Question

The famous Du’a recited in Witr “Allahumma Inna Nastaeenuka wa nastaghfiruka” Is this mentioned in the Hadith? Also, are there variations in the wordings?

Answer

Imam Abu Bakr Ibn Abi Shaybah (rahimahullah) has recorded the following narration:

Abu ‘Abdir Rahman (rahimahullah) says that Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (radiyallahu ‘anhu) would teach us the following du’a in Qunut,

“Allahumma inna nasta-‘inuka wa nastaghfiruka wa nuthni ‘alaykal khayra wa la nakfuruka wa nakhla’u wa natruku may yafjuruk. Allahumma iyyaka na’budu wa laka nusalli wa nasjudu wa ilayka nas’a wa nahfidu narju rahmataka wa nakhsa ‘adhabaka inna ‘adhabakal jidda bil kuffari mulhiq”

اللهم إنا نستعينك ونستغفرك ونثني عليك الخير ولا نكفرك ونخلع ونترك من يفجرك
اللهم إياك نعبد، ولك نصلي ونسجد، وإليك نسعى ونحفد، نرجو رحمتك ونخشى عذابك إن عذابك الجد بالكفار ملحق

(Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah, Hadith: 6965)

Many narrations suggest that these du’as were two Surahs of the Holy Quran. However they were later abrogated.

(Refer: Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah, Hadith: 7102)

There are various different versions of these narrations, with variations in the wording. It is difficult to enumerate all the different wordings.

(Kindly refer to Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah, Hadiths: 7100, 7102, 7103, 7104, 7105, Tahdhibul Athar of Imam Ibn Jarir At Tabari, vol. 1, pgs. 349-359 and As Sunanul Kubra of Imam Bayhaqi, vol. 2, pgs. 210 and 211)

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best

Answered by: Mawlana Suhail Motala

Approved by: Mawlana Muhammad Abasoomar

Checked by: Mawlana Haroon Abasoomar