Question 197: Asslamoalakum! Could we add the names of non-muslim people while mentioning the names of 40 people dead/alive in Qunoot of Witr in Namaz-e-shab (nawafilatu-layl)? Also, could we recite Sura Fatiha while passing through the graves of non-Muslims? This include mentioning name of non-Muslims among 40 names in qanoot of witr too, only if they were harmless towards Muslims right? What if that non-Muslim is alive, could we mention him/her in qunoot of Witr?
Answer 197: Given the supposition made in the answer, there is no difference between mentioning them in Qunut. According to the verses of the Holy Quran, if those non-Muslim who have not fought Muslims on the account of Religion and have not driven us out of our Homeland, Allah (SWT), the Almighty does not forbid us from doing good and regarding justice to them. Therefore, we can visit their graves and ask Allah, the Almighty for His forgiveness and pray for them. However, Allah (SWT) forbids us only from having Friendship with those who fought us on the account of Religion and Drove us out of our homeland; and helped one another in driving us out; We are forbidden to have friendly Relation with them; and whoever among us does so, then he is regarded as One of the disbelievers. Because, in the Holy Quran Allah (SWT) says: “The Prophet and the faithful may not plead for the forgiveness of the polytheists, even if they should be [their] relatives, after it has become clear to them that they will be the inmates of hell”.[1]
Our maraja have different opinions in this regards:
Sayyid Sistani: You are not allowed to pray for non-Muslim in order that Allah (swt) don’t punish them.
Makarem Shirazi: There would be no problem to recite surah al-Fatihah and pray for them if they have not fought Muslims on the account of religion.
Khameneni: There would be no problem in it per se.
Safi Golpayegani: Reciting salawat and seeking Allah (swt) for his forgiveness is not permissible.
The qunut of witr prayer is one of the highly rewarded mustahab acts and stress has been laid on prolonging it. It has been narrated from the Holy Prophet, peace be upon him and his family, that he said: “Whoever prolongs the qunut of his witr prayer in the world, will be at ease at the station of judgment.”[2] In Qunut, first pray for forgiveness of forty or more Mu’mineen who are either dead or living in the following manner. For example, you should say:
“اللهم اغفر لفلان
“Allahumma ighfir li-fulan”.
Instead of ‘fulan’, you should mention the name of the individual whom you want to pray for. Or recite:
اللهم اغفر للمؤمنین و المؤمنات
Allahumma ighfir lil-mo’meneen wal-momeenat.
“استغفر الله ربی و اتوب الیه”
Then recite seventy times “astaghfirullah rabbi wa atubu elayh.” Then recite:
“هذا مقام العائذ بک من النار”
Haza maqamul a’eze bika minan nar.
Then say three hundred times:
“العفو”
Al-Afw. Then the following dhikr is recited:
“ربّ اغفرلی و ارحمنی و تب علیّ انک انت التواب الغفور الرحیم”
Rabbi ighfirli wa irhamni wa tub ‘alayya innka antat tawwab al-ghafoor al-rahim.[3]
For further information in this regards, please refer to the following answer:
Index: Praying for non-Muslim Parents, answer 516.
Index: Ways to Greet in Islam with Muslims and Non-Mahram, answer 369.
Index: The night prayer or Salat al-Layl (Tahajjud, Night Prayer), answer 234.
Index: Reciting Dua or Dikr in any language during the Prayer, answer 579.
[1] . Surah Mumtahina, verses 8 & 9; Surah Tawbah, verse 113.
[2] . Tabatai Yazdi, Muhammad Kazem, Urwat al-Wuthqa, vol.1, p. 544 – 545, Dar al-Tafsir.
[3] . Adopted from answer: The night prayer or Salat al-Layl (Tahajjud, Night Prayer), answer 234.