Is it permissible after the completion of the Qur'aan in Taraaweeh for the Imaam to: 1.

Answer

It is not permissible to unnecessarily delay the Witr after completion of the Taraaweeh. If the Imaam has to renew his wudhu, then this much delay waiting for him is tolerable. But the delay caused by all the stupid antics of pride and show mentioned by you is not at all permissible.

It is not permissible to delay the Witr after the Taraaweeh for thanking the builders and the musallis, for a 5 minute talk and for doling out ice creams to the musallis. All these acts are haraam. The musallis should object, get up and perform their Witr in Jamaat by appointing any one else to lead the jamaat. The Musjid is not the venue for merrymaking. It is not permissible to convert the Musjid into a picnic spot. It is despicable to serve ice cream in the Musjid after the Taraaweeh and before the Witr in particular. In general it is not permissible to eat in the Musjid. Only the Mu'takifeen are allowed to eat, but not to make merry. The Ibaadat of Taraaweeh and Tilaawat of the Qur'aan are for the Pleasure of Allah Ta'ala. The silly thanks of the imaam reeks of riya and cheap name-seeking. The builders were paid money for the job they had done at the Musjid. What thanks was there to offer them in the Musjid at the time of Taraaweeh and Tilaawat of the Qur'aan? If the builders had constructed the Musjid free – without any cost – their thanks is by Allah Ta'ala. An occasion of ibaadat may not be transformed into a private session of riya and futility. There is absolutely no relationship between the builders work and the Taraaweeh. The miscreant imaam had chosen the Musjid, the Salaat and the Qur'aan for his nafsaani and mundane objectives thereby fulfilling the following prophesy of Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam): "The world will be pursued with deeds of the Aakhirah."