Does the loss of the required number of attendees during the Jumu'ah prayer invalidate it?
General Chapter
Al-Mughni
Book of Friday Prayer
Primary text
If the required number of attendees diminishes before the completion of the prayer, the apparent position according to Ahmad is that the prayer is not completed as Jumu'ah, and it is necessary to perform Dhuhr prayer instead, as one of the conditions for the prayer has been lost, akin to losing ritual purity. This conclusion is reached based on the principle that if the number falls short during the prayer, the specific conditions of the Jumu'ah prayer are lost.
Supporting text
A contrasting view, attributed to Malik and held by al-Muzani, suggests completing it as Jumu'ah if the number drops after one rak'ah, based on the Hadith: 'Whoever overtakes one rak'ah of Jumu'ah, add another to it.' Abu Hanifah suggests validity if they complete one prostration, viewing it as completing the majority of the rak'ah. Ishaq suggests validity if twelve men remain. Another opinion from al-Shafi'i states validity if two men remain, as they constitute the minimum for congregation.