Is it better for a person to pray Witr with the imam, or not to pray Witr with the imam and instead pray Tahajjud in the last part of the night?

Question : Is it better for a person to pray Witr with the imam and conclude his prayer, or is it better not to pray Witr with the imam and instead pray Tahajjud in the last part of the night?

Answer : The first option is better, based on the statement of Imam Ahmad (may Allah have mercy on him): "I like it when one prays with the imam and prays Witr with him." And what he said he likes is the apparent meaning of the hadith. Because the Companions said: . He said that whoever prays with the imam until he concludes the prayer, it is recorded for him as the standing of the night. This indicates that the preferred course is to limit oneself to what one prayed with his imam. Otherwise, he would have said: whoever wishes to offer voluntary prayers, let him do so. The door is open and the night remains until Fajr. If he had allowed us to offer voluntary prayers for the rest of our night, he would have said so. Instead, he said that whoever stands with the imam until he concludes the prayer, it is recorded for him as the standing of the night. The meaning of this is clear: if it is recorded for you as the standing of the night while you are sleeping in your bed, then rest yourself. This is a blessing from Allah (Mighty and Majestic). Also, the one who prays with the imam, if he wants to pray Tahajjud, either leaves before the Witr, in which case he has separated from the congregation, or he prays Witr with the imam and then stands to add a rak'ah to make it even. This is also a form of separation, and it may lead a person to showing off (riya'). Although one may protect oneself from showing off, with continuity, showing off may arise in his heart. It is as if he is saying to people: I am going to pray Tahajjud, and therefore I am adding a rak'ah to the Witr.