he offers it before bowing or afterwards. If the imam does not offer qunūt, the follower should not offer it either.

If the imam considers something recommended, but those praying behind him do not, he does well to leave it for the sake of agreement and harmony.

Witr is an example of this. The scholars hold three views concerning it:

The first is that it must consist of three joined rak‘ahs, like Maghrib. This is the view held by some scholars of Iraq.

The second is that it must consist of a single rak‘ah, separate from the prayer preceding it. This is the view held by some scholars of the Hijaz.

The third is that both forms are permissible, as is the apparent position of the schools of al-Shāfi‘ī, Ahmad and others. This is the correct view, although these scholars prefer to separate it from the preceding prayer.

Thus, if the imam favours separating it, but those praying behind him prefer that he perform Witr like Maghrib, he does well to accommodate them in order to bring their hearts together. This accords with what the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said to ‘Ā’ishah:

“Were it not that your people had only recently left the age of ignorance, I would have dismantled the Kaaba, set it at ground level, and given it two doors: one through which people would enter and another through which they would leave.”

He thus refrained from what he considered better, lest he alienate the people.