Q. If a male misses 3 Friday Jummahs, is it that he has to take back shahadah?
A. The missing of the Juma salaah three times by a male upon whom it is compulsory, is indeed a grave sin, however, it does not take a person out of Islam. Hence, there will be no need to take back the shahadah.
The hadith which speaks about one who misses three Juma, does not indicate to one becoming an unbeliever. Instead, it mentions that a seal is placed over his heart. The hadith states that Abu Qatada (R.A) narrates that the Prophet (S.A.S) said, ‘Whoever leaves out Juma three times without a valid necessity, then a seal is placed on his heart’. (Majma’uz Zawaa’id)
A similar tradition has been recorded by Imam Abu Dawood in which it is narrated that the Prophet (S.A.S) said, ‘Whoever misses the Juma three times on account of negligence, then Allah will put a seal on his heart. (Tirmizi, Abu Dawood)
As explained by the scholars, the placing of the seal on the person’s heart means that the divine guidance and assistance to do good deeds will be seized from his heart. (Kitabul Fatawa Vol. 3 Pg. 68)
And Allah knows best.
Mufti Waseem Khan