Is it obligatory to delay the Dhuhr prayer until the end of its time in order to make up for many missed prayers, according to the saying of Imam Ahmad? And if I forgo making up the prayers despite being able to do so, intending to make them up later, is the present prayer valid, and should it be prayed at the beginning of its time or at the end?

Whoever has missed prayers must make them up in order and promptly, unless they fear missing a current prayer or its optional time expiring, or if there is physical or financial harm, or for a legitimate purpose such as waiting for company.

There is another opinion that permits performing the current prayer first if the missed prayers are numerous.

Some Hanbalis have held that whoever intentionally abandoned prayer and then repented is not obliged to make them up, but rather should increase in voluntary prayers.

We advise anyone who has missed a prayer or prayers without a valid excuse to repent and resolve not to neglect prayer again. If the missed prayers are few, they should make them up. If they are numerous, they should increase in supererogatory prayers.