Grand Ayatollah Shirazi Clarifies Rulings on Qunut in Daily Scholarly Session

Grand Ayatollah Shirazi Clarifies Rulings on Qunut in Daily Scholarly Session
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Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Sadiq Hosseini Shirazi has clarified several jurisprudential rulings related to qunut (the supplication recited during prayer with raised hands on the second Rak’a), stating that the act remains valid even if a worshipper does not raise their hands while reciting it.

The remarks were made during the Supreme Marja’s daily scholarly session held during the blessed month of Rajab, where his Eminence addressed a range of religious and jurisprudential questions from attendees, consistent with previous sessions.

Addressing the rules of qunut, Grand Ayatollah Shirazi explained that qunut essentially means supplication, and it is recommended (mustahabb) for a person to raise their hands while performing it. He noted that classical jurisprudential sources, including Al-Urwah al-Wuthqa, state that a worshipper may raise one hand during qunut, although raising both hands is considered preferable.

He further added that it is recommended for the hands to be open and facing toward the sky while making the supplication.

However, Grand Ayatollah Shirazi emphasized that raising the hands is not a condition for the validity of qunut. He stated that if a person recites a supplication during qunut without lifting their hands, the qunut is still valid, because its essence lies in the remembrance of God.