Source: Fatāwā Amunpuri by Shaykh Ghulām Mustafa Zaheer Amunpuri
What is the ruling on raising the hands before Du‘ā Qunūt in Witr prayer?
The principle is that raising the hands is prescribed with every takbīr prior to bowing (rukūʿ). Therefore, if a takbīr is pronounced before the Qunūt, raising the hands should also be performed.
Sayyidunā ʿUmar رضي الله عنه used to pronounce takbīr before Qunūt Nāzilah, and some other early scholars used to do so before the Qunūt of Witr as well.
«صَلَّيْتُ خَلْفَ عُمَرَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ صَلَاةَ الْفَجْرِ، فَقَرَأَ فِي الرَّكْعَةِ الثَّانِيَةِ، فَلَمَّا فَرَغَ مِنَ الْقِرَاءَةِ، كَبَّرَ وَقَنَتَ، ثُمَّ كَبَّرَ وَرَكَعَ»
“I offered the Fajr prayer behind ʿUmar رضي الله عنه. In the second rakʿah, after completing the recitation, he said ‘Allāhu Akbar’, made Qunūt, and then said ‘Allāhu Akbar’ again and went into rukūʿ.”
Sharḥ Maʿānī al-Āthār by Imām Ṭaḥāwī (1/250) – Chain is authentic
«سَمِعْتُ الْحَكَمَ، وَحَمَّادًا، وَأَبَا إِسْحَاقَ، يَقُولُونَ فِي قُنُوتِ الْوِتْرِ: إِذَا فَرَغْتَ مِنَ الْقِرَاءَةِ، فَكَبِّرْ، ثُمَّ ارْفَعْ يَدَيْكَ»
“I heard Ḥakam, Ḥammād, and Abū Isḥāq رحمهم الله saying regarding Qunūt in Witr: When you finish the recitation, say takbīr, then raise your hands.”
Muṣannaf Ibn Abī Shaybah (2/306) – Chain is authentic
Conclusion:
The ruling of Qunūt Nāzilah and Qunūt of Witr is the same. Therefore, if someone says ‘Allāhu Akbar’ and raises their hands before Qunūt in Witr, there is no harm in doing so.
① Raising hands is legislated with every takbīr before rukūʿ.
② If a takbīr is made before Qunūt in Witr, then raising hands is also established.
③ Practicing this is based on authentic narrations from the Companions and the Salaf.
④ It is permissible to raise hands before Qunūt in Witr prayer if preceded by a takbīr.
❖ Question:
What is the ruling on raising the hands before Du‘ā Qunūt in Witr prayer?
✿ Answer:
The principle is that raising the hands is prescribed with every takbīr prior to bowing (rukūʿ). Therefore, if a takbīr is pronounced before the Qunūt, raising the hands should also be performed.
Sayyidunā ʿUmar رضي الله عنه used to pronounce takbīr before Qunūt Nāzilah, and some other early scholars used to do so before the Qunūt of Witr as well.
❀ Narration of Ṭāriq ibn Shihāb رضي الله عنه:
«صَلَّيْتُ خَلْفَ عُمَرَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ صَلَاةَ الْفَجْرِ، فَقَرَأَ فِي الرَّكْعَةِ الثَّانِيَةِ، فَلَمَّا فَرَغَ مِنَ الْقِرَاءَةِ، كَبَّرَ وَقَنَتَ، ثُمَّ كَبَّرَ وَرَكَعَ»
“I offered the Fajr prayer behind ʿUmar رضي الله عنه. In the second rakʿah, after completing the recitation, he said ‘Allāhu Akbar’, made Qunūt, and then said ‘Allāhu Akbar’ again and went into rukūʿ.”
Sharḥ Maʿānī al-Āthār by Imām Ṭaḥāwī (1/250) – Chain is authentic❀ Statement of Imām Shuʿbah رحمه الله:
«سَمِعْتُ الْحَكَمَ، وَحَمَّادًا، وَأَبَا إِسْحَاقَ، يَقُولُونَ فِي قُنُوتِ الْوِتْرِ: إِذَا فَرَغْتَ مِنَ الْقِرَاءَةِ، فَكَبِّرْ، ثُمَّ ارْفَعْ يَدَيْكَ»
“I heard Ḥakam, Ḥammād, and Abū Isḥāq رحمهم الله saying regarding Qunūt in Witr: When you finish the recitation, say takbīr, then raise your hands.”
Muṣannaf Ibn Abī Shaybah (2/306) – Chain is authenticConclusion:
The ruling of Qunūt Nāzilah and Qunūt of Witr is the same. Therefore, if someone says ‘Allāhu Akbar’ and raises their hands before Qunūt in Witr, there is no harm in doing so.
Summary:
① Raising hands is legislated with every takbīr before rukūʿ.
② If a takbīr is made before Qunūt in Witr, then raising hands is also established.
③ Practicing this is based on authentic narrations from the Companions and the Salaf.
④ It is permissible to raise hands before Qunūt in Witr prayer if preceded by a takbīr.
