Is Missing Jumu`ah because of Work Allowed?

Who must offer Jumu`ah prayer?

The one who hears the call to prayer on Friday and is one of those for whom Jumu`ah is obligatory, has to respond to the call. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):

{O you who believe (Muslims)! When the call is proclaimed for the Salah (prayer) on Friday (Jumu‘ah prayer), come to the remembrance of Allah [Jumu‘ah religious talk (Khutbah) and Salah (prayer)] and leave off business (and every other thing). That is better for you if you did but know!.} [Al-Jumu`ah 62:9]

Ibn `Umar and Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with them both) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “People should stop neglecting Jumu`ah prayers or else Allah will place a seal over their hearts, then they will be among the negligent.” (Narrated by Muslim, 865)

Can you miss Jumu`ah prayer because of work?

Based on this, you should tell your boss that you are going to go to Jumu`ah prayer, and he should give you and other Muslims permission. You can tell him that you will make up the time by doing extra work. And pray to Allah to make it easy for you.

{And whosoever fears Allah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty).} [At-Talaq 65:2]

Can security guards miss Jumu`ah prayer?

Shaykh Ibn `Uthaymin (may Allah have mercy on him) was asked about some workers whose bosses did not give them permission to attend Jumu`ah prayer on the grounds that they were guards on a farm.

He replied:

“If these workers are so far from the mosque that they would not be able to hear the adhan without a loudspeaker, and they are outside the town, then they do not have to pray Jumu`ah. The workers may rest assured that there is no sin on them if they stay on the farm and pray Dhuhr. But we advise their employer to give them permission (to attend Jumu`ah) because that is better for him and better for them; it may also soften their hearts towards him which may make them more sincere in their work, unlike if he puts pressure on them. Many workers ask to go to Jumu`ah prayer so that they can meet their friends and acquaintances, hence you see them going to Jumu`ah and talking in the marketplace until the imam comes, then when the imam comes they enter the mosque.”

The point of the above is that if they can hear the call to prayer, or they are inside the town, they should attend Jumu`ah; if they are outside the town and cannot hear the call to prayer, then they do not have to do anything.

The Standing Committee was asked about a young man who works as a guard, and his employer does not allow him to pray in the mosque. He beats him if he prays in the mosque and threatens to send him back to his country.

They replied:

“The five daily prayers should be offered in the mosque in congregation, so you have to perform them in congregation in the mosque. You have to be patient and seek reward in doing that, and Allah will grant you ease after hardship. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“And whosoever fears Allah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty).

And He will provide him from (sources) he never could imagine. And whosoever puts his trust in Allah, then He will suffice him. Verily, Allah will accomplish his purpose. Indeed Allah has set a measure for all things”
[At-Talaq 65:2-3]

And you should note that there is no obedience to any created being if it involves disobedience towards the Creator, so be with Allah and Allah will be with you.

And Allah is the Source of strength. May Allah send blessings and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and companions.” And Allah knows best.  (Fatawa Al-Lajnah Ad-Da’imah, 7/302 and Liqa’ Al-bab Al-Maftuh, 1/413)

But if your leaving work to pray Jumu`ah will adversely affect the factory, such as the risk of machines breaking down or fires breaking out etc., and there are other men in the factory with you, you can pray Jumu`ah in the factory, if the factory is inside the town, or it is outside and you can hear the adhan without the aid of loudspeakers.

If the factory is outside the town and you cannot hear the adhan without loudspeakers, or you fear that leaving work at the time of prayer will cause some problems at work, then this is an excuse for you not to pray Jumu`ah. In that case, you should pray Dhuhr in congregation is possible.

Can workers at Telegraph and Telephone companies miss Jumu`ah prayer?

The Standing Committee (8/188) was asked about some employees of the Telegraph and Telephone company whose work continues on Fridays at the time of the prayer; if they stop working then the wireless and telephone communications will cease. Is it permissible for them not to pray Jumu`ah?

The Committee replied that Jum’ah prayer is an individual obligation because of the evidence in the Quran and Sunnah and the consensus of the scholars. Then they said:

“But if there is a legitimate shar’i excuse for someone who is obliged to pray Jumu`ah, such as if he is directly responsible for work that has to do with the security of the ummah and guarding its interests, which means that he has to take care of that during the time of Jumu`ah prayer – such as men who work in the security forces, traffic police, those who work in wireless and telecommunications, etc, who have to be on call at the time of the last call for Jumu`ah prayer or when the iqamah is given for a congregational prayer – they and others like them are excused for not attending Jumu`ah or prayers in congregation, because of the general meaning of the verse in which Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):

{So keep your duty to Allah and fear Him as much as you can.} [At-Taghabun 64:16]

The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Whatever I forbid you, avoid, and whatever I tell you to do, do as much of it as you can.”

This excuse is not less than that of one who is excused from Jumu`ah and praying in congregation, as long as the excuse still stands, but that does not mean that he is excused from praying Dhuhr, rather he must pray Dhuhr on time, and if it is possible to pray in congregation he must do so, as with all of the five daily prayers.”

Can doctors miss Jumu`ah prayer?

The Committee was also asked (8/191) about a doctor who is on call in the clinic at the time of Jumu`ah prayer to treat the sick or wounded who may need emergency treatment. Is it permissible for him not to pray Jumu`ah?

They replied:

“The doctor mentioned in the question is doing an important job that is of benefit to the Muslims; if he goes to Jumu`ah prayer that will result in great danger. So there is no sin on him if he does not go to Jumu`ah prayer, but he has to offer Dhuhr prayer on time, and if it is possible for him to pray in congregation he must do so, because Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):

{So keep your duty to Allah and fear Him as much as you can.} [At-Taghabun 64:16]

If there are other colleagues on call with him, they have to pray Dhuhr in congregation.”

And they were asked (8/192) about a guard in a gas station that is about two kilometers outside the town, Is it permissible for him not to pray Jumu`ah, knowing that the station has previously been robbed and set ablaze, and his children and mahrams live there?

They replied:

“If the matter is as described, then it is permissible for the guard to pray Dhuhr instead of Jumu`ah, so that he can guard what he mentioned, because of the general meaning of the shar’i evidence which indicates that it is allowed not to pray Jumu`ah in such cases.”

Can workers at a petrol refinery miss Jumu`ah prayer?

They were also asked (8/194) about a group of between 13 and 15 employees who work in a petrol refinery and pray Jumu`ah in their workplace because they cannot go out to pray Jumu`ah because of their work.

They replied:

“If the matter is as mentioned, you may pray Jumu`ah in your workplace, because Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):

{So keep your duty to Allah and fear Him as much as you can.} [At-Taghabun 64:16]”

In conclusion, if you find that the interests of the Muslims as a whole or of an individual will be affected – such as stealing of property, arson, destruction of property etc – as a result of attending Jumu`ah, it is permissible not to attend and to pray Dhuhr instead.

But if the reason for not attending is to make more profit or to increase productivity or to increase study time, or to keep this job and not lose it because this job has a higher salary, and other such worldly interests, then this is not a reason for which Shai`rah allows one to miss Jumu`ah. How can it be, when Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):

{O you who believe (Muslims)! When the call is proclaimed for the Salah (prayer) on Friday (Jumu‘ah prayer), come to the remembrance of Allah [Jumu‘ah religious talk (Khutbah) and Salah (prayer)] and leave off business (and every other thing). That is better for you if you did but know!} [Al-Jumu`ah 62:9]?

And the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever misses Jumu`ah three times out of negligence, Allah will place a seal over his heart.” (Narrated by At-Tirmidhi, 500; classed as authentic by Al-Albani.)

So beware of being negligent about Friday prayer.

And Allah knows best.