Should One Pray the Witr with the Imam or Individually
4-9-2018 | IslamWeb
Question:
ASSALAAMU ALAIKUM WA ROHMATULLOHI WABARAKAATUH Sheikh,in our country people follows Hanafi Madhab,thus in the RAMADAAN after Taraweeh the Imam leads the Witr Prayer Praying like Maghrib Salaat that is sitting after 2nd Rakah recites Tashahhud then stands up for the 3rd Rakah without Tasleem then recites Faatiha and a Surah following it and then raise hands (Rafiyadain/Takbeeratul Ihram) like when one does when he starts a Prayer then clasp the hand and read the Qunoot silently then goes for bowing and thus finish the Prayer with Tasleem. Should I Pray the Witr with the Imam or should I pray individually after I prayed the Taraweeh with this Imam? If I am only Praying the Taraweeh and not Praying the Witr with the Imam, am I getting the reward of Praying whole night As the MESSENGER OF ALLAH (ﷺ) said “Whoever prays with the imam until he finishes, Allaah will record for him as if he spent the whole night in prayer” were narrated by al-Tirmidhi (806). Is the Witr also included with Taraweeh to finish with the Imam? Many people have this question. Please take your time & provide me with authentic evidence. Please do not just give any of your similar related questions link. JAZAAK'ALLOHU KHOIRON.
Answer:
All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
In order to get the reward of standing in prayer with the Imam until he leaves, you have two choices:
1- You pray the Witr prayer with him;
2- When you pray with the Imam the Witr prayer, you do not conclude your prayer with him; rather, you stand and perform another Rak’ah, and then you pray your Witr prayer at the end of the night [before Fajr] if you wish to do so.
Therefore, there is no harm if you perform the Witr with your Imam in the situation that you referred to in the question, as this issue is one of the matters of Ijtihaad.
Even if you believe that what is recommended is otherwise, yet following the Imam and refraining from performing some desirable acts for the sake of uniting the hearts (of the community) and not causing disunity, is an act that is in conformity with the Sunnah.
Allah knows best.