Can an Imaam Lead the zuhr salaah without Performing his Sunnah salaah?

Q: Salaah-36: When the Imaam arrives for the Zuhr salaah, it is almost time for the salaah to commence. If people do not want to wait from him to first perform his four Rakaahs Sunnah salaah. can he lead the salaah without performing them. or will this render the salaah Makrooh?

Answer: In the said case, the Imaam may lead the salaah without performing the Sunnah salaah and the salaah will not be Makrooh. The four Rakaahs Sunnah may be performed after the Fardh salaah. Hadhrat Aa'isha RADI. mentioned that when Rasulullaah SAW. did not manage to perform the four Rakaahs Sunnah before Zuhr, he performed them afterwards. And Allaah knows best what is most correct.

Fatawa Rahimiyyah vol.2