Where is praying 2 and 2 sunnah prayers before Zuhr comes from?

Question

I do know its been a sound Islamic practice to pray 2 and 2 sunnah prayers before Zuhr. I just wondering if I prayed ahead to catch with a group prayer without sunnah, will that be haram or its recommanded to make up the 2 and 2 sunnah prayers afterward when the Zuhr is completed?

Again the question is :

1.What is the source for the 2 and 2 sunnah prayers before Zuhr?

2.Will it be haram to not to pray the 2 and 2 sunnah prayers before Zuhr because catching up the Zuhr group prayer?

Please provide Quranic / Hadith reference with your answer, jazaklahir!

Answer 1

Here's your answer...

To Question 1.

There are many optional (nawafil) prayers. 12 units (raka'ah) are ascribed or related to 4 (out of the 5) compulsory prayers - Fajr/Subh, Zuhr, Magrib and Isha.

The hadeeth for this is:

“A house will be built in paradise for every Muslim who offers twelve Rak’ah of optional salah other than the obligatory salah in day and night, to seek pleasure of Allah.”

Source: Muslim

So if someone knows that value of a palace in paradise, I don't think they'll take this lightly.

To Question 2.

Is it haraam or sinful to miss the optional prayers? No. How can it be? That's why they're called optional prayers. But it is certainly a sin to miss any of the compulsory prayers (5 times a day).

However, as mentioned before, if someone does it (i.e., the optional prayers), they get the rewards for it. But if it's not done, there's no sin.

And Allaah knows best.