Should a ten-year old boy perform Friday prayer at the mosque, or should he pray Zuhr at home?

A boy who has turned ten may have reached puberty. If he has reached puberty, it is obligatory for him to perform the Jum’a prayer at the mosque and it is unlawful for him to leave it. If he does leave it, he will have committed a major sin.

If he has not reached puberty, he does not sin by missing the Jum’a prayer, but his guardian must order him to attend Jum’a just as he orders him to perform other prayers. The guardian is sinful if he is remiss in doing so.

Amjad Rasheed

(Translated by Sidi Hatem Yousef)

السؤال السادس : الولد الذي عمره عشر سنوات هل يصلي الجمعة في المسجد أم يصلي الظهر في البيت؟ الجواب : من بلغ عشر سنين يحتمل بلوغه ؛ فإن كان بالغاً وجب عليه صلاة الجمعة في المسجد ويحرم عليه تركها فإن تركها كان مرتكباً للكبيرة . أما إن لم يكن بالغاً فلا يأثم بترك الجمعة ، لكن يجب على وليه أمره بحضورها كما يأمره ببقية الصلوات ، فإن قصر الولي في ذلك كان آثما .