Short answer
Jumuah is fard on every adult, sane Muslim man who is resident (not travelling), healthy and able to get to the masjid in a town. It is not fard on women, children, travellers or the sick, though they may attend and it replaces their Dhuhr. Work is not an excuse in itself.
Jumuah is fard on free, adult, sane, healthy, resident men who can see and walk to it, living in a town (misr) or its outskirts. Women, children, travellers, the sick, those nursing the sick and those in real danger are exempt; if they attend, their Jumuah is valid instead of Dhuhr.
Other madhhabs
- Shafi'i
- It is also fard on residents of a village with at least forty men who meet the conditions; the forty are needed for it to be valid.
- Maliki
- It is fard on a settled community of men even in a village, and those within about three miles must attend.
- Hanbali
- It is fard in any settled place with forty men meeting the conditions, and on those within hearing distance of the adhan.
Explanation
Allah commands the believers to hurry to the remembrance of Allah when the call is given on Friday and to leave trade. The Prophet ﷺ said Jumuah is a binding duty on every Muslim in congregation except four: a slave, a woman, a child and a sick person. Scholars added the traveller from other evidence.
- Men: fard, if adult, sane, resident and healthy.
- Women: not fard. A woman prays Dhuhr at home; if she attends Jumuah, it counts in place of Dhuhr. See women in the mosque.
- Travellers: not fard; they may attend, and the prayer then counts.
- The sick, the very elderly, or someone caring for a sick person: excused.
- Students and workers: a job or class is not an excuse by itself. Ask for an extended lunch break; many employers in the US, UK and Canada will agree. Many masjids hold two or three Jumuahs to help.
For Jumuah to be valid in the Hanafi school it must be in Dhuhr time, with a khutbah before the prayer, in congregation of at least three men besides the imam, and in a place open to the public. If you cannot attend, pray four rakats of Dhuhr; see what happens if you miss Jummah.
For the method and the sunnahs of the day, see how to pray Jummah and Friday in Islam.
The evidence
Quran, Surah Al-Jumu'a 62:9
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِذَا نُودِىَ لِلصَّلَوٰةِ مِن يَوْمِ ٱلْجُمُعَةِ فَٱسْعَوْا۟ إِلَىٰ ذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ وَذَرُوا۟ ٱلْبَيْعَ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ خَيْرٌۭ لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ ﴿٩﴾
O you who have believed, when [the adhan] is called for the prayer on the day of Jumu'ah [Friday], then proceed to the remembrance of Allah and leave trade. That is better for you, if you only knew.
Attending Friday prayer is commanded.
Sunan Abi Dawud 1067
Graded sahih... الجمعة حق واجب على كل مسلم في جماعة إلا أربعة ...
"Jumuah is a binding duty on every Muslim in congregation, except four."
Sets out who must attend and who is excused.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Hidaya, Kitab al-Salah, chapter on Jumuah. Lists the conditions of obligation and of validity of Jumuah.
- Bada'i al-Sana'i, Chapter on Jumuah. Explains the exemption of women, travellers and the sick.
- Kashshaf al-Qina', Chapter on Jumuah. The Hanbali condition of forty men and the distance of hearing the call.
This answer is pending review by the scholars on our team. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.