Qunut Prayer on the Last Night of Ramadan, Recommended for Followers of the Shafi'i School

Dream - Soon Muslims will enter the last half of Ramadan. On the 16th night, it is usually the Nahdliyin people who follow the Shafi'i school who recite the qunut prayer in the last rak'ah of the witr prayer. After performing 20 rak'ahs of tarawih prayer, then continue with 3 rak'ahs of witr prayer.

Quoting from the NU Online, Imam Al-Baihaqi in the book Ma'rifatus Sunan wal Atsar affirms that Imam Shafi'i recommends reciting the qunut prayer in the last rak'ah of the witr prayer. Specifically, this qunut prayer is recited after the i'tidal in the last rak'ah of the witr prayer.

So, what is the recitation of the qunut prayer on the last night of Ramadan? Let's find out more explanations!

Types of Qunut that are Important to Understand

Before knowing the recitation of the qunut prayer on the last night of Ramadan, it is better to also know the types of qunut in Islam. Here is the explanation:

1. Qunut Nazilah

Qunut nazilah is the qunut that is performed by Muslims when they are struck by calamities. For example, floods, landslides, famine, and the Covid-19 pandemic.

Regarding qunut nazilah, the scholars agree that it is recommended to recite the qunut prayer. Prophet Muhammad SAW did it when praying for the destruction of the Ri'il tribe, the Lahyan tribe, and the Ushyyah tribe. He recited it for one month.

2. Qunut in Fajr Prayer

The qunut in the Fajr prayer is certainly known by most Muslims. However, there are differences of opinion among scholars regarding the qunut in the Fajr prayer. The Hanafi and Hanbali scholars consider the qunut in the Fajr prayer to be not recommended.

Meanwhile, the Shafi'i and Maliki scholars consider the qunut in the Fajr prayer to be recommended, although there are differences in its implementation. According to the Shafi'i scholars, the qunut in the Fajr prayer is done after the ruku' in the second rak'ah. Meanwhile, according to the Maliki scholars, the qunut in the Fajr prayer is done before the ruku' because it is considered the most important.

3. Qunut in Witr Prayer

The scholars have agreed that reciting the qunut prayer in all prayers is recommended. However, there is a difference of opinion among the Hanafi scholars who say that it is obligatory after reciting a surah before the ruku' in the third rak'ah of the witr prayer.

On the other hand, according to the Shafi'i scholars, it is recommended to recite the qunut during the i'tidal in the last rak'ah of the witr prayer and in the last half of the month of Ramadan after performing the ruku'. It is recommended to replace it with prostration of forgetfulness if the qunut is not performed.

Recommended by Scholars of the Shafi'i School

The scholars of the Shafi'i school recommend reciting the qunut prayer on the last night of Ramadan in the witr prayer. This is based on the statement of Al-Baihaqi which has been confirmed by Imam Nawawi in the book Al Adzkar.

Although there are many opinions, Imam Bawwi explained that the strongest opinion is the one that says that the qunut prayer is recommended to be recited in the last half of Ramadan.

Here is the text of the qunut prayer on the last night of Ramadan that is commonly recited in Arabic and its translation:

اللَّهُمَّهْدِنَا فِيمَنْ هَدَيْتَ وَعَافِنَا فِيمَنْ عَافَيْتَ وَتَوَلَّنَا فِيمَنْ تَوَلَّيْتَ وَبَارِكْ لَنَا فِيمَا أَعْطَيْتَ وَقِنَا شَرَّ مَا قَضَيْتَ فَإِنَّكَ تَقْضِي وَلَا يُقْضَى عَلَيْكَ.

تَبَارَكْتَ رَبَّنَا وَتَعَالَيْتَ. مَا بِكَ حَقًّا بَلْ بِكَ الْحَقُّ. أَسْتَغْفِرُكَ وَأَتُوبُ إِلَيْكَ. (وَصَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَى سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ).

That is the recitation of the qunut prayer on the last night of Ramadan that you can recite. However, it is not a problem if you do not perform it, depending on which school of thought you follow.

And indeed, You do not disgrace the one who seeks refuge in You. And You do not honor the one who opposes You.

Blessed are You, our Lord, and exalted are You. All praise is due to You for what You have decreed. And I seek Your forgiveness and repent to You, and may peace be upon our master Muhammad, the unlettered Prophet, and upon his family, companions, and followers

Meaning: "O Allah, guide us as You have guided those whom You have shown. And grant us health as You have granted health to those whom You have given health. And protect us as You have protected those whom You have protected. And bless us in what You have bestowed upon us. And save us from the danger of the evil that You have determined. For indeed, You are the One who judges and is not judged. For indeed, the one whom You lead is not humiliated, and the one whom You oppose is not honored."

Glory be to You, our Lord, and exalted are You. All praise is due to You for what You have decreed. I seek forgiveness from You and I repent to You. (And may Allah) pour out His mercy and blessings upon our master, Prophet Muhammad, his family and companions."

That is the recitation of the qunut prayer on the last night of Ramadan that you can recite. However, it is not a problem if you do not perform it, depending on which school of thought you follow.