Qunūt Nāzilah Is Legislated During Times of Calamity

❖ Qunūt Nāzilah in Salah Is Legislated During Calamities ❖
✍ Written by: Imran Ayub Lahori

✦ What Is Qunūt Nāzilah?​

Qunūt Nāzilah refers to a special supplication made in Salah during times of calamity, hardship, or trial. Scholars have differed over its legislation and proper placement.

✿ Scholarly Views​

• Imām Aḥmad and Abū Ḥanīfah رحمهما الله:
  Qunūt is not Sunnah in any prayer other than Witr, except that Imām Aḥmad allows it in Fajr prayer during hardship.
• Imām Mālik and Imām al-Shāfiʿī رحمهما الله:
  Qunūt should be recited consistently in Fajr prayer only.

References:
Al-Mughnī: 2/585, Al-Majmūʿ: 3/474, Al-Ḥāwī: 2/150, Radd al-Muḥtār: 2/448, Al-Mabsūṭ: 1/165

• Imām Nawawī رحمه الله:
  In our madhhab (Shāfiʿī), Qunūt is only permissible in Ṣubḥ (Fajr) prayer.
  Al-Majmūʿ: 3/474
• Imām Ibn Qudāmah رحمه الله:
  Qunūt is not legislated in any prayer (besides Witr) except during trials.
  Al-Mughnī: 2/585
• Imām Ibn al-Qayyim رحمه الله:
  A fair conclusion is that the Prophet ﷺ both performed and left Qunūt, showing it is optional depending on the situation.
  Zād al-Maʿād: 1/272

✿ Preferred (Rājiḥ) View:​

✔ Qunūt Nāzilah is legislated in all prayers during calamity, without restriction to any specific prayer.


Supported by:

• Imām al-Shawkānī رحمه الله — Nayl al-Awṭār: 2/193
• Shaykh ʿAbd al-Raḥmān Mubārakpūrī رحمه الله — Tuḥfat al-Aḥwadhī: 2/450

✦ Evidence Supporting Qunūt Nāzilah​

➊ Anas ibn Mālik رضي الله عنه:


After 70 Qurra’ (reciters) were killed by the idolaters, the Prophet ﷺ recited Qunūt for a month, cursing them.
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 1002


➋ Anas رضي الله عنه also said:


The Prophet ﷺ did not perform Qunūt except when praying for or against a people.
Ibn Khuzaymah: 1/314, 620


➌ Anas رضي الله عنه:


Qunūt was performed in Maghrib and Fajr prayers.
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 798


➍ Al-Barā’ ibn ʿĀzib رضي الله عنه narrated similarly.
Musnad Aḥmad: 4/285, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 305


➎ Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه:


He used to recite Qunūt in Ẓuhr, ʿIshāʾ, and Fajr, praying for the believers and cursing the disbelievers.
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 797, Muslim: 676


➏ Ibn ʿAbbās رضي الله عنهما:


The Prophet ﷺ performed Qunūt in all five prayers for one month, after saying "سمع الله لمن حمده", praying against tribes that betrayed Muslim emissaries.
Ṣaḥīḥ Abū Dāwūd: 1280, Aḥmad: 1/301

✦ Summary from Evidences​

✔ Qunūt Nāzilah is not limited to one prayer. It can be done in one, two, or all five prayers depending on the nature of the calamity.

❖ Rulings on Qunūt Nāzilah Practice​

✿ Placement in Salah​

Qunūt Nāzilah should be recited after rukūʿ (bowing):


"قنت رسول الله بعد الركوع شهراً"
“The Prophet ﷺ recited Qunūt for a month after rukūʿ.”
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 4096

✿ The Followers Should Say Āmīn​

"ويؤمن من خلفه"
“Those behind him would say Āmīn.”
Ṣaḥīḥ Abū Dāwūd: 1280

✿ Raising Hands During Qunūt​

"رفع يديه فدعا عليهم"
“He raised his hands and made duʿāʾ against them.”
Aḥmad: 3/137, Irwāʾ al-Ghalīl: 2/181

❖ Sample Supplications for Qunūt Nāzilah​

➊ اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لَنَا وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتِ...
(Full duʿāʾ from Musnad Aḥmad: 3/137)


➋ اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا نَسْتَعِينُكَ وَنَسْتَغْفِرُكَ...
Al-Bayhaqī: 2/210–211


➌ The Prophet ﷺ used to mention specific names of Muslim prisoners in his supplications.
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 804, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim: 675


Imām Nawawī رحمه الله said:


There is no fixed duʿāʾ for Qunūt Nāzilah. Any relevant duʿāʾ may be used. The commonly recited "اللهم اهدني فيمن هديت..." is recommended, not obligatory.
Sharḥ Muslim: 1/237

✿ Objection and Response​

Some object to Qunūt by citing:


Narration of Abū Mālik al-Ashjaʿī:


His father said Qunūt is a bidʿah (innovation).
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Tirmidhī: 330, Aḥmad: 3/472, Ibn Mājah: 1241


Response:
This ḥadīth negates regular Qunūt, not Qunūt during tribulations. Since many authentic narrations affirm Qunūt Nāzilah, affirmative evidence takes precedence over negation.


Nayl al-Awṭār: 2/191
Tuḥfat al-Aḥwadhī: 2/451