Is it permissible for one upon whom Jumu'ah is not obligatory (e.g., traveler, slave, woman, sick person) to pray Dhuhr before the Imam finishes the Jumu'ah prayer?
General Chapter
Al-Mughni
Book of Friday Prayer
Primary text
The majority of scholars permit those upon whom Jumu'ah is not obligatory to pray Dhuhr before the Imam finishes the Jumu'ah prayer. This is because they were not commanded to attend Jumu'ah, so their Dhuhr prayer is valid, similar to someone praying Dhuhr when distant from the Jumu'ah location. For women, the excuse is known to persist. For others, the excuse is assumed to persist based on principle.
Supporting text
Abu Bakr 'Abd al-Aziz maintained that their prayer is invalid before the Imam's because they cannot be certain that their excuse persists, thus invalidating their prayer like those for whom Jumu'ah is obligatory. If they pray Dhuhr and then strive to attend Jumu'ah, their Dhuhr remains valid and the Jumu'ah becomes supererogatory for them.