If the Imam is Shafi, can a muqtadi who is Hanafi make salatul-witr behind him?
Answer
If the Imaam is a Shaafi’ee and he performs the Witr Salaat by making salaam after 3 Rakaats, i.e. completes the Salaat with one Salaam only after the third Rakaat, then it will be permissible for a Hanafi Muqtadi to follow the Shaafi’ee Imaam.
However, if the Shaafi’ee Imaam makes salaam after 2 Rakaats, i.e. then there is a lee way according to some Ulama for a Hanafi Muqtadi to follow the Shaafi’ee Imaam. However, since Salaat is a fundamental ibaadat, as a precaution, it will be best to repeat the Witr performed behind a Shaafi’ee Imaam. (Fataawa Rahimiyyah vol.4 pg.190; Darul Ishaat)
and Allah Ta’ala Knows Best
Mufti Ebrahim Desai