The practice of reciting qunut in the five daily prayers often raises questions among believers seeking to follow the Prophetic tradition correctly. Qunut is a special supplication typically recited immediately before or after the ruku’ (bowing) position in prayer. While many associate it primarily with the Witr prayer, Islamic jurisprudence provides clear guidance on its use across all obligatory prayers under specific circumstances.
Supplication During Times of Calamity
Islamic scholars clarify that it is entirely permissible to recite the qunut aloud in any of the five daily prayers at times when Muslims are faced with severe calamities, oppression, or widespread distress. This specific practice is known in Islamic jurisprudence as Qunut al-Nazilah (the supplication of calamity).
The Prophetic Tradition
Historical accounts demonstrate that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) established this practice during times of profound grief and conflict. It is related by Ibn Abbas that the Messenger of Allah made qunut consecutively for an entire month across all five obligatory prayers: Zhuhr, ‘Asr, Maghrib, ‘Isha, and Fajr.
At the end of every prayer, after rising from the bowing position in the final rak’ah and saying semi’a Llaahu liman hamidah “Allah hears him who praises Him,” he would supplicate against specific hostile tribes who had betrayed and killed the Muslim emissaries sent to them. The congregation standing behind him would say “Ameen” (Transmitted by Ahmad and Abu Dawud).
Early scholars, such as ‘Ikrimah, noted that these events marked the beginning of this specific type of congregational supplication.
Praying for the Oppressed
The qunut is not solely for invoking justice against oppressors; it is equally a vital means of praying for the safety of the vulnerable.
Abu Hurayrah reported that whenever the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) wanted to supplicate for or against someone, he would do so after rising from ruku’. He would frequently supplicate aloud, asking Allah to save specific weak and oppressed believers by name, whilst asking for hardship and famine to befall their oppressors (Transmitted by Ahmad and Al-Bukhari).
Quranic Guidance on Supplication
During these periods of intense supplication in the Fajr prayer, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) initially cursed specific tribes by name. However, divine guidance eventually shifted the focus from specific condemnation to leaving their ultimate judgement to the Creator.
Almighty Allah revealed: “Not for you, [O Muhammad, but for Allah], is the decision whether He should [cut them down] or forgive them or punish them, for indeed, they are wrongdoers” (Surah Aal ‘Imran, 3:128).
Following this revelation, the etiquette of the qunut settled upon praying generally for the relief of the believers and seeking Allah’s ultimate justice, rather than issuing specific personal curses.
