Is it legislated to praise and laud Allah and to invoke blessings upon the Prophet before the Qunut supplication?

It is not obligatory to begin with praise and salutations upon the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, in the Qunut supplication. It has not been reported that the Witr Qunut supplication should begin in this manner, as the prayer itself begins with praise of Allah Almighty. The jurists have mentioned that salutations upon the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, should be recited at the end of the Witr Qunut, based on what has been reported in some hadiths and narrations. Al-Mardawi the Hanbali said in Al-Insaf: "He supplicates for the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, after the supplication. This is explicitly stated and is the madhhab." This was also considered desirable by Imam Shafi'i and those who agreed with him, based on the hadith of Al-Hasan ibn Ali, may Allah be pleased with them both: "O Allah, guide me among those whom You have guided... and may Allah send His peace and blessings upon the Prophet." It is also confirmed from Ubayy ibn Ka'b that he used to send salutations upon the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, at the end of the Qunut during the Ramadan night prayers in the era of Umar, may Allah be pleased with him.