If one misses the Friday prayer, he must make it up as the midday prayer in four rak'ahs

Question : The questioner asks: If a person misses the Friday prayer, whether for an excuse or without one, does he pray it as the Friday prayer in two rak'ahs, or does he pray it as the midday prayer?

Answer : The correct view is that he prays it as the midday prayer, because the Friday prayer is a specific prayer with specific conditions, so it is not like the midday prayer. If that is the case, it is not permissible for the one who missed it to pray only two rak'ahs; rather, it is obligatory for him to pray four. This is because when it became difficult for him to perform the Friday prayer, the obligation of the time fell upon him, which is the midday prayer. It was reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that whoever catches one rak'ah of the Friday prayer should add another to it. This indicates that the one who limits himself to two rak'ahs in the Friday prayer is the one who catches a complete rak'ah of it. As for the one who missed it or did not catch a complete rak'ah of it, he prays it as the midday prayer.