What Is the Sunna Basis for the Shafi’i Wording of the Qunut Prayer?

Question

I’d like to know from which hadith Imam Shafi‘i chose the wording for the Qunut. The hadith in Nasa’i by the grandson Hasan (may Allah be pleased with him) ends with “Subhanaka rabbana tabarakta wa ta’alayt.” In contrast, the Shafi‘i Qunut continues “walakal hamd … wa sahbihi wa sallam”.

Is the end of Shafi‘i qunut taken from a different hadith?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

May Allah guide us to that which pleases Him, forgive us for our shortcomings, and alleviate our difficulties, Amin.

There are different traditions (hadiths) that cite the qunut supplication. Accordingly, words and phrases can sometimes differ depending on what you rely on. Transmission of the qunut differs even in some of the books of the Hanafi School.

The upshot is that if you follow what is related to the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace), and the jurists have clarified what this is, your action will be a fulfillment of the sunna. Otherwise, any supplication fulfills the requirement of the qunut supplication.

The Qunut Prayer

An individual who does not know the Qunut supplication can recite any short supplication such as:

اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ or يَا رَبُّ or اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْلِي

This would be permitted to do, although it is optimal to recite the supplications that have come in the primary texts themselves. Among these, the Hanafi scholars generally prefer:

اللَّهُمَّ إنَّا نَسْتَعِينُك وَنَسْتَغْفِرُك وَنُؤْمِنُ بِك وَنَتَوَكَّلُ عَلَيْك وَنُثْنِي عَلَيْك الْخَيْرَ كُلَّهُ نَشْكُرُك وَلَا نَكْفُرُك وَنَخْلَعُ وَنَتْرُكُ مَنْ يُفْجِرُك اللَّهُمَّ إيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَلَك نُصَلِّي وَنَسْجُدُ وَإِلَيْك نَسْعَى وَنَحْفِدُ نَرْجُو رَحْمَتَك وَنَخْشَى عَذَابَك إنَّ عَذَابَك بِالْكُفَّارِ مُلْحَقٌ

The Shafi‘i literature generally encourages the following supplication, from the Sunan of Abu Dawud, though any supplication would suffice:

اللَّهُمَّ اهْدِنِي فِيمَنْ هَدَيْت، وَعَافِنِي فِيمَنْ عَافَيْت ، وَتَوَلَّنِي فِيمَنْ تَوَلَّيْت ، وَبَارِكْ لِي فِيمَا أَعْطَيْت ، وَقِنِي شَرَّ مَا قَضَيْت ، فَإِنَّك تَقْضِي وَلَا يُقْضَى عَلَيْك ، وَأَنَّهُ لَا يَذِلُّ مَنْ وَالَيْت، تَبَارَكْت رَبَّنَا وَتَعَالَيْت

These two are the most emphasised supplications relating to the Qunut. The scholars stated that joining these two supplications would generally be recommended. [Nawawi, Majmu‘]

It has also been narrated that the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) stated:

اللَّهُمَّ إنِّي أَعُوذُ بِرِضَاك مِنْ سَخَطِك ، وَبِمُعَافَاتِك ، مِنْ عُقُوبَتِك ، وَأَعُوذُ بِك مِنْك ، لَا أَحْصَى ثَنَاءً عَلَيْك ، أَنْتَ كَمَا أَثْنَيْت عَلَى نَفْسِك

Benefit: The scholars differed regarding whether one should also send blessings on the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) after reciting the Qunut supplication.

Scholars of the Shafi‘i School recommend that one should conclude one’s recitation with:

فَلَكَ الحَمْدُ عَلَى مَا قَضَيْتَ، نَسْتَغْفِرُكَ اللَّهُمَّ رَبَنَا وَنَتُوْبُ إِلَيْكَ، وَصَلَّى اللهُ عَلَى سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ النَّبِيٍّ الأُمِّي وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ وَسَلَّمْ.

The above Qunut-ending has been derived and is recommended based on various authentic reports about prayers on the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) after supplications and remembrance. [Shirbini, Mughni Al-Muhtaj]

I pray this is of benefit.
[Shaykh] Irshaad Sedick
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Irshaad Sedick was raised in South Africa in a traditional Muslim family. He graduated from Dar al-Ulum al-Arabiyyah al-Islamiyyah in Strand, Western Cape, under the guidance of the late world-renowned scholar, Shaykh Taha Karaan.

Shaykh Irshaad received Ijaza from many luminaries of the Islamic world, including Shaykh Taha Karaan, Mawlana Yusuf Karaan, and Mawlana Abdul Hafeez Makki, among others.

He is the author of the text “The Musnad of Ahmad ibn Hanbal: A Hujjah or not?” He has served as the Director of the Discover Islam Centre and Al Jeem Foundation. For the last five years till present, he has served as the Khatib of Masjid Ar-Rashideen, Mowbray, Cape Town.

Shaykh Irshaad has thirteen years of teaching experience at some of the leading Islamic institutes in Cape Town). He is currently building an Islamic online learning and media platform called ‘Isnad Academy’ and pursuing his Master’s degree in the study of Islam at the University of Johannesburg. He has a keen interest in healthy living and fitness.