Asslaamualaikum
dear mufti sahib, what is the correct way of performing the takbeer in the third raka’at of witr, ie. do you drop your hands by your sides and then raise them or simply raise them from where they are fastened (below the navel.) and if the hands are dropped will the salaah break as this is the method i have been doing and am now worried that my namaaz’s have not been completed.

In the name of Allah, the most Beneficent, the most Merciful.

Answer

The procedure of performing the qunut is that in the third rakaat before the ruku the hands will be raised up to the ears and the qunut will be read.   (Ilmul Fiqh p.38 v.2)

Both scenarios mentioned in the question are allowed and will not affect the validity of the salah.  However it is preferable that the takbeer is made from the folded position of the hands rather than dropping then to the side and then raising them up to the ears.

Only Allah Knows Best

Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham.