Question
Assalamu
Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.
May Allah grant you good health. Is performing qunūt in the Fajr (dawn) prayer obligatory? Must a person perform it, or is the imam responsible for it while the congregation follows him?
Answer
Wa
Alaikumus Salam wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.
All praise belongs
to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah.
1.
What Is Qunūt?
Qunūt refers to
supplication made at a particular point during prayer. It is reported in
different circumstances, including the Witr prayer and when Muslims face a
calamity requiring supplication.
The Prophet
Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) performed qunūt al-nāzilah—supplication
in response to a calamity—in the obligatory prayers when circumstances called
for it.
2.
Is Qunūt in Every Fajr Prayer Established from the Prophet?
Scholars have
differed over the ruling on regularly performing qunūt in the Fajr prayer. The
position presented in the original answer is that regularly performing it every
morning was not established as a continuous practice of the Prophet Muhammad
(peace and blessings be upon him).
According to this
position, the Prophet performed qunūt in the Fajr prayer and other obligatory
prayers when a calamity affected the Muslims. He supplicated against those
responsible for killing Muslim reciters and prayed for vulnerable believers who
were unable to migrate from Makkah.
This practice is
known as qunūt al-nāzilah. It is performed when a calamity warrants
special supplication, and it may continue until Allah removes the hardship.
The original
answer cites the hadith collections of the Sunan, the grading of Shaykh
al-Albānī in Irwāʾ al-Ghalīl (no. 435), and the Permanent Committee
for Scholarly Research and Ifta’s Fatāwā al-Lajnah al-Dāʾimah (7/47)
in support of its position.
However, it is
important to note that the regular qunūt of Fajr is a recognised area
of scholarly disagreement. The Maliki school, for example, recognises
regular qunūt in the Fajr prayer. Therefore, it would not be accurate to
declare that every Muslim who performs it regularly is committing an innovation
without acknowledging the established scholarly differences on this issue.
3.
Is There a Specific Supplication for Qunūt?
There is no single
supplication that must be used in every instance of qunūt al-nāzilah.
The imam may supplicate according to the circumstances and the hardship
affecting the Muslim community.
For example, the
supplication may ask Allah to protect vulnerable Muslims, relieve suffering,
grant victory to those facing oppression, or remove a calamity.
There are also
reported supplications from the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon
him) and his Companions that scholars have discussed in relation to qunūt. A
person may use an appropriate supplication, provided its meaning is sound and
consistent with Islamic teachings.
4.
When Should Qunūt Be Performed?
According to the
position discussed in the original answer, qunūt is performed after rising from
rukūʿ (bowing), particularly in the final rakʿah when making supplication
because of a calamity.
Some scholars have
also permitted performing it before rukūʿ. Shaykh Ibn ʿUthaymīn discussed this
flexibility in Al-Sharḥ al-Mumtiʿ (4/64).
Therefore,
according to this view, a person who performs qunūt before rukūʿ does not
invalidate the prayer merely because of the timing. The precise ruling may
depend on the type of qunūt and the school of jurisprudence being followed.
5.
What Should the Congregation Do When the Imam Performs Qunūt?
When the imam
performs qunūt aloud, members of the congregation may listen to his
supplication and say Āmīn at appropriate points.
The original
answer emphasises that the imam leads the supplication while the congregation
responds. However, this should not be understood to mean that qunūt is
obligatory for every worshipper or that the congregation must regard the prayer
as invalid if qunūt is omitted.
If the imam does
not perform qunūt, the congregation should continue the prayer normally. The
issue should not become a source of division or hostility among Muslims.
6.
Should Muslims Condemn Those Who Regularly Perform Qunūt in Fajr?
No. Although the
original answer adopts the view that regular qunūt in every Fajr prayer is not
established as a continuous Prophetic practice, scholars have differed on this
question.
The Maliki school,
in particular, recognises regular qunūt in Fajr. Muslims should therefore
exercise care when discussing this matter and avoid accusing those who follow a
recognised scholarly position of practising innovation without proper
qualification.
The broader
principle is to follow reliable Islamic scholarship, understand the evidence,
and preserve unity while respecting legitimate differences in matters of
jurisprudence.
Conclusion
According to the
position presented in the original answer, qunūt is not obligatory in every
Fajr prayer, and qunūt al-nāzilah is performed when a calamity
affecting Muslims calls for special supplication. When the imam performs qunūt
aloud, the congregation may respond by saying Āmīn.
Nevertheless,
regular qunūt in Fajr is a recognised issue of scholarly disagreement, and the
Maliki school permits its regular practice. Muslims should not treat this
difference as a reason for conflict or condemn those who follow a recognised
position.
Wallāhu
Taʿālā Aʿlam — And Allah knows best.
Zauren
Fatawoyi Bisa Alƙur’ani da Sunnah.
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