Bismillaah Al-Hamdulillaah wa salatu wa salaamu 'ala rasulullaah
Amma ba'd
Abandoned Sunnan for Witr in Ramadan, Taken from Ahadeeth and Atharr about Qunootil Witr, by Muhammad ibn 'Umar Bazmoul (hafidhahullaah)
1. The Qunoot is to be left off in the first half of Ramadan if the prayer is in congregation with the people. This is indeed an abandoned Sunnah, and unknown to many.*
* Ibn Seereen (rahimahullaah) said:[Musanaf Abdur Razzaq 7724. Hasan Lee Ghayree hi]Ubay used to lead the people in prayer during the time of 'Umar (radiallaahu 'anhu) in Ramadan. When the half of Ramadan passed, he would do Qunoot aloud after the [Ruku']. And when the 20th night of Ramadan passed, he would go to his family. Then Abu Haleemah Mu'adh would lead the people in prayer. He performed the Qunoot during the last ten days of Ramadan.
*Nafi' (rahimahullaah) narrated that Ibn 'Umar (radiallaahu 'anhumma) didn't peform qunoot in the witr prayer until the middle of Ramadan. [Al-Bayhaqi in Kubara 2/498 the isnad is Saheeh]
2. From the abandoned Sunnat is to pronounce the takbir before and after the Qunoot when making Qunoot before the Ruku.**
**Ibrahim (rahimahullaah) said: "When you have finished reciting the Qur`an, say Takbir. Then (after the Qunoot) say Takbir and bow." [Ibn Abee Shaybah 2/ 307]
Muhammad Bazmoul (hafidhahullaah wa baarak Allaahu fee) said:
It's authentically reported that 'Umar ibn Khattab, 'Ali, and Bara' (radiallaahu 'anhum) used to say takbir before the Qunoot when making it before the [Ruku'] in qunoot al-Nawazil at Fajr.
It's legislated that if a person wants to do Qunoot in witr, he should say Takbir after he reads the Quran. He says, "Allaahu Akbar." Before the Qunoot and after. This is an abandoned sunnah today, except the one Allaah has mercy on.
3. It's permissible to raise the hands with the Qunoot supplication, to leave them down at the sides, or to raise the hands for the first part and leave them down for the last part...***
***Ibrahim narrated that Ibn Mas'ud (radiallaahu 'anhu) used to raise his hands during witr, then lower them. [Musanf Abdur Razzaq 7952. Isnad Saheeh]
Muhammad Bazmoul (hafidhahullaah) said:
It's legislated to raise the hands during the Qunoot or leave them at your side. It's also legislated to raise the hands at the beginning then lower them at the end. These acts have been authentically reported on the sahabah (radiallaahu 'anhum ajma'een). Therefore all of these acts are permissible to practice.