Is it permissible for one person to deliver the sermon (khutbah) and another person to lead the Friday prayer (Salat al-Jumu'ah)?

It is the Sunnah for the one who delivers the sermon to lead the prayer, following the practice of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and his successors. It is permissible to separate them due to an excuse. Imam Ahmad disliked doing so without an excuse, due to the possibility of prohibition, because they both stand in place of two rak'ahs, and because the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "Pray as you have seen me praying." Nevertheless, it is likely permissible due to the separation of the sermon from the prayer. The fact that the Imam has a better memory of the Qur'an than the Khatib does not justify violating the Sunnah.