If the imam stands for the witr in the tarawih prayer and some people intend it as an even number so they can perform witr later in the night, do they sit with the imam for the tashahhud?
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The questioner : In the tarawih prayer, when the imam stands for the witr in the last rak'ah, some people intend to pray it as an even number so they can perform witr later in the night. Do they sit with the imam for the tashahhud?
The Shaykh : No, it is better to follow the imam. When the imam says the taslim, he performs one rak'ah.
The questioner : He intended to pray it as a single unit from the very beginning of the tashahhud.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : He intended from the start that this is an even number, not witr.
The Shaykh : It is not permissible to go against this by intending it as an even number, but he must follow the imam. Because if he said the taslim before the imam, he would have left before the imam left, and he would lose the reward of standing in night prayer.
The questioner : Okay, what if the imam sits for the tashahhud while he is standing to complete the second rak'ah?
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : If the imam sits for the tashahhud while he is standing to complete the same rak'ah.
The Shaykh : How is he standing to complete the rak'ah?
The questioner : And the people are doing the tashahhud while he has completed the rak'ah for the sake of...
The Shaykh : For the sake of what?
The questioner : To make it an even number.
The Shaykh : He did not pray two rak'ahs with the imam.
The questioner : No, the imam prayed one rak'ah for the witr.
The Shaykh : The imam performed witr with one rak'ah.
The questioner : The last rak'ah.
The Shaykh : The imam performed witr with one rak'ah.
The questioner : Yes, exactly.
The Shaykh : Okay, if he performed witr with one rak'ah, he stands after the imam says the taslim and performs one rak'ah.
The questioner : That is, the tashahhud must be done with him.
The Shaykh : He must do the tashahhud with the imam, following his imam.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : Yes
The questioner : ...
The Shaykh : Yes, the guests' questions are finished. Okay.
The Shaykh : No, it is better to follow the imam. When the imam says the taslim, he performs one rak'ah.
The questioner : He intended to pray it as a single unit from the very beginning of the tashahhud.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : He intended from the start that this is an even number, not witr.
The Shaykh : It is not permissible to go against this by intending it as an even number, but he must follow the imam. Because if he said the taslim before the imam, he would have left before the imam left, and he would lose the reward of standing in night prayer.
The questioner : Okay, what if the imam sits for the tashahhud while he is standing to complete the second rak'ah?
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : If the imam sits for the tashahhud while he is standing to complete the same rak'ah.
The Shaykh : How is he standing to complete the rak'ah?
The questioner : And the people are doing the tashahhud while he has completed the rak'ah for the sake of...
The Shaykh : For the sake of what?
The questioner : To make it an even number.
The Shaykh : He did not pray two rak'ahs with the imam.
The questioner : No, the imam prayed one rak'ah for the witr.
The Shaykh : The imam performed witr with one rak'ah.
The questioner : The last rak'ah.
The Shaykh : The imam performed witr with one rak'ah.
The questioner : Yes, exactly.
The Shaykh : Okay, if he performed witr with one rak'ah, he stands after the imam says the taslim and performs one rak'ah.
The questioner : That is, the tashahhud must be done with him.
The Shaykh : He must do the tashahhud with the imam, following his imam.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : Yes
The questioner : ...
The Shaykh : Yes, the guests' questions are finished. Okay.