Bismillaah-ir-Rahmaan-ir-Raheem.
Assalaamu ‘Alaykum wa Rahmatullaahi wa Barakaatuh.
The four Rakaats of salaah before the Fardh of Zohr and the two Rakaats after the Fardh of Zohr are classified as Sunan-e-Muakkadah or Sunan-e-Rawaatib.
A person who leaves out the Sunan-e-Muakkadah Salaah out of carelessness, or habitually leaves them out, is considered a Faasiq (open transgressor). The following ruling is written in Tahtaawi, “A person who leaves out Sunan-e-Muakkadah is a Faasiq, a person who denies it is an innovator, and it is stated in Talweeh that leaving it out is close to Haraam.(Malfoozhaat Faqeehul Ummat, Vol. 1, Part 4, Pg. 16)
Based on the above, it is not permissible to leave out the Sunnahs. We advise that you request for an extra five minutes and perform the sunnahs as well. You may suggest that you will make up for those extra minutes after hours. If the authorities are persistent, you may save time by using the washroom, and making Wudhu before-hand.
Farthermore, Rasulullaah (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said, “Whoever perfroms 12 rakaats of Salaah in one day, excluding the Fardh Salaah, he will be granted a house in Jannah.” (Sahih Muslim) These 12 Rakaats have been specifically enumerated in another narration as: the 2 Rakaats before fajr, 4 Rakaats before Zohr, 2 Rakaats after Zohr, 2 Rakaats after Maghrib, and 2 Rakaats after ‘Esha.
Regarding the 4 Sunnahs of before Zohr, Rasoolullaah (sallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) mentioned, that the doors of heavens open at that time. (Tirmizhi) And if one follows it up with 4 more rakaats (2 sunnah, 2 nafl), Allaah will protect him from Jahannam. (Tirmizhi)
Why should we deprive ourselves of such immense reward?
And Allaah Ta’aala knows best.
Wassalaam.
————————————– A. Z. Pandor
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