Do those who are far from the mosques hold the Friday prayer?

Question:
A message was received for the program from one of the listening brothers, in which he says: We work in a mountainous area where there are no mosques, and the nearby mosques are difficult to reach due to our work conditions. We are a small group, so what is the number of worshippers required for the Friday prayer to be valid?

Answer:
It is obligatory for you to strive to attend the Friday prayer, if you can hear the call and are able to respond, whether on foot or by car. This is because the Friday prayer is a gathering; it gathers the people of the village and the people of the locality. Therefore, it is obligatory for you to strive to attend it and pray with the Muslims in the village where you are. You do not have the right to take a dispensation and hold the Friday prayer on your own.
Unless the distance is far; in that case, you must seek a fatwa and submit your case to the Department of Ifta if you are in the Kingdom. The Department of Ifta will examine the matter and write to the court in your area to ascertain the truth, and then issue a fatwa accordingly. However, as long as a believer can strive to attend the Friday prayer and participate with his brothers in the Friday prayer, that is a great good. He has a great reward in his steps and the expiation of his sins. He should participate in the good and strive to attend the Friday prayer even if it is far, for the abundance of reward, for gathering with his brothers and increasing their numbers, and for becoming acquainted with their conditions and knowing them. This allows everyone to cooperate in righteousness and piety and to help one another in what is good. If there is clear hardship, there is no objection to sending a request for a fatwa to the Department of Ifta, and it will examine the matter, if Allah wills.

The presenter: If Allah wills, may Allah reward you with good.