As the Scholars have mentioned that Muslims should make Qunut for the People in Syria now, I wanted to share the manner in which Qunut an-Naazilah (the Qunut for afflictions/calamity) is performed.

The Permanent Committee mentioned in summary the manner of Qunut an-Nazialh which can be found here.

And from that which they mention is to avoid the error of reciting the supplication prescribed for Qunut for witr in the Qunut an-Naazilah.

They said in the above link:

“There is no specific Du‘a’ to say in Qunut Al-Nawazil, but Muslims should supplicate at every time with what is suitable for their circumstances under the affliction. Anyone who supplicates in afflictions with Du‘a’-ul-Qunut that is said in the Witr (Prayer with an odd number of units), which is “Allahumma ihdina fiman hadayt… [O Allah, guide me among those You have guided…], has contradicted the Sunnah and missed the purpose. The Prophet (peace be upon him) did not invoke Allah in afflictions with this Du‘a’; rather, he used to teach it to the people to say it in the Witr Prayer”

Shaikh al-Albani rahimahullah also said:

“”This reminds me that the Qunut in Fajr (due to an affliction/calamity) does not have this supplication. This supplication is [only] in the Qunut in witr: “O Allah, guide me among those You have guided…”. They [the Imams of the masaajid] make Qunut with it. This is another mistake along with the first mistake that there is no Qunut in Fajr except during affliction/calamity. Then, in this situation, it is Sunnah to make Qunut in all five prayers…””

[Silsilatul-Huda wan-Nur no. 132]

So this is something that should be corrected.

Benefit: As for those behind the Imam during the Qunut an-Naazilah, then it is legislated that they make Ta’meen.

The Proof:

‎ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، قَالَ قَنَتَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم شَهْرًا مُتَتَابِعًا فِي الظُّهْرِ وَالْعَصْرِ وَالْمَغْرِبِ وَالْعِشَاءِ وَصَلاَةِ الصُّبْحِ فِي دُبُرِ كُلِّ صَلاَةٍ إِذَا قَالَ ‏ “‏ سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ ‏”‏ ‏.‏ مِنَ الرَّكْعَةِ الآخِرَةِ يَدْعُو عَلَى أَحْيَاءٍ مِنْ بَنِي سُلَيْمٍ عَلَى رِعْلٍ وَذَكْوَانَ وَعُصَيَّةَ وَيُؤَمِّنُ مَنْ خَلْفَهُ

Abdullah ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) recited the supplication (Qunut) daily for a month at the noon, afternoon, sunset, night and morning prayers. When he said: “Allah listens to him who praises Him” in the last rak’ah, invoking a curse on some clans of Banu Sulaym, Ri’l, Dhakwan and Usayyah, and those who were standing behind him said: Ameen.

[Saheeh Sunan Abi Dawood no. 1443]

Shaikh Abdul-Muhsin al-‘Abbad (may Allah preserve him) said in explanation:

“That is: that he (ﷺ) made the supplication out loud and those behind him said: Ameen. And this is evidence that the Qunut is read out loud and that those behind the Imam say: Ameen to the supplication which he supplicates with”

[Sharh Sunan Abi Dawood no. 174]

And Allah Knows Best

Faisal Ibn Abdul Qaadir Ibn Hassan
Abu Sulaymaan


Question: 

Do the mamoon raise their hands while this qunut is being recited? What is the manner in which we keep our hands?

Answer:

Raising the hands in the Qunoot an-Naazilah is established from the Prophet (ﷺ).

It comes on the authority of Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said:

، فلقدْ رأيتُ رسولَ اللهِ صلَّى اللهُ عليه وسلم في صلاةِ الغَداةِ رفع يديهِ فدعا عليهم . وفي روايةٍ : يدعو عليهم

I saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) in the Fajr prayer raise his hands and supplicate against them. In one version: supplicating against them [i.e. those disbelievers who killed seventy reciters from the Companions]

[Graded Saheeh by Imam al-Albani in Asl Sifat-us-Salah (3/957)]

It is also established from Umar ibn al-Khattab and Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them) that they raised their hands in the Qunoot.

As for those behind the Imam, then they too raise their hands.

Shaikh al-Albani (may Allah have mercy upon him) said: “Raising the hands in the Qunoot, whether Qunoot of witr or the Qunoot of Fajr or other than it from the five prayers during the time of calamity (Naazilah), then it is allowed to raise the hands in it. If the Imam raises his hands and raises his voice in supplication, then those behind him say Ameen and also raise their hands…”

[Silsilatul-Huda wan-Nur no. 703]

As for the manner of raising the hands, then you can refer to the article here for the detail.

And Allah Knows Best

Faisal Ibn Abdul Qaadir Ibn Hassan
Abu Sulaymaan