There are certain times where one makes the intention to attend Jumuah Prayers, however unexpected emergency circumstances arise at work which may not allow you to leave. Is this ok? I hope that once can pray dhur instead. Please advise.
Assalamu alaykum
In the name of Allah the inspirer of truth
The Friday prayer is one of the most important prayers upon a Muslim. Allah says in the Qur’an:
“O you who believe, when the call is proclaimed to prayer on Friday, hasten earnestly to the remembrance of Allah, and leave off business: this is best for you if you but knew.” [Al-Qur’an 62:9]
It is prohibited to engage oneself in anything besides preparation for the prayer once the adhan has been called. It is necessary take precautions to avoid such unexpected appointments and meetings that will make it difficult for a person to attend the Friday prayer. Remember, an excuse is something that may happen once in a long time and not some thing that happens every now and then, so to say.
A solution to this problem is that you could take Friday off and work on another day, if that is a possibility. Otherwise make it clear that you will not be available for that one hour or so window on Fridays.
If the job is such that it continues to force you to miss the Friday prayer, you would have to look for another job to preserve this important obligation of your religion.
In any case, missing a Friday necessitates that one sincerely repents and beseeches Allah for forgiveness.
Wassalam
Mufti Abdurrahman ibn Yusuf