He was asked:

May a Shāfiʿī follow a Hanafī, and vice versa, regarding the witr prayer and combining prayers because of rain, or not?

He answered:

Praise be to Allah.

Yes, a Hanafī or anyone else may follow a scholar who permits combining prayers because of rain, especially since this is the position of the majority of scholars, including Mālik, al-Shāfiʿī, and Ahmad. ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar used to combine prayers with the rulers in Medina when they combined them because of rain.

No one is obliged to follow any particular person in everything he commands, prohibits, or recommends except the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. Muslims have always sought rulings from Muslim scholars, following one scholar at times and another at other times. If someone follows a scholarly authority on an issue because he considers that better for his religious practice, or considers that position stronger, or for a similar reason, this is permissible by agreement of the great majority of Muslim scholars. Neither Abū Hanīfa, Mālik, al-Shāfiʿī, nor Ahmad prohibited this.

Likewise, in witr and other prayers, the follower should follow his imam. If