Witr Prayer: Qunūt Supplication and the Correct Way of Intention According to Qur’an and Sunnah
Source: Fatāwā Rāshidiyyah, p. 333
❖ Question
In Witr prayer, should the du‘ā’ of Qunūt be recited before or after rukū‘? Should it be recited with hands raised, folded, or left by the sides? And when Witr is performed as three rak‘āt with two salāms, how should the intention be made? Please answer strictly in accordance with Qur’an and Hadith.
❖ Answer
Alḥamdulillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-salāmu ‘alā Rasūlillāh, ammā ba‘d!
① Qunūt in Witr – Before or After Rukū‘?
◄ Qunūt in Witr has been authentically reported both before rukū‘ and after rukū‘ (see Sunan an-Nasā’ī and others).
◄ Both ways are permissible.
Research-based preference:
✿ In Witr, Qunūt is most often recited before rukū‘.
✿ In obligatory prayers (Qunūt an-Nāzilah), it was recited after rukū‘.
Therefore:
✿ If Qunūt is recited before rukū‘ → hands should be folded.
✿ If after rukū‘ → hands should be left at the sides.
② Raising Hands in Qunūt
◄ No authentic hadith proves that the Prophet ﷺ raised his hands specifically in Qunūt of Witr.
◄ However, raising hands during Qunūt in obligatory prayers (Qunūt an-Nāzilah) is established in authentic narrations (Musnad Aḥmad, etc.).
Therefore:
✿ What is valid in fard prayers is also valid in nafl.
✿ Since Witr is nafl (not fard), raising hands is permissible.
✿ Thus, raising hands in Qunūt of Witr is allowed, but not to be taken as a fixed Sunnah.
✿ Some Companions رضي الله عنهم practiced raising hands in Witr.
③ One Salām or Two in Witr
◄ Authentic hadith evidence shows that Witr was mostly prayed with two salāms.
◄ One salām is also permissible.
But if prayed with one salām:
✿ Do not sit for tashahhud after the second rak‘ah.
✿ Sit only in the last rak‘ah for tashahhud, then give salām.
Evidence:
→ Hadith in Sunan ad-Dāraqutnī: “Do not make Witr resemble Maghrib.”
Thus:
◈ To avoid resemblance with Maghrib, the second-rak‘ah sitting must be omitted.
◈ Merely reciting Qunūt does not remove resemblance, since Qunūt an-Nāzilah was recited in all fard prayers including Maghrib.
◈ The practice of the Ḥanafīs — raising hands with “Allāhu Akbar,” then folding hands and reciting Qunūt — is an innovation (bid‘ah muḥdathah), not established from the Prophet ﷺ.
④ Intention for Witr
◄ The intention for three rak‘āt of Witr should be made from the very beginning in the first rak‘ah.
◄ The salām in between (if prayed in two salāms) is itself Sunnah, and practiced in obedience to the Sunnah.
Conclusion
① Both before rukū‘ and after rukū‘ Qunūt are Sunnah.
② Raising hands in Qunūt of Witr is permissible, but not a fixed Sunnah.
③ Witr with two salāms is most authentic; with one salām is also allowed, provided no middle sitting occurs.
④ The niyyah is made at the start of the prayer for three rak‘āt Witr, regardless of one or two salāms.
ھذا ما عندی واللہ أعلم بالصواب
