Supplicating in Times of General Tribulation (Qunut al-Nazila)

 

Question: What is the hukm of qunuut naazilah during a time like now, is it an emphatic sunnah? How often should it be conducted during the whole length of a said event or at intervals?  Can it be conducted alone? I have seen hanafi brothers who when rising from ruku raise their hands like the sh'aafiyyah? Is this valid for a hanafi?  Is the du'a a fixed du'a or are variations permissible

Walaikum assalam,

1. It is recommended (mustahabb). [As understood from Shurunbulali's Imdad al-Fattah and Ibn Abidin's Radd al-Muhtar]

2. It can be conducted in congregation or alone, but the stronger opinion is that it is limited to the fajr prayer. Some Hanafis allowed it in all loud prayers (Fajr, Maghrib, Isha).

3. In the Hanafi school, one does not raise one's hands. But if one did, it is not sinful.

4. There are various transmitted duas, but one may supplicate (in Arabic) from oneself.

A short dua to make it:

"Allahumma 'nsur al-muslimin, wa 'hfadh ikhwanana fi'l Iraq"

[O Allah, give victory to the Muslims, and protect our brethren in Iraq]

Like other duas, one should open by praising Allah and end by sending blessings on the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace be upon him).

[See attached answers.]

Wassalam,
Faraz Rabbani