If the imam’s ablution is nullified during the Friday prayer, he may appoint to lead only someone who has not missed a single rakʿah with him; and no one may be put forward for Jumuʿah except a person upon whom the Friday obligation itself rests. The Friday prayer is not permitted in a miṣr (city) in more than one place. Should the city be so large that it contains two congregational mosques, each with an imam whom the ruler has officially installed, some hold this to be allowable, yet the first view remains the authoritative position of the school.
No one for whom Jumuʿah is obligatory may absent himself unless he has an excuse that truly prevents him from attending—such as a debilitating illness, fear that the illness will worsen, or fear that a tyrannical ruler might wrong him in his property or person without legal cause. A driving rain accompanied by deep mud is likewise a valid excuse so long as it continues. If a person stays away to attend a walī ḥamīm (close relative) who is dying and has no one else to look after him, I hope he too is excused; Ibn ʿUmar once did this. Whoever absents himself without an excuse must pray after the imam; praying before him does not suffice, and in abandoning the Friday prayer while able to attend he disobeys Allah.
Anyone who misses the Friday prayer, whether with or without excuse, prays ẓuhr as four rakʿahs. On Friday, ẓuhr is not to be performed in congregation except by those upon whom Jumuʿah is not binding; if the sick or prisoners pray it together, there is no harm in that.
No one should embark on a journey on Friday after the sun has passed its zenith until the Friday prayer has been offered. Travelling before the zenith is permissible, yet the preferable course is not to depart once dawn has broken on Friday until one has performed Jumuʿah, provided he is resident and not already travelling.
A travelling ruler–imam may establish the Friday prayer near the district under his authority if Jumuʿah is obligatory there; but if Jumuʿah is not required in that locality, ẓuhr suffices for him and those with him.