[Q 691] Missing Jumu’ah for Work

Question

Huzoor we hear that missing 3 consecutive Jumu’ah salah due to laziness is sinful,

Does this count if one misses 3 or more due to being at work?

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
الجواب بعون الملك الوهاب اللهم هداية الحق والصواب

Answer

Jumu’ah is Fard-e-Ain (an individual obligation), and its obligation is more emphasized than that of the Dhuhr prayer. For a person upon whom Jumu’ah is obligatory, deliberately missing Jumu’ah without a valid Shari’ah excuse is strictly impermissible (najaa’iz), haram (forbidden), and a major sin (kabeerah gunah). Many severe warnings (wa’eedat) have been mentioned concerning this in the noble Ahadith.

Therefore, in the inquired situation, continuously missing three Jumu’ahs merely due to worldly work or employment is impermissible (najaa’iz) and a grave sin. Worldly preoccupations or job constraints are not counted as valid Shari’ah excuses (such as severe illness or threat to life); therefore, it is not permissible to abandon Jumu’ah on this basis.

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “I intended to command a man to lead the prayer, and then I would burn the houses of those who stayed behind from Jumu’ah.”

(Sahih Muslim)

In another narration, it is stated: “Whoever misses three Jumu’ahs without an excuse, he is a hypocrite.”

(Al-Ihsan bi Tartib Sahih Ibn Hibban)

In the mentioned noble Hadith, the person who is referred to as a hypocrite, the meaning of this Hadith is that this act resembles the actions of hypocrites.

Answered by: Tabaruk Madani (AskMufti Scholar)
Verified by: Mufti Sajid Attari
Translated answer
Date: 30th July 2026