– tabārakta (“Blessed are You”): Your majesty is immense, Your grace and beneficence continually increase, and Your bounty is abundant.
– taʿālaita (“Exalted are You”): You are far above all that is unbefitting Your Majesty.

• Points derived from the ḥadīth:

1. The legitimacy of performing qunūt in the Witr prayer and its recommended nature there.
2. The recommendation of this comprehensive supplication—which gathers the good of this world and the Hereafter and is transmitted from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him); thus it ranks among the finest of prayers.
3. The ḥadīth itself does not pinpoint where in the prayer the supplication is recited; however, al-Ḥākim, in al-Mustadrak (3/188), added: “The Messenger of Allah taught me to say it in my Witr when I raise my head and only the prostration remains.”
4. Al-ʿIrāqī said: “The qunūt of Witr is reported through chains that establish its legitimacy; some are ḥasan, others ṣaḥīḥ. The Sunnah records qunūt both before and after the bowing, yet most of the Companions, the Successors, and the hadith jurists—such as Aḥmad and others—prefer it after the bowing.” Shaykh Taqī al-Dīn commented: “Because that position is more prevalent and better supported.”
5. The majority of scholars deem it recommended to raise one’s hands while making the supplication. In the ḥadīth: “Allah feels shy when a servant stretches out his two hands to Him asking for some good and He sends them back empty.” Reported by al-Tirmidhī (3571) and Ibn Mājah (3867). Many other narrations convey the same meaning.

• Expanded meanings of the words found in the qunūt supplication:
  – Allāhumma ihdinī fīman hadayta (“O Allah, guide me among those You have guided”): Guidance from Allah is the enabling grace and inspiration that leads a person to the desired goal; this guidance comes only from Him, as He says, “Indeed, you do not guide those you love, but Allah guides whom He wills” (al-Qaṣaṣ 28:56). The second type is the guidance of direction and instruction—this is the mission of the messengers, for He says, “And indeed, you guide to a straight path” (al-Shūrà 42:52). Those who call to goodness follow the example of the messengers.