Should a woman praying at home pray “Jumu’ah” or “Dhuhr”?

by Asma bint Shameem 1. First of all, Jumu’ah is not obligatory on women or those who are sick, or traveling, etc. 🍃ً The Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam said: “Jumu’ah is a duty that is required of every Muslim in congregation except four: a slave, a woman, a child or a sick person.” (Abu Dawood (1067); saheeh by al-Albaani) 2. Jumu’ah is ONLY VALID in congregation at the masjid. It is NOT valid at home. So if you missed going to the masjid on Friday afternoon for some reason, then you MUST pray DHUHR. It is NOT VALID for you to pray Jumu’ah at home. 🍃 Shaikh Ibn Baaz said: “ If a man does not attend Jumu’ah due to a legitimate excuse such as sickness and so on, or for some other reason, he should pray Dhuhr. Similarly a woman should pray Dhuhr. Travelers and desert dwellers should also pray Dhuhr, as is indicated by the Sunnah, because during the Farewell Pilgrimage, when the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam stood at ‘Arafah on a Friday he led the people in praying Dhuhr and he did not lead them in praying Jumu’ah, because he did not order the people of the desert (people who live outside cities and towns) to pray Jumu’ah. This is the view of the majority of scholars, and the view of those who held odd opinions should not be taken into account. The one who misses Jumu’ah deliberately also has to repent to Allaah and offer it as Dhuhr prayer.” [Majmoo’ Fataawa wa Maqaalaat Mutanawwi’ah li Samaahat (12/332)] 🍃 The scholars of the Standing Committee said: “If a woman prays Jumu’ah with the Imaam, that is SUFFICIENT and she does NOT have to pray Dhuhr; it is NOT PERMISSIBLE for her to pray Dhuhr that day. But if she prays ON HER OWN then she can ONLY pray Dhuhr, and she cannot pray Jumu’ah.” [Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah (7/337)] So if you missed the Friday prayer at the masjid, and you’re praying at home, you should pray Dhuhr like you do on any other day. And Allaah knows best