Mufti saab can a hanafi pray witr behind shafai?
If someone does not know beforehand does he have to repeat witr just incase?
They didn’t sit in 2nd rakah for tashahhud also in 3rd instead of duae kunoot they said dua by raising hands, hence the doubt
Bismillahi Ta’ala
Walaikum Assalam Warahmatullah
In principle a Hanafi may pray behind a shafi’ and vice versa. There is nothing wrong with it. However, hanafi fuqaha’ mention that this principle excludes situations wherein an Imam adopts an action (even though it may be valid within their school of thought) which according to the hanafi follower’s school of thought invalidates the salah, then such a following will not be permissible.
For example, a hanafi follower knows that the Shafi’ imam did not renew his wudhu’ from a bleeding which according to hanafiya breaks the wudhu’, then the hanafi’s iqtida (following) behind that shafi’ Imam in that particular situation will not be valid. In general norms one will not make speculation about such issues and maintain husn al dhan that the Imam will go out of the way to come out of differences to preserve the salah of congregation of varied backgrounds.
It is for this reason it is vital for any Imam to be aware of such major differences in fiqh so that he may preserve the salah of all congregation. This is one of the reasons for choosing him as an Imam.
In the situation you have mentioned, the witr salah itself is valid, and the following is also valid. However, the Imam should be considerate of the hanafi followers behind him since according to hanafiya sitting in the second rak’at is wajib, even in witr. Skipping a wajib requires a Sajdah Sahw, and by not doing that sajda sahw (corrective prostration) the salah will be rendered valid but defficient if not repeated in its time. In the above instance, the hanafi follower should repeat his witr as long as its time has not expired.
As for the qunoot, then it is a du’a in itself as well. The rendition of du’a other than designated qunoot will not invalidate the salah. A hanafi muqtadi should remain in regular position while the dua is being recited and continue with the imam. It will not render salah invalid.
Wallahu A’lam
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Mufti Faisal al-Mahmudi