A Question on Qunut in Witr and Prayers on the Prophet

Question:

Do you recite Duaa Qunoot in every Witr, no matter the time of year? And also…after recitation of Qunoot, is reciting Salawaat upon Rasulullah sallallahu ailahyi wa aalihi wasallam permissible?

Country: United States

Answer:

Wa alaykum salam wa rahmatuLlahi wa barakatuHu,

The relied-upon view in the Shafi’i School is that qunut is recited in witr only during the second half of Ramadan. (Rawdat al-Talibin 1/358) There is a differing opinion found in the School, relied by four of the senior Ashab, and the preferred view of Imam Nawawi. Please see here: http://www.shafiifiqh.com/is-qunut-made-in-witr-throughout-the-year-or-only-in-the-last-half-of-ramadan/.

It is recommended to recite salawat [prayers on the Prophet Muhammad (Salla Allahu alayhie wa sallam)] after the qunut. (Rawdat al-Talibin 1/359; Sharh al-Muhadhdhab 3/499) This is supported by Imam Nasai’s hadith. Imam Nawawi declared it to be either sahih or hasan. However, Hafiz Ibn Hajar questions Imam Nawawi’s assessment. In Talkhis al-Habir 1/605, he declared the hadith as munqati’.

And Allah knows best.

Shafiifiqh.com Fatwa Dept.