Witr and Du'a al-Qunut: How to Pray Witr (Hanafi)
The three rak'ahs of Witr step by step, and Du'a al-Qunut in full Arabic with transliteration and meaning.
Updated 25 October 2026
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About 5 minutes to readtime it takesWitr is the prayer that closes the night. In the Hanafi school it is wajib: three rak'ahs with one salam, prayed after Isha and before Fajr, with Du'a al-Qunut read in the third rak'ah before ruku'. This two-page guide shows the three rak'ahs step by step, what to do if you do not know the Qunut yet or forget it, how Witr is prayed in Ramadan, and the Qunut itself in full Arabic, with transliteration and meaning, so you can learn it by heart.
Step by step
- 1Make the intention for three rak'ahs of wajib Witr
- 2Pray two rak'ahs and sit for at-Tahiyyat only
- 3In the third rak'ah, after the surah, raise your hands saying Allahu akbar
- 4Read Du'a al-Qunut quietly, then go into ruku'
- 5Finish with at-Tahiyyat, Durood, du'a and salam
How to use it
Read page 1 once, then keep page 2 by your prayer mat until you know the Qunut by heart. Learn one short phrase a day.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Witr wajib or sunnah?
In the Hanafi school Witr is wajib. It should not be left, and if it is missed it is made up as a qaza.
When do I read Du'a al-Qunut?
In the third rak'ah, after al-Fatihah and a surah. Raise your hands saying Allahu akbar, fold them, read the Qunut quietly, then go into ruku'.
What if I don't know Du'a al-Qunut?
Until you learn it, read Rabbana atina fid-dunya hasanah… or say Allahummaghfir li three times.
What if I forget the Qunut and go into ruku'?
Do not go back. Carry on and do Sajdah Sahw at the end of the prayer.
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