے بچا جو تو نے مقدر کیا، بے شک تو ہی فیصلہ کرتا ہے اور تیرے خلاف کوئی فیصلہ نہیں کر سکتا، اور جسے تو دوست رکھے وہ ذلیل نہیں ہوتا، اور جس سے تو دشمنی رکھے وہ عزت نہیں پاتا۔ اے ہمارے رب! تو بابرکت اور بلند ہے۔
Version 1 vs Version 2: Side-by-Side Comparison
| Version 1 (Shorter Dua) | Version 2 (Hasan ibn Ali’s Qunoot) | |
|---|---|---|
| Source | Traditionally linked to Umar ibn al-Khattab (RA) | Directly taught by the Prophet ﷺ—Sunan at-Tirmidhi 464 |
| Hadith grading | Attribution to Umar (RA) as a practice, not a direct Prophetic hadith | Graded Hasan (good) |
| Common tradition | Hanafi/South Asian daily Witr practice | Widely taught alongside or as an alternative in various schools |
| Length | Longer (two parts) | Shorter, single passage |
| Theme | Seeking help, forgiveness, and disowning disobedience | Seeking guidance, well-being, protection, and blessing |
So Which One Is “Correct”?
Both are valid—this isn’t a case of one being right and the other wrong. Different scholars and madhabs recommend different versions (or a combination of both), which is why you’ll find both taught in different communities. If your local mosque or teacher taught you one version, continuing with it is fine.
When Is Dua e Qunoot Recited?
In Witr prayer, commonly the third (final) rakah
Hanafi practice: recited before Ruku, after the Qira’ah, in every Witr prayer year-round
Shafi’i practice: recited after rising from Ruku, and is a Sunnah practiced especially in the second half of Ramadan
A separate, distinct practice—Qunoot al-Nazilah—is recited during times of calamity or hardship affecting the Muslim community, in any obligatory prayer, and is not limited to Witr
What If You Don’t Know Dua e Qunoot?
This is one of the most commonly asked questions, and scholars have given a simple answer: if you haven’t memorized either version yet, you can say any short dua you already know—including the Rabbana duas from the Quran (e.g., “Rabbana atina fid-dunya hasanatan…”)—or simply say “Allahumma-ghfir li” (O Allah, forgive me) a few times. The scholars agree that reciting something is more important than the exact wording, while you work on memorizing one of the versions above.
Method: How to Recite Dua e Qunoot in Witr
- Complete the recitation (Qira’ah) in the third rakah of Witr.
- Say the Takbeer with hands raised (in the Hanafi method, before going into Ruku).
- Recite either version of Dua e Qunoot quietly (or aloud if leading a small group who can hear clearly).
- Continue into Ruku and complete the rest of the prayer as normal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dua e Qunoot compulsory in Witr? In the Hanafi madhab, reciting a Qunoot is considered Wajib (obligatory) in Witr, though the exact wording is flexible if you don’t know the full text. Other madhabs view it differently—ask your local scholar for your specific school of thought.
Can I recite Dua e Qunoot in English instead of Arabic? It’s recommended to recite it in Arabic as part of the prayer itself, but understanding the English or Urdu translation helps you recite with more sincerity and focus.
Why are there two Dua e Qunoot? They come from different origins—one is commonly taught in Hanafi tradition for daily Witr, and the other has a direct chain to the Prophet ﷺ through Hasan ibn Ali (RA), recorded in Sunan at-Tirmidhi. Both are acceptable.
What if I forget Dua e Qunoot during prayer? You can pause briefly to recall it or recite a short dua/Rabbana verse instead and continue the prayer—it does not invalidate your Witr.
Conclusion
Dua e Qunoot is a short but powerful part of Witr prayer, whichever of the two versions you were taught. Understanding both—and knowing there’s flexibility if you forget the exact words—takes away the anxiety many beginners feel about “getting it wrong” and lets you focus on what matters: standing before Allah with sincerity.
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Sources & References
Sunan at-Tirmidhi, Hadith 464 — Sunnah.com
Quran.com—for the Rabbana verses…
IslamQA—fiqh rulings on Qunoot in Witr…
Written by: Abdul Wahab Reviewed by: Hafiz Munir Ahmed Last reviewed: September 13, 2026
Disclaimer: This article is intended for general knowledge and educational purposes only. Readers are encouraged to consult a qualified scholar for in-depth religious rulings, hadith authentication, or guidance specific to their madhab.