The ruling on the Friday prayer if the worshippers do not reach forty

The questioner:
After this, we move to the Syrian Arab Republic via a message sent by a listener from there. The sender, Faisal Rammah from Damascus, Syria, asks about the Friday prayer. He says: If the worshippers do not reach the number of forty, or if the worshippers do not reach the number of forty, is the prayer repeated after the Friday prayer?

The Shaykh:
It is correct that a specific number is not required for the Friday prayer; rather, the Friday prayer is valid with the smallest number, which is three or more. The minimum for the Friday prayer is three or more, and the Friday prayer is valid with them, because there is no correct, explicit evidence requiring forty, or requiring a specific number. The correct opinion, according to the words of the scholars, is that it is established with three. This is the correct position, if Allah wills.

The questioner:
And what about repeating the prayer if the number is not forty?

The Shaykh:
Is this condition the weaker position? The stronger position is that there is a condition of the number forty. Based on that, the Friday prayer is valid, if Allah wills, and there is no repetition required of you. May Allah reward you with good.