Qunoot Duas Shia Muslims Can Recite with Meanings
Qunoot duas Shia Muslims recite are supplications offered while standing in prayer. In ordinary daily Shia namaz, qunoot is recommended before ruku in the second rakah. According to Ayatollah Sistani, any dhikr, even one Subhanallah, is sufficient. Below are three Quranic examples with Arabic text, transliteration, and English and Urdu meanings.
When to recite qunoot in daily prayers
After the recitation in the second rakah, remain standing and perform qunoot before bowing. Raise your hands in front of your face, palms upward and beside each other. Under Sistani’s obligatory precaution, qunoot without raising the hands is incorrect unless necessity prevents it.
His qunoot rulings 1103 to 1107 also explain that any dhikr is sufficient, even a single Subhanallah. One lengthy text is therefore not the only choice. Qunoot in these daily prayers is recommended, rather than obligatory.
For the wider prayer sequence, see our Namaz Jafria guide. Keep the distinction clear between learning the whole prayer and practising the supplication at this particular point.
Table of Contents
Three short Quranic duas to learn
The following examples come from the Quran. Each has a different focus, giving learners something specific to reflect on. You can choose one suitable supplication; this list is not a requirement to recite all three together.
Transliteration is an approximate reading aid. It cannot represent every Arabic sound, so use the Arabic text and ask a teacher to listen to your pronunciation. The English and Urdu lines below explain the meaning in simple language.
A dua for goodness in this life and the next
Arabic
رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ
Transliteration: Rabbana atina fid-dunya hasanatan wa fil-akhirati hasanatan wa qina adhaban-nar.
English meaning: Our Lord, give us goodness in this world and in the Hereafter, and keep us safe from the punishment of the Fire.
Urdu meaning
اے ہمارے رب، ہمیں دنیا میں بھلائی اور آخرت میں بھلائی عطا فرما، اور ہمیں آگ کے عذاب سے بچا۔
This is the supplication within Surah Al-Baqarah 2:201. Practise it in three parts: the request for worldly good, the request for good in the Hereafter, and the request for protection. Then join the parts without rushing the ending.
A short dua for knowledge
Arabic
رَبِّ زِدْنِي عِلْمًا
Transliteration: Rabbi zidni ilma.
English meaning: My Lord, increase my knowledge.
Urdu meaning
اے میرے رب، میرے علم میں اضافہ فرما۔
These words are part of Surah Taha 20:114. Their short length makes them manageable for someone learning Arabic. Take care with each word rather than treating a short dua as something to say hurriedly. Reflect on the knowledge you need and how you intend to use it responsibly.
A dua for prayer and family
Arabic
رَبِّ اجْعَلْنِي مُقِيمَ الصَّلَاةِ وَمِنْ ذُرِّيَّتِي رَبَّنَا وَتَقَبَّلْ دُعَاءِ
Transliteration: Rabbij’alni muqimas-salati wa min dhurriyyati, rabbana wa taqabbal du’a.
English meaning: My Lord, make me steadfast in prayer, and my descendants too. Our Lord, accept my supplication.
Urdu meaning
اے میرے رب، مجھے نماز قائم کرنے والا بنا اور میری اولاد میں سے بھی۔ اے ہمارے رب، میری دعا قبول فرما۔
Read the verse in Surah Ibrahim 14:40. Families can discuss why the speaker asks for help with his own prayer before mentioning his descendants. That offers a useful starting point for talking about the example adults set at home.
A simple way to practise outside prayer
Choose one dua and work on it over several short sessions. First, listen to a reliable recitation or your teacher’s model. Next, repeat a small phrase while looking at the Arabic. Read its meaning before moving to the next phrase.
When you can join the phrases, ask someone qualified to check the complete recitation. Keep a note of the word that needs more attention. Repeating a mistake many times can make it harder to notice, so seek correction early.
Children can explain the meaning using everyday words. An adult beginner may prefer to record a private practice attempt and compare it with the teacher’s example. These are study suggestions, not additional rules of prayer.
If you forget qunoot
Sistani’s ruling 1107 distinguishes when you remember it. Before reaching the required bowing position, it is recommended to stand upright and perform it. If remembered during ruku, make it up after ruku as recommended; if remembered in sajdah, after salam. Consult the linked ruling for your situation.
Continue learning with Us:
For help understanding prayer rulings, explore our Fiqh of Ahlul Bayt course. For further devotional reading outside this short practice session, visit the Ziyarat and Duas reader collection.
Students who want guided reading can also review the Ziyarat and Duas course. See the current fees and plans or contact SQT about a three-day free trial.
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