What it means
قنوت (qonut) refers to a specific supplication performed during the Islamic ritual prayer (نماز, namâz), in which the worshipper raises both open palms upward and recites a du’a (supplication) to God. The word is borrowed directly from Arabic, from the root ق-ن-ت (q-n-t), which carries the meaning of devout obedience, humble submission, and standing quietly before God. In Shia practice, قنوت is typically performed in the second rak’a (unit of prayer) before bowing. It is distinct from just raising hands to say Allahu Akbar (تکبیر, takbir); قنوت specifically denotes the palm-up supplication posture and the prayers said in it.
How to use it
- موقع قنوت دعا میخونی. (mowqe’-e qonut do’â mikhuni.) “During the qunut you recite supplications.”
- بچهام قنوت نماز رو حفظ کرده. (bache-am qonut-e namâz ro hefz karde.) “My child has memorized the qunut of the prayer.”
- دستاتو بالا بیار برای قنوت. (dastâto bâlâ biyâr barâye qonut.) “Raise your hands for the qunut.”
- یه دعای قنوت کوتاه بهم یاد بده. (ye do’â-ye qonut-e kutâh behem yâd bede.) “Teach me a short qunut supplication.”
Cultural note
The قنوت is an established element of daily Islamic prayer across both Sunni and Shia traditions, though the specific timing, frequency, and wording differ between the two. In Shia Islam as practiced in Iran, a widely recited قنوت begins with the phrase «ربنا آتنا فی الدنیا حسنة» (rabbanâ âtinâ fi’d-dunyâ hasana), drawn from the Quran. For many Iranian children, learning the قنوت is one of their first encounters with Quranic Arabic, making it a formative part of religious education in the home and school.