Answered by Ustadh Tabraze Azam
Question: Asalamo alykum
The Imam at the mosque where I go for tarawih prayer also prays witr jamaat. Does this mean that the taraweeh count as the tahajjud?
If not then should I leave the mosque after offering the tarawih and pray the witr at home with tahajjud?
Answer: Wa alaikum assalam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,
I pray that you are in the best of health and faith, insha’Allah.
No, the tarawih prayer and the night-vigil (tahajjud) prayer are not the same thing.
The tarawih prayer is twenty units (rak`ats) and a confirmed sunna in the Hanafi school. [see: Can I Just Pray 8 Cycles of Tarawih?]
The tahajjud prayer is a recommended sunna and optimally eight units (rak`ats). [see: Tahajjud Prayer: Description & Merits]
And during Ramadan, it is superior to pray the Witr in congregation.
And Allah alone gives success.
Wassalam,
Tabraze Azam
Checked & Approved by Faraz Rabbani