If the Imaam makes Qunoot, the follower should do the same
26-12-2012 | IslamWeb
Question:
In Fajr prayer, the Imaam raises his hands and says supplications; so what should I do? Should I raise my hands and say amen or something else? If the Imaam inaudibly recites the supplication of Qunoot before bowing, should I supplicate or recite the Quran? Please clarify the matter. May Allaah reward you.
Answer:
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.
Imaams of Fiqh, may Allaah Have mercy upon them, differed concerning whether Qunoot in Fajr prayer was legislated. Imaam Ahmad and Abu Haneefah believed that it is not a Sunnah to make Qunoot in the Fajr prayer or in other prayers except Al-Witr prayer. Anas narrated that the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, observed Qunoot for one month invoking a curse upon some tribes of Arabia, but then abandoned it. [Muslim] In addition, Abu Maalik said: "My father prayed behind the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and he prayed behind Abu Bakr, ‘Umar, ‘Uthmaan and ‘Ali here in Koofah. I asked him: 'Did they make Qunoot in Fajr prayer?' He said: 'No, son, it is something that has been innovated."' [At-Tirmithi: Hasan Saheeh] This narration is acted upon by the majority of scholars. On the other hand, Maalik and Ash-Shaafi‘i believed that Qunoot is a Sunnah in Fajr prayer at all times because Anas, may Allaah Be Pleased with him, said: "The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, continued to make Qunoot in Fajr prayer till he left this world." [Ahmad] ‘Umar, may Allaah Be Pleased with him, used to make Qunoot in Fajr prayer in the presence of the companions and others. The difference here encompasses all because it is a considerable difference and we may not object to those who adopt the opposite opinion. If one prays behind an Imaam who makes Qunoot, he should raise his hands and say amen to his supplications because of the general proofs that indicate the permissibility and recommendation of raising the hands while supplicating. This applies if the Imaam makes the Qunoot audibly. If he made it inaudibly, the follower should make Qunoot inaudibly as well and the same applies if the Imaam made Qunoot audibly but he did not hear him due to being far from him or the like.
Allaah Knows best.