The eminent Muslim scholar and renowned Da`iyah, Sheikh `Abdel Khaliq Hasan Ash-Shareef, states: “The basic ruling is that the Imam who gives the khutba is the one who leads people in Friday Prayer. However, if there is a good reason for another one to lead people in Prayer such as the case when there is a person who is better than the Imam (who delivers the Friday sermon) in reciting the Qur’an, then there is nothing wrong with that.”
Sheikh M. S. Al-Munajjid, a prominent Saudi Muslim lecturer and author, adds: Imam Ibn Qudamah (may Allah have mercy on him) said: “The Sunnah is for the same person to lead the Prayers as gave the khutbah, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to do both himself, as did his successors (the khulafa’). But if one man gives the khutbah and another leads the prayer for a valid reason, this is permissible. This is what Ahmad stated…because if it is permissible for someone else to take over leading the prayer for a valid reason, then this applies even more so in the case of the khutbah with the Prayer. If there is no reason, then Ahmad (may Allah have mercy on him) said: ‘I do not like it if there is no excuse.’ The reason why it is not liked may be because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to do both of them, and he said, ‘Pray as you have seen me praying’ (Reported by al-Bukhaari and Ahmad), and because the khutbah takes the place of two rak`ahs. The reason why it is permissible may be because the khutbah is separate from the Prayer, as if it is two prayers.”