Dua e Qunoot: Arabic, Transliteration, Translation & When to Read

By the Editorial Team · reviewed against our sources · updated September 2026 · guidance, not a fatwa

What is Dua-e-Qunoot?

Dua-e-Qunoot (also written du’a qunoot) is a supplication of praise, reliance and hope recited while standing during prayer. The word qunoot carries meanings of devout obedience and standing before Allah. In its most familiar form it is part of the Witr prayer, and it expresses the believer’s need for Allah’s help and forgiveness, gratitude for His blessings, and hope in His mercy alongside fear of His punishment.

Where and when is it recited?

The place of qunoot has been understood in more than one valid way across the recognised schools of Islamic law, and it is helpful to know them all:

• Hanafi practice: Qunoot is recited in the third rak’ah of the Witr prayer, before ruku. After finishing the recitation in that rak’ah, the worshipper says a takbir, raises the hands, then folds them again and recites Dua-e-Qunoot while standing, before bowing.
• Practice in some other schools: In Witr, qunoot is recited after rising from ruku, while standing, and it may be offered during part of the year or throughout, depending on the school and the view followed.
• Qunoot al-nazilah: A form of qunoot recited in times of public hardship or calamity — for example during difficulty facing the community — typically said after ruku in the obligatory prayers.

All of these are supported by established teaching. This article presents the widely taught text used in Witr; follow the manner practised in your own school or by your local imam.

Dua-e-Qunoot: Arabic, transliteration and translation

Arabic:

اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا نَستَعِينُكَ وَنَستَغفِرُكَ وَنُؤمِنُ بِكَ وَنَتَوَكَّلُ عَلَيكَ وَنُثنِي عَلَيكَ الخَيرَ وَنَشكُرُكَ وَلَا نَكفُرُكَ وَنَخلَعُ وَنَترُكُ مَن يَفجُرُكَ ۔ اللَّهُمَّ إِيَّاكَ نَعبُدُ وَلَكَ نُصَلِّي وَنَسجُدُ وَإِلَيكَ نَسعَى وَنَحفِدُ نَرجُو رَحمَتَكَ وَنَخشَى عَذَابَكَ إِنَّ عَذَابَكَ بِالكُفَّارِ مُلحِقْ

Transliteration:

Allahumma inna nasta’inuka wa nastaghfiruka wa nu’minu bika wa natawakkalu ‘alaika wa nuthni ‘alaik al-khayr, wa nashkuruka wa la nakfuruka wa nakhla’u wa natruku man yafjuruka. Allahumma iyyaka na’budu wa laka nusalli wa nasjudu wa ilaika nas’a wa nahfidu, narju rahmataka wa nakhsha ‘adhabaka, inna ‘adhabaka bil-kuffari mulhiq.

Translation:

“O Allah, we seek Your help and ask Your forgiveness, we believe in You and rely upon You, and we praise You in the best way; we thank You and are not ungrateful to You, and we cast off and forsake whoever disobeys You. O Allah, You alone we worship, and to You we pray and prostrate; to You we strive and hasten. We hope for Your mercy and fear Your punishment; surely Your punishment overtakes the disbelievers.”

Note: the transliteration above is only an approximation of the Arabic sounds. Please learn the correct pronunciation directly from a qualified teacher, imam or scholar so that the words are recited accurately.

How to recite it in Witr

Following the widely taught Hanafi method, Dua-e-Qunoot is recited like this in the three-rak’ah Witr prayer:

1. Pray the first two rak’ahs of Witr as normal, sitting for tashahhud after the second.
2. Stand for the third rak’ah, recite Surah al-Fatihah, then a passage of the Qur’an.
3. Say the takbir (“Allahu Akbar”), raising the hands, then fold them again as in qiyam.
4. Recite Dua-e-Qunoot quietly while standing.
5. Then say the takbir, bow into ruku, and complete the rak’ah with the two prostrations.
6. Sit for the final tashahhud and end the prayer with the taslim.

If you follow a school that recites qunoot after ruku, you would instead say the supplication while standing upright after rising from the bowing. Either way, keep to the method taught in your own tradition.

What to do if you have not memorised it yet

If you are still learning Dua-e-Qunoot, your Witr prayer is not invalid. Until you memorise the full text, scholars advise reciting other supplications in its place. A simple and widely used alternative is:

رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ

Rabbana atina fi’d-dunya hasanatan wa fi’l-akhirati hasanatan wa qina ‘adhaban-nar.

“Our Lord, give us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and protect us from the punishment of the Fire.”

You may repeat this, or recite another supplication you know, or (in the view of some scholars) simply say “Allahumma-ghfir li” (O Allah, forgive me) a few times, while you continue to learn the full text.

Memorisation tips

Dua-e-Qunoot is easiest to learn in two halves:

• First half — from “Allahumma inna nasta’inuka…” to “…man yafjuruka.” This part is about seeking Allah’s help and forgiveness, believing and relying on Him, thanking Him, and forsaking disobedience.
• Second half — from “Allahumma iyyaka na’budu…” to “…bil-kuffari mulhiq.” This part is about worshipping Allah alone, striving toward Him, and balancing hope in His mercy with fear of His punishment.

Practise one half at a time, repeat it aloud daily, and recite along with a trusted teacher or recording so the pronunciation is correct. Reciting it in your Witr each night quickly cements it in memory.

Virtues of Qunoot

Qunoot is a moment of heartfelt supplication within the prayer, and du’a itself is among the most beloved acts of worship. Standing before Allah to acknowledge your dependence on Him, to seek forgiveness, and to place your hope in His mercy nurtures humility and closeness to Him. Because it is woven into the Witr that seals the night’s worship, it is a fitting way to end the day turning to Allah.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Rushing the words so quickly that the meaning and pronunciation are lost; recite calmly.
• Assuming only one school’s method is correct — both before-ruku and after-ruku practices are established.
• Abandoning Witr entirely because the text is not yet memorised; use an alternative supplication meanwhile.
• Relying only on transliteration; confirm the pronunciation with a qualified teacher.
• Confusing qunoot in Witr with qunoot al-nazilah, which is for times of hardship.

To make the most of your night worship, read our guide to the Tahajjud night prayer, and browse more foundational topics on our Islamic information hub.

This article is intended as general educational guidance and not as a formal religious ruling (fatwa). Practices around qunoot differ legitimately between the recognised schools of Islamic law. For rulings specific to your situation, please consult a qualified local scholar or imam.

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