Question: If I pray in the masjid and the Imaam prays twenty rak’ahs, should I complete twenty along with him or should I pray eight rak’ahs along with him and then pray witr alone and leave?
Answer: I advise that you pray eight rak’ahs and you pray the witr alone. Following the Sunnah is more deserving, for indeed the Prophet, salallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam, said: Pray like you have seen me pray.
Shaykh Muqbil bin Haadee
‘Fadaa’ih wa Nasaa’ih’, Al-Allaamah Al-Muhaddith Muqbil ibn Haadee al-Waadi’ee, Daarul-Haramain, Cairo. Page 86.Translated by Abu Khadeejah
This is extremely concerning. Why then do they recite 20 raka’ah in the haram in Makkah, and also in Majidun Nabawi in Madinah during Ramadaan behind the imam?