Dua Qunoot
Transliteration:
allahumma innaa nasta ‘Eenuka wa nastaghfiruka wa
nu’minubika wa natawakkalu ‘Alayka wa nuthni
‘Alaykal khair. wa nashkuru ka wa laa nak furuka wa
nakhla’U wa natruku mayyaf juruk. allahumma iyyaka
n’Abudu wa lakanusollee wa nasjudu wa ilayka nas’Aa
wa nakhfidu wa narjoo raHmataka wa nakhshaa ‘Adhaabaka
inna ‘Adhaabaka bil kuffaari mulHiqq.
(Image Source: http://iiislam.tumblr.com/)
Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported that: The Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu álayhi wa sallam) said, “Let not one of you wish for death because of a misfortune which befalls him. If he cannot help doing so, he should say: ‘O Allah, keep me alive as long as You know that life is better for me, and make me die when death is better for me”.
Al-Bukhari and Muslim
The proper way to make du’a is in a subdued voice, as Allah tells us:
“Call upon your Lord with humility, and in secret.” (Surah al-A’raf:55)
This is why Allah praised the du’a of Zakaraiya when He described it as being secret:
“When he made a du’a to his Lord in secret (or privately).” (Surah Maryam:3)
This principle is also mentioned in hadith. The Prophet peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said:
“O people! Be gentle on yourselves, for you are not calling someone who is deaf or absent. Rather you are calling the One Who hears everything, Ever-Close.” (Recorded in al-Bukhari)
Shaykh al-Islam ibn Taymiyyah, also mentioned a number of benefits of making du’a silently in his work Majmu al-Fatawa which are as follows:
Amongst the etiquette of du’a that is known by all Muslims, young or old, is that of raising one’s hands. Abu Musa al-Ashari, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated:
“The Prophet, peace be upon him, made du’a, and I saw him raise his hands, until I could see the whiteness of his armpits.” (Recorded in al-Bukhari)
Further, Saman al-Farsi, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet, peace be upon him, said:
“Indeed, Allah is Shy and Beneficient. He is Shy when His servant raises his hands to Him (in du’a) to return them empty, disappointed!” (Recorded in Ahmad)
SubhanAllah! The Lord of the Creation feels Shy when one of His servants lifts his hands up to Him to make du’a! Verily, hearts are filled with love and awe at the Generosity and Beneficence of Allah.
It is important that our palms face upwards, and not the back of one’s hands, because it is not befitting to ask with the palms facing down, which is a sign of arrogance.
There are three different types of motions for du’a that are narrated from the Companions. The first type is to point one’s forefinger without necessarily lifting one’s hands. This action is done when one asks for forgiveness, or makes general dhikr or during tashahhud. The second type is to raise one’s hands to the level of one’s shoulders with the palms facing up. This is done for regular dua’s at any time. The last type of action is only done in extremely severe circumstances, such as asking for rain after drought, or seeking protection from imminent enemy attack. In this case the hands are stretched forth towards the sky, without joining the two palms together. When this is done a person’s armpits are exposed due to the severity of stretching.
The general rule is that one raises one’s hands to make du’a, but there are exceptions. The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, did not raise his hands during the Friday khutbah. So for the du’a during the khutbah, it is not Sunnah for the Imam or the people to raise their hands, except if the Imam makes a special prayer for rain. It is also not a Sunnah to raise one’s hands for the various du’as throughout the day.
As to the exact manner in which one’s hands should be raised, it is to the level of the shoulders, hands placed together, with palms towards the sky or one’s own face. The wiping of the face with the hands will be discussed in a later post, inshaAllah.
