Qunoot in Witr: Ruling on Raising Hands and the Place of Supplication
Reference: Ahkam wa Masail, Namaz ka Bayan, Vol. 1, p. 222
❖ Questions
➊ Is there evidence from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ regarding supplication (Qunoot) in Witr?
➋ Is there evidence that the Prophet ﷺ raised his hands during Qunoot in Witr?
➌ Should the supplication of Qunoot in Witr be made before Rukuʿ or after Rukuʿ?
❖ Answer
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, Ammā Baʿd!
➊ Evidence of Supplication in Witr
Yes, there is evidence that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ made Qunoot (supplication) in Witr. This is established in the following Hadith compilations:
✿ Sunan Abī Dāwūd
✿ Sunan al-Nasāʾī
✿ Sunan Ibn Mājah
All these books contain narrations affirming Qunoot in Witr.
➋ Raising the Hands in Qunoot
There is no evidence that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ raised his hands during Qunoot in Witr. No authentic Hadith exists mentioning the raising of hands in this context.
➌ Place of Qunoot in Witr
Qunoot in Witr may be recited either before Rukuʿ or after Rukuʿ.
✿ Reciting Qunoot before Rukuʿ is mentioned in Sunan al-Nasāʾī and Sunan Ibn Mājah.
✿ Reciting Qunoot after Rukuʿ is established in al-Mustadrak al-Ḥākim.
Thus, both methods are correct and established.
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
