What Is Dua e Qunoot?
Dua e Qunoot (دعاء القنوت) is the supplication recited during Witr prayer, the final prayer of the night offered after Isha. The word "Qunoot" comes from the Arabic root meaning obedience and devotion — standing before Allah in humility.
This dua holds a central place in the daily worship of Muslims worldwide. It combines seeking Allah's help (istianah), asking for His forgiveness (istighfar), expressing gratitude (shukr), and declaring complete reliance on Him (tawakkul). The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) recited it regularly in his Witr prayer, and the practice has continued without interruption for over fourteen centuries.
Below you will find the full Arabic text of Dua e Qunoot with its English translation, Urdu translation (tarjuma), Hindi meaning, and Roman transliteration — along with a downloadable PDF for offline reading.
Dua e Qunoot — Full Arabic Text with Translation
This is the widely accepted version of Dua e Qunoot, narrated from Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him). Read it in the language you understand best.
Arabic
اَللَّهُمَّ اِنَّا نَسۡتَعِيۡنُكَ وَنَسۡتَغْفِرُكَ وَنُؤۡمِنُ بِكَ وَنَتَوَكَّلُ عَلَيۡكَ وَنُثۡنِىۡ عَلَيۡكَ ٱلۡخَيۡرَ وَنَشۡكُرُكَ وَلَا نَكۡفُرُكَ وَنَخۡلَعُ وَنَتۡرُكُ مَنۡ يَّفۡجُرُكَ. اَللَّهُمَّ اِيَّاكَ نَعۡبُدُ وَلَكَ نُصَلِّئ وَنَسۡجُدُ وَاِلَيۡكَ نَسۡعٰى ونَحۡفِدُ ونَرۡجُوۡا رَحۡمَتَكَ وَنَخۡشٰى عَذَابَكَ اِنَّ عَذَابَكَ بِالۡكُفَّارِ مُلۡحِقٌٌ
Romanized Arabic (Transliteration)
Allahumma inna nasta'inuka wa nastaghfiruka wa nu'minu bika wa natawakkalu 'alayka wa nuthni 'alayka al-khayra wa nashkuruka wa la nakfuruka wa nakhla'u wa natruku man yaf juruka. Allahumma iyyaka na'budu wa laka nusalli wa nasjud wa ilayka nas'a wa nahfid wa narju rahmataka wa nakhsha 'adhabhaka, inna 'adhabhaka bil-kuffar mulhiq.
English Translation
O Allah, we seek Your aid and ask for Your forgiveness, and we believe in You and put our trust in You, and we praise You for all good, and we thank You, and we do not deny Your favors. We separate ourselves from and abandon those who disobey You. O Allah, You alone do we worship, and to You alone do we pray and prostrate, and towards You we turn and strive, and we hope for Your mercy and we fear Your punishment. Indeed, Your punishment for the disbelievers is inevitable.
Urdu Translation (اردو ترجمہ)
اے اللہ، ہم تمہاری مدد چاہتے ہیں اور تمہاری معافی مانگتے ہیں، اور ہم تمہارے اوپر ایمان رکھتے ہیں اور تمہارے اوپر توکل کرتے ہیں، اور ہم تمہاری خیری کی تعریف کرتے ہیں اور تمہارا شکریہ کرتے ہیں، اور ہم تمہاری نعمتوں کا انکار نہیں کرتے۔ ہم ان سے منہ موڑتے ہیں اور الگ ہو جاتے ہیں جو تمہاری نافرمانی کرتے ہیں۔ اے اللہ، ہم صرف تمہاری عبادت کرتے ہیں، اور تمہارے لیے نماز پڑھتے اور سجدہ کرتے ہیں، اور تمہاری طرف رجوع کرتے ہیں اور تمہاری رحمت کی امید رکھتے ہیں اور تمہارے عذاب سے ڈرتے ہیں۔ بلاشبہ تمہارا عذاب کافروں کو لازماً پہنچے گا۔
Hindi Translation (हिंदी अनुवाद)
ए अल्लाह, हम तुमसे मदद मांगते हैं और तुमसे क्षमा चाहते हैं, और हम तुम पर ईमान रखते हैं और तुम पर भरोसा करते हैं, और हम तुम्हारी भलाई की तारीफ करते हैं और तुम्हारी कृतज्ञता करते हैं, और हम तुम्हारे अनुग्रह का इनकार नहीं करते। हम उनसे अलग हो जाते हैं जो तुम्हारी अवज्ञा करते हैं। ए अल्लाह, हम सिर्फ तुम्हारी पूजा करते हैं, और तुम्हारे लिए प्रार्थना करते और सजदा करते हैं, और तुम्हारी ओर लौटते हैं और तुम्हारी दया की आशा रखते हैं और तुम्हारे दंड से भयभीत रहते हैं। निश्चित रूप से तुम्हारा दंड काफिरों को अवश्य पकड़ेगा।
A4 portrait PDF with Arabic text and transliteration — prints or saves to your device.
Dua e Qunoot — Word-by-Word Meaning
Understanding each phrase helps you connect with the dua during prayer rather than reciting it mechanically.
How to Recite Dua e Qunoot in Witr
When Is Dua e Qunoot Recited?
Dua e Qunoot is recited in the last rakah of Witr prayer, which is offered after the Isha prayer. Witr is an odd-numbered prayer — one, three, five, seven, or nine rakahs. When praying three rakahs of Witr (the most common practice), the dua is recited in the third and final rakah.
Step-by-Step Method
The exact placement of Dua e Qunoot depends on your school of thought (maslak):
According to the Hanafi school: After completing the Quran recitation in the last rakah, say "Allahu Akbar" (takbir), raise your hands to your ears, then fold them again. Recite Dua e Qunoot in this standing position before going into ruku (bowing).
According to the Shafi'i and Hanbali schools: Complete the ruku in the last rakah and stand back up. After saying "Sami Allahu liman hamidah, Rabbana wa lakal hamd," raise your hands and recite Dua e Qunoot before going into sujud (prostration).
Both methods are valid and practiced by millions of Muslims.
What to Read in 3 Witr Instead of Dua Qunoot
If you have not memorized Dua e Qunoot yet, you have several options:
Recite "Rabbana atina fid-dunya hasanatan wa fil-akhirati hasanatan wa qina adhab an-nar" (Our Lord, give us good in this world and in the Hereafter, and protect us from the punishment of the Fire) — this Quranic dua (2:201) is accepted as a substitute.
You can also make any sincere dua to Allah in your own words. The purpose of Qunoot is humble supplication — the specific wording is recommended (sunnah), not mandatory (fard).
Some scholars suggest reciting "Allahumma-hdini feeman hadayt" (the dua from Hasan ibn Ali, taught by the Prophet) as an alternative.
Origin and Authenticity
Source of This Dua
This version of Dua e Qunoot is narrated from Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him), the second Caliph of Islam. He recited it during the Witr prayer in Ramadan while leading Tarawih, and the companions accepted it. It is recorded in Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah and other hadith collections. The Hanafi school considers this the primary Qunoot dua for Witr.
Why Are There Two Versions of Dua Qunoot?
Muslims sometimes encounter two different Qunoot supplications and wonder which is correct. Both are authentic:
The first (presented on this page) is narrated from Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) and is the standard in the Hanafi school. It begins with "Allahumma inna nasta'inuka."
The second is narrated from Hasan ibn Ali (may Allah be pleased with him), taught to him by the Prophet (peace be upon him) himself. It begins with "Allahumma-hdini feeman hadayt" and is preferred in the Shafi'i and Hanbali schools.
Both are valid. The one you recite depends on your school of thought, or you may alternate between them.
Qunoot in Times of Calamity (Qunoot e Nazilah)
Dua e Qunoot is not limited to Witr prayer. During times of widespread hardship — natural disasters, wars, persecution of Muslims — the Prophet (peace be upon him) sometimes recited a Qunoot supplication in the Fajr prayer (and occasionally other obligatory prayers) after rising from ruku in the last rakah.
This practice, called Qunoot e Nazilah, is well documented. The Prophet recited it for about a month when Muslim missionaries were killed at Bir Ma'unah, supplicating against those who had betrayed them.
Scholars from all four schools accept this practice, though they differ on details: the Shafi'i school regularly recites Qunoot in Fajr even outside calamity, while the Hanafi and Hanbali schools reserve it for exceptional circumstances.
Why Dua e Qunoot Matters
Direct Appeal to Allah
The dua opens with "we seek Your help" — a direct, personal request. Reciting it nightly builds the habit of turning to Allah first, before anything else.
Seeking Forgiveness Daily
The phrase "wa nastaghfiruka" makes istighfar part of your nightly routine. The Prophet sought forgiveness over seventy times a day; this dua builds that practice into your prayer.
Gratitude and Awareness
"We praise You for all good and we thank You" — reciting this each night trains you to recognize what Allah has given rather than focusing on what is missing.
Focus in Prayer
When you understand what you are saying, your Witr moves from a routine to a conversation. The word-by-word breakdown above is meant to support that shift.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dua e Qunoot
Which is the real Dua e Qunoot?
Both widely known versions are authentic. The one beginning with "Allahumma inna nasta'inuka" is narrated from Umar (RA) and used in the Hanafi school. The one beginning with "Allahumma-hdini feeman hadayt" is narrated from Hasan ibn Ali (RA), taught by the Prophet himself, and preferred in the Shafi'i and Hanbali schools. Neither is more "real" than the other — they serve the same purpose in Witr prayer.
Is Witr accepted without Dua Qunoot?
Yes. Dua e Qunoot is sunnah (recommended), not fard (obligatory). If you skip it — whether intentionally or by forgetting — your Witr prayer is still valid. However, it is strongly encouraged to recite it regularly, as the Prophet (peace be upon him) did so consistently.
Can I skip Dua Qunoot in Witr?
You can, and your prayer remains valid. If you have not memorized it yet, recite any dua you know — even "Rabbana atina fid-dunya hasanatan..." (Quran 2:201) — in its place. Work on memorizing the full Dua e Qunoot gradually.
What can I say in Witr instead of Dua e Qunoot?
You can recite "Rabbana atina fid-dunya hasanatan wa fil-akhirati hasanatan wa qina adhab an-nar" or make dua in your own words. Some scholars also recommend the dua "Allahumma-hdini feeman hadayt" as an alternative version of Qunoot.
What to read in 3 Witr instead of Dua Qunoot?
In a three-rakah Witr, the dua is recited in the third rakah. If you do not know Dua e Qunoot, substitute any sincere supplication. The Quranic dua from Surah Al-Baqarah (2:201) is a common substitute. You can also make dua in your own language — Allah understands all languages.
Is 3 Witr compulsory after Isha?
Witr prayer is wajib (necessary) according to the Hanafi school, and sunnah mu'akkadah (strongly recommended) according to the other three schools. Three rakahs is the most common practice, but one, five, seven, or nine rakahs are also valid. It is offered after the Isha prayer and before Fajr.
How to recite Dua e Qunoot in Witr?
In the Hanafi method: after reciting Quran in the last rakah, say takbir (Allahu Akbar), raise hands to ears, fold them, then recite Dua e Qunoot before ruku. In the Shafi'i method: recite it after standing up from ruku with hands raised. Both are correct — follow the method of your school of thought.
What is the correct Qunoot to recite in Witr?
The version starting with "Allahumma inna nasta'inuka wa nastaghfiruka" (narrated from Umar RA) is standard in the Hanafi school. The version starting with "Allahumma-hdini feeman hadayt" (taught by the Prophet to Hasan ibn Ali RA) is standard in the Shafi'i and Hanbali schools. Both are correct — use the one your school follows.
Can women recite Dua e Qunoot?
Yes. There is no distinction between men and women regarding Dua e Qunoot. Women recite it in their Witr prayer the same way men do. All rulings about its timing and method apply equally.
What if I forget the words of Dua e Qunoot during prayer?
If you forget mid-prayer, continue with whatever portion you remember, or make a brief dua in your own words, then proceed to ruku or sujud. Your prayer is not invalidated. After prayer, review the text to strengthen your memorization.
Is Dua Qunoot in the Quran?
The specific text of Dua e Qunoot is not a Quranic verse — it comes from the Sunnah (prophetic tradition). However, its themes are deeply Quranic: seeking help from Allah, asking forgiveness, expressing gratitude, and declaring devotion. The Quran commands all of these acts throughout its chapters.
Can Dua e Qunoot be recited in languages other than Arabic?
Scholars differ on this. The Hanafi school holds that dua within prayer should be in Arabic. Other schools permit dua in your own language if you do not know Arabic. Outside of prayer, you can recite and study Dua e Qunoot in any language. Learning the Arabic gradually is recommended so you can recite it in prayer with understanding.