Fatwa ID: 09019
Answered by Maulana Nahid Uddin
Question:
If a hanafi imam reads dua al qunoot out loud in witr, what’s the ruling of adding on non-ma’thur duas, and should he tie his hands or is it fine to raise them like in dua
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
The dua al-qunoot in witr is to be recited silently by the imam. Although if he recites it aloud, the prayer will not be invalid. In addition, Imam Ibn Abidin mentions that some Hanafi scholars adopted the position of reading Qunoot loud, but the preferred way is that it should be read quietly. [1] The transmitted supplication found in the books of hadith and fiqh, such as: ‘Allahumma Inna Nasteenuk…’ is to be read and is emphasised, yet one may add other supplications after this has been read, provided they do not resemble human speech. [2] As for raising the hands, the relied-upon position is that during qunoot in witr, the hands are to be kept folded.
In summary, adding non-ma’thur duas in qunoot is permissible if they remain within the proper form of supplication and avoid resembling ordinary speech, though sticking to the transmitted wording is superior. Reciting aloud does not invalidate the prayer, though it opposes the more correct opinion of reciting in silence. And regarding posture, the imam keeps his hands tied.
Only Allah ﷻ knows best.
Written by Maulana Nahid Uddin
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
References:
[1]
و قوله على الاصح كذا فى المحيط و فى الهداية أنه المختار و مقابله ما قى الذخيرة: و استحسنوا الجهر فى بلاد العجم للامام ليتعلموا و الافضل للامام الاخفاء و الا فالجهر
Radd Al-Muhtar, Maktabah Al-Haqqaniyah, Volume 4, Pg 236
[2]
وذكر فى البحر عن الكرخي: ان القنوت ليس فيه دعاء مؤقت لانه روي عن الصحابة ادعية مختلفة و لان المؤقت من الدعاء يذهب برقة القلب. و قال بعضهم: المراد ليس فيه دعاء مؤقت ما سوى: اللهم انا نستعينك..
Radd Al-Muhtar, Maktabah Al-Haqqaniyah, Volume 4, Pg 232