Taraweeh and Witr Prayers: Is It Valid to Skip Witr with the Imam?

Answered by Shaykh Rami Nsour

Question

I attend the local masjid for tarawih and witr prayers during Ramadan. But during the last ten days of Ramadan I prefer to stay awake for more late-night prayers and recitation of the Quran. By doing so, I attend the congregation for tarawih with the Imam, miss out on the witr, and then perform it late at night. Is this valid?

Answer

If you prefer to pray more than what the Imam leads for taraweeh, you may choose not to pray witr behind him. You would pray witr at the end of the prayers you performed that night.

The only time it is not permissible to skip praying with the Imam is if he is the regular imam of the place of prayer and is performing an obligatory prayer (fard). This is to prevent people from thinking that one is deliberately trying to avoid praying behind the regular imam and thus cause a division (fitna) in the community. [Mukhtasar Khalil]

And Allah knows best.

[Shaykh] Rami Nsour