An Explanation Of The Du’aa Of Qunoot by Shaykh Muhammad Ibn Saalih Al-‘Uthaymeen

This is a form of praising and glorifying Allaah () by mentioning these two noble descriptions. All blessings are attributed to Allaah as He () is the Possessor and Bestower of all blessings. “Blessed are You” meaning: Your goodness is unlimited and it encompasses the entire creation. Blessing, as we have previously mentioned, is anything good and continuous.

Our statement, “our Lord” Means: Our Lord! (As if a Yaa with the Alif was connected to Our Lord). Here this type of statement is the vocative. The Yaa that initiates the call has been omitted here.

Our statement, “and You are exalted far above (any deficiencies),” contains the concept of Allaah actually being high above, both personally and as a description – His attributes being the highest characteristics.

So He is personally high above all creation and this concept of the highness of Allaah ()

is a personal, never-ending description. As for His rising over the throne, this is a description of action, which occurs by His will and decision. The throne is the greatest of all creation, and upon it, Allaah () rose over in a manner that befits His majesty and greatness. We do not seek “how” this rising is,14 nor do we believe it to be similar to or resembling the way any of creation would rise over something. The righteous predecessors (as-Salaf as-Saalih) unanimously agreed upon this belief based upon its supporting evidences in the Qur’aan, the Sunnah, the intellect, and the natural inclination of all people.15

As for the highness of Allaah’s characteristics and attributes, this means Allaah alone possesses the highest, most complete and perfect attributes and descriptions. And there is no deficiency whatsoever with any of them.

In the Du’aa of Qunoot is a phrase in which many a question has been asked according to what our imams utter in their Qunoot when they say:

{Reckon those who do wrong from amongst us by way of our righteous} So what is the meaning?

The closest statements’ concerning this Du’aa is that it is coming from the area of intercession. Meaning that this large group has those who are evil and those who do good, so we ask Allaah to guide the one who does evil by intercession of the one who does good therefore it is intercession from the righteous on behalf of those who do wrong.

With this, this concise explanation of the Du’aa of Qunoot is completed by the success of Allaah. May Allaah send His peace and prayers upon our prophet, Muhammad, and upon his family, his companions, and his followers until the Day of Judgment.