Leading the Zuhr Fard Without the Zuhr Sunna

Question

Before Zuhr there are four [rak‘as of] sunna. What is [the ruling on] leading [the prayer] without performing them? Is there any kind of karaha in it?

Answer

The original sunna is indeed that one first performs the sunnas and then leads the Zuhr prayer. If it so happens that [the imam] leads Zuhr without having prayed the sunna, the prayer will still be valid. This is what is understood from the narration of Ibn Majah.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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