What is the legal basis for the qunut with the supplication for completing the Qur'an in the witr, and what is the qunut and its ruling in the witr if no calamity has befallen?
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The questioner : His EminenceThe Shaykh : What is the legal basis for the qunut with the supplication for completing the Qur'an in the witr, and what is the qunut?
And what is the ruling on the qunut in the witr if no calamity has befallen?
The Shaykh : The correct view is that the qunut is performed specifically in the witr, and also in the obligatory prayers if a calamity befalls the Muslims. However, the qunut for calamities is not the same as the qunut supplication in the witr; rather, the qunut for calamities is to supplicate to Allah the Exalted with what is appropriate for that incident or that calamity. This is the qunut.
As for the supplication for completing the Qur'an in prayer, I do not know of any basis for it, neither from the Sunnah of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) nor from the Sunnah of the Companions. The most that is found is:.
And this is outside of prayer. As for in prayer, there is no basis for it. However, it is a matter in which the scholars (may Allah have mercy on them) differed; the scholars of the Sunnah, not the scholars of innovation. The matter is broad in this regard, meaning: it is not befitting for a person to be so strict that he leaves the mosque and separates from the congregation of the Muslims because of the supplication when completing the Qur'an. And if the matter is left to him, he should not supplicate in prayer when completing the Qur'an, because prayer is ordered by the Shari'ah. Standing has its recitation, bowing has its remembrance, prostration has its remembrance, standing after bowing has its remembrance, sitting between the two prostrations has its remembrance, and the tashahhud has its remembrance. This order has no place for the qunut except what the Sunnah brought regarding the qunut for calamities, and likewise the witr.
As for the supplication for completing the Qur'an, it is not reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) or from his Companions that they used to supplicate when completing the Qur'an in prayer. But as I said: it is not befitting for a person to be strict in this matter to the extent of saying: "This one who supplicates when completing the Qur'an in prayer is an innovator who is astray, and it is not permissible to agree with him," because the Salaf differed on this.
The questioner : What is the ruling if one performs the qunut for a calamity with the supplication for completing the Qur'an?
The Shaykh : I told you that in the case of calamities, one performs the qunut as the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) did.
And what is the ruling on the qunut in the witr if no calamity has befallen?
The Shaykh : The correct view is that the qunut is performed specifically in the witr, and also in the obligatory prayers if a calamity befalls the Muslims. However, the qunut for calamities is not the same as the qunut supplication in the witr; rather, the qunut for calamities is to supplicate to Allah the Exalted with what is appropriate for that incident or that calamity. This is the qunut.
As for the supplication for completing the Qur'an in prayer, I do not know of any basis for it, neither from the Sunnah of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) nor from the Sunnah of the Companions. The most that is found is:
That Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him), when he intended to complete the Qur'an, would gather his family and supplicate.
أن أنس بن مالك رضي الله عنه كان إذا أراد أن يختم القرآن جمع أهله ودعاAnd this is outside of prayer. As for in prayer, there is no basis for it. However, it is a matter in which the scholars (may Allah have mercy on them) differed; the scholars of the Sunnah, not the scholars of innovation. The matter is broad in this regard, meaning: it is not befitting for a person to be so strict that he leaves the mosque and separates from the congregation of the Muslims because of the supplication when completing the Qur'an. And if the matter is left to him, he should not supplicate in prayer when completing the Qur'an, because prayer is ordered by the Shari'ah. Standing has its recitation, bowing has its remembrance, prostration has its remembrance, standing after bowing has its remembrance, sitting between the two prostrations has its remembrance, and the tashahhud has its remembrance. This order has no place for the qunut except what the Sunnah brought regarding the qunut for calamities, and likewise the witr.
As for the supplication for completing the Qur'an, it is not reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) or from his Companions that they used to supplicate when completing the Qur'an in prayer. But as I said: it is not befitting for a person to be strict in this matter to the extent of saying: "This one who supplicates when completing the Qur'an in prayer is an innovator who is astray, and it is not permissible to agree with him," because the Salaf differed on this.
The questioner : What is the ruling if one performs the qunut for a calamity with the supplication for completing the Qur'an?
The Shaykh : I told you that in the case of calamities, one performs the qunut as the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) did.