ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books A Commentary on Prayer Qunut The word “ qunut ” means obedience accompanied by humility. For example, while addressing Hadrat Maryam (Mary), God says: “O Mary, be obedient {uqnuti} to your Lord.” [^1] What is meant by qunut in prayer is the supplication that we recite in the second rak‘ah of every prayer.

On the interpretation of the verse, “And dedicate yourself to Him with total dedication,” [^2] Imam as-Sadiq ( ‘a ) says that what is meant by “ tabattul ” is to raise the hands in supplication during prayer.[^3] The word “ tabattul ” means cutting off hope in other than God.[^4] The Qur’an thus enjoins us: **“** Supplicate your Lord, beseechingly and secretly.” [^5] One of the signs of beseeching and weeping in the presence of God is to raise the hands in supplication.[^6] The indigent man stretches his hands toward the Absolute All-sufficient, praying to Him alone and purges his heart of other than Him.

Although qunut is only optional { mustahabb } in prayer, it has, nevertheless, been given such attention that Imam ar-Rida ( ‘a ) thus wrote in one of his letters to Ma’mun: “ Qunut is an obligatory sunnah in all the daily prayers.”[^7] Of course, the purpose of the Imam ( ‘a ) is to emphasize the importance of qunut .

For example, if one forgets to perform it before the ruku‘ , it is recommended to perform a compensatory one after ruku‘ , and if he remembers it during sujud , he may also do so after salam .

Concerning the etiquette of performing qunut , it is thus recorded: You have to raise your hands up to the level of your face; the palms of the hands must be open toward the sky; the two hands must be kept together; the fingers must be close together except the thumbs; at the time of reciting the supplication, you have to look at the palms of the hands and recite it loudly; of course, not to the extent that the leader of the congregation would hear it.[^8] There is no specific supplication and one may recite whatever supplication one wants.

It is also not necessary that the supplication be recited in Arabic as it may also be recited in English. Of course, it is clear that the Qur’anic supplications and the supplications that the Infallibles ( ‘a ) read in their qunut have special virtue and preeminence. The qunut of different prayers The number of qunut is not identical in all prayers. Each of the five daily prayers has one qunut before the ruku‘ of the second rak‘ah .