al-Qunut fi al-Witr
- Author died
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- Editions
- Dar Ibn al-Athir lil-Nashr wal-Tawzi'
al-Qunut fi al-Witr (Supplication in the Witr Prayer) is a specialized jurisprudential monograph by the Saudi scholar al-Walid bin Abd al-Rahman al-Faryan, professor at the College of Sharia in Riyadh, examining the legal status, formulations, and performance of the qunut supplication during the Witr prayer.
Scope and Background
The treatise was published by Dar Ibn al-Athir as the first installment in the series Silsilat al-Abhath al-Fiqhiyyah fi al-Salah (Series of Jurisprudential Researches on Prayer). The author composed the work to address frequent inquiries and unresolved questions surrounding the qunut in Witr, focusing on its nature, legal ruling, length, placement, whether it should be recited audibly, and the practice of raising the hands during its recitation.
Structure and Contents
The book is organized into an introduction, a preamble, three main chapters divided into sub-sections (matalib), a conclusion, and analytical indices:
- Preamble (al-Tamhid): Addresses the virtues of the Witr prayer and scriptural narrations encouraging the night prayer (qiyam al-layl).
- Chapter 1: The Reality of Qunut in Witr (Haqiqat al-Qunut fi al-Witr): Divided into four sections covering the definition and meaning of qunut and Witr, the essential pillars of qunut, its categories, and its wordings. The section on wordings analyzes formulas reported in the Sunnah, narrations transmitted from early generations (al-Salaf), unestablished formulas, and reciting qunut using the supplication for completing the Quran (du'a khatm al-Qur'an).
- Chapter 2: The Legal Ruling of Qunut in Witr (Hukm al-Qunut fi al-Witr): Divided into two sections examining the ruling of qunut in Witr during the month of Ramadan and its ruling outside of Ramadan across the various legal schools.
- Chapter 3: The Manner of Performing Qunut in Witr (Sifat al-Qunut fi al-Witr): Divided into six sections addressing:
- The position of qunut (before or after the bowing posture, ruku').
- Commencing the supplication (the ruling on beginning with the takbir, and opening with praise of Allah and blessings on the Prophet).
- The appropriate length of the supplication.
- Audible recitation, comprising the imam reciting aloud, the congregation saying amin audibly, and the ruling on weeping or groaning.
- Raising the hands, discussing raising them during qunut, and actions after completing it, such as wiping the face or raising hands for prostration.
- Making up for missed qunut (qada'), both for the imam or solitary worshiper and for the follower in congregation.
Methodology
The author outlines a comparative jurisprudential method (dirasah fiqhiyyah muqaranah) based on primary sources, evaluating the arguments of the classical legal schools. The methodology includes referencing Quranic verses, authenticating and referencing hadiths and athar narrations, defining obscure vocabulary and technical terms, and providing short biographical notices for lesser-known figures.
Key Conclusions
In the final chapter, the author outlines fifteen summarized conclusions from his research:
- Qunut in Witr is defined as supplication while standing at the conclusion of the night prayer.
- It is recommended (mustahabb) to supplicate using transmitted formulas from the Sunnah or the Salaf, though general unprohibited supplications drawn from the Quran or Sunnah are also permissible.
- Qunut in Witr is recommended throughout the entire year, both in Ramadan and outside of it, and is best performed after rising from ruku'.
- Its recommended length corresponds to the supplications transmitted from Umar ibn al-Khattab and al-Hasan ibn Ali.
- Reciting qunut aloud is not deemed recommended, and raising the hands during qunut in Witr, wiping the face with the hands afterward, or raising them when going into prostration are not considered legislated by the author.
- Weeping or sighing out of the fear of Allah or when overcome by emotion does not invalidate the prayer.
- One who misses qunut before ruku' may make it up after ruku', prostration of forgetfulness (sujud al-sahw) is prescribed for omitting it, and making up missed qunut is prescribed if its time passes.
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