What is the evidence that the Friday prayer is not valid with fewer than three people?
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The questioner : We mentioned, O Shaykh, that the closest opinion is that the Friday prayer is valid with three people. What is the evidence? Is the hadith you just mentioned the evidence?
The Shaykh : It is the evidence. Also, the evidence is:[Al-Jumu'ah 62:9]. So, "O you who believe" is addressed to one person, the caller is one person, and the preacher who is called to is one person. Thus, there is one preacher, one caller, and one caller.
The questioner : Is it required that they be men, or is it valid if they are women?
The Shaykh : No, they must be men, because women are not among those who constitute the congregation. However, the question remains: is it possible for a village to have only three people? It is possible that there are three residents, but non-residents have no ruling in this context. For example, this village might be an industrial one, with three residents and the rest being business men who leave. It is said: these three are the ones upon whom the Friday prayer is obligatory, and the others are obligated by association.
The Shaykh : It is the evidence. Also, the evidence is:
O you who have believed, when [the adhan] is called for the prayer on the day of Jumu'ah [Friday], then proceed to the remembrance of Allah
يا أيها الذين آمنوا إذا نودي للصلاة من يوم الجمعة فاسعوا إلى ذكر اللهThe questioner : Is it required that they be men, or is it valid if they are women?
The Shaykh : No, they must be men, because women are not among those who constitute the congregation. However, the question remains: is it possible for a village to have only three people? It is possible that there are three residents, but non-residents have no ruling in this context. For example, this village might be an industrial one, with three residents and the rest being business men who leave. It is said: these three are the ones upon whom the Friday prayer is obligatory, and the others are obligated by association.