Changing one's intention from fardh to sunnat in salaah

Q: I wanted to know if you make intention before salah for fardh or nafil or whatever. Example: Zohar and you made intentions for 4 fardh but you ended making sunnah first instead of the fardh. How does this affect it? 

A: If you made the intention of performing four fardh, then the four rakaats will take place as your fardh. It will not take place as sunnat. If you had not performed the four rakaat sunnat, then you should perform the four sunnats after the fardh salaah as long as the time of Zuhr remains.

And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.

Answered by:

Mufti Zakaria Makada

Checked & Approved:

Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)