If a person recites the qunut alone, should he use the plural form or the singular form?
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The questioner : Regarding the booklets where the supplication is written in the plural, should we change it to the singular if one person wants to make the supplication?
The Shaykh : Which plural?
The questioner : “O Allah, guide us among those You have guided, and heal us among those You have healed,” when one person wants to make the supplication alone, meaning.
The Shaykh : The hadith of the qunut, if you remember it:Sunan an-Nasa'i 1745Sahih (Darussalam) is in the singular, but if he is an imam, he is supplicating for himself and for others.
The questioner : No, one person alone.
The Shaykh : And for this reason, Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah said that if the imam supplicates with a general supplication, the ma'mum says “Ameen” to it, and he singles out himself for it, then he is a traitor, a traitor to those behind him. For example, suppose you are the imam and you say, “O Allah, guide me among those You have guided,” and they say “Ameen.” Did they supplicate for themselves? Yes? I am asking you?
The questioner : Me?
The Shaykh : Be patient, my brother, just answer me.
The questioner : No.
The Shaykh : They supplicated for themselves, so he is supplicating for himself and they are saying “Ameen” to his supplication for himself. This involves treachery. Say: “O Allah, guide us among those You have guided,” and intend that it is for you and for those behind you. But if you are alone, say:Sunan an-Nasa'i 1745Sahih (Darussalam) just as you say between the two prostrations: “My Lord, forgive me and have mercy on me.” Did you understand? Now, you might bring up to me that Allah the Exalted said in the Qur'an in Surat al-Fatihah: [Al-Fatihah 1:6] and this is recited by the one praying alone, the imam, and the ma'mum, is it not? It is said: The Noble Qur'an was revealed for everyone, and Allah Mighty and Majestic knew that there would be from this Ummah those who would stand as imams for the people with this surah. If the surah had been revealed as “Guide me to the straight path,” and the people would be praying in congregation, how would the imam say it? Either he would supplicate specifically for himself, or he would distort the Qur'an and say, “O Allah, guide us to the straight path.” So Surat al-Fatihah is in the plural form because Allah knew that those who would stand with this surah would be imams with a congregation behind them. Therefore, it was revealed with this wording: [Al-Fatihah 1:5-6] Now, if he is alone, a person can intend in his heart, “Guide us, O Muslim Ummah, to the straight path,” and there is no harm in that. Do you understand now? If you supplicate with the qunut and you are alone, what do you say?
The questioner : As it is written in the book.
The Shaykh : No, say: “O Allah, guide me among those You have guided.”
The questioner : Now, if you pass by a verse from the verses, how do I change it to the singular?
The Shaykh : You do not change it. The verse is recited as it was revealed; you do not change it.
The questioner : We say: “Our Lord, give us good in this world and good in the Hereafter.”
The Shaykh : Yes, you say, “Our Lord, give us good in this world and good in the Hereafter.” You do not change the Qur'an; the Qur'an is not changed. Likewise, in the hadith of 'Abdullah ibn Mas'ud, the supplication for distress and hardship:Sahih Ibn Hibban 7:372 On the occasion of the qunut supplication in these days, Muslims are supplicating for their brothers in Chechnya and Bosnia and Herzegovina. It has reached me that some imams are reciting the qunut of witr: “O Allah, guide us among those You have guided.” This is incorrect; this is ignorance, because the qunut of events is specific to events. Accordingly, you supplicate to Allah Mighty and Majestic for victory for Chechnya and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and for the defeat of their enemies who have aggressed against them, and you do not supplicate with the qunut of witr. Yes, that is right.
The Shaykh : Which plural?
The questioner : “O Allah, guide us among those You have guided, and heal us among those You have healed,” when one person wants to make the supplication alone, meaning.
The Shaykh : The hadith of the qunut, if you remember it:
Allahumma ihdini fiman hadayta
اللهم اهدني فيمن هديتThe questioner : No, one person alone.
The Shaykh : And for this reason, Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah said that if the imam supplicates with a general supplication, the ma'mum says “Ameen” to it, and he singles out himself for it, then he is a traitor, a traitor to those behind him. For example, suppose you are the imam and you say, “O Allah, guide me among those You have guided,” and they say “Ameen.” Did they supplicate for themselves? Yes? I am asking you?
The questioner : Me?
The Shaykh : Be patient, my brother, just answer me.
The questioner : No.
The Shaykh : They supplicated for themselves, so he is supplicating for himself and they are saying “Ameen” to his supplication for himself. This involves treachery. Say: “O Allah, guide us among those You have guided,” and intend that it is for you and for those behind you. But if you are alone, say:
Allahumma ihdini fiman hadayta
اللهم اهدني فيمن هديتGuide us to the straight path -
اهدنا الصراط المستقيم(5) It is You we worship and You we ask for help. (6) Guide us to the straight path -
إياك نعبد وإياك نستعين * اهدنا الصراط المستقيمThe questioner : As it is written in the book.
The Shaykh : No, say: “O Allah, guide me among those You have guided.”
The questioner : Now, if you pass by a verse from the verses, how do I change it to the singular?
The Shaykh : You do not change it. The verse is recited as it was revealed; you do not change it.
The questioner : We say: “Our Lord, give us good in this world and good in the Hereafter.”
The Shaykh : Yes, you say, “Our Lord, give us good in this world and good in the Hereafter.” You do not change the Qur'an; the Qur'an is not changed. Likewise, in the hadith of 'Abdullah ibn Mas'ud, the supplication for distress and hardship: