Some Questions About The Prayers
Of Qunoot
Q. (a) "Why is du'a of qunoot prayed
during the 'Isha' Prayers (specially in the Witr). There must be a reason
behind it."
(b) "Since du'a qunoot is a du'a, can we use it to pay it in other
prayers i.e. after finishing Fajr prayer?"
A. The forms of worship are prescribed by Allah Almighty and have been
conveyed to us through the Holy Prophet (S.A.W). No doubt, every form
or method of worship so prescribed has some wisdom behind it, but that
wisdom has not been expressly mentioned in the Holy Qur'an and Sunnah
in every case. We can attribute certain reasons for certain acts, but
it will be a hypothetical exercise which may or may not be correct, because
the real wisdom is best known to Allah alone. The number of Rak'ats in
the Fajr prayer is two while it is four in Zuhr, Asr and 'Isha' and three
in Maghrib.
The reason for these different numbers different prayers is never mentioned
in the Holy Sources of Islamic teachings. The recitals of prayer also
very from act to act. We are directed to recite the Qur'anic verses while
standing in the prayer, but we have been forbidden from doing so in the
states of ruku' and sajdah, likewise, Tashahhud has been prescribed in
the qa'dah (state of sitting) and not in the ruku' or sajdah. the exact
reasons for these directions are not expressly mentioned in the Qur'an
or in the Sunnah, because the essence of worship is nothing but to obey
the divine commands and to follow the prophetic practices even if their
reasons are unknown.
Similar is the case of the du'a of qunoot. It has been prescribed in the
last Rak'at of witr without giving any reason. Therefore, we must follow
it even though its exact reason is not known to us.
One can say that since the prayer of witr, is the last prayer performed
by a Muslim at night, a comprehensive du'a has been prescribed in its
last rak'at so that one's daily activities may end with this prayer which
ecompasses all his needs, both in this world and in the Hereafter.
But, as mentioned earlier, this is only a possible reason. Some other
person may adduce another reason, the real wisdom being known to Allah
alone.
(b) Yes, there is no harm against reciting this du'a after prayers also.
But it should not be recited during the Salah except in the Witr Prayer.
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