Is work hours coinciding with Friday prayer a valid excuse for not performing the Friday prayer?

Friday prayer is an individual obligation (farz-ı ayn) for every free, resident Muslim man who has no valid excuse (el-Cum'a, 62/9). There are authentic hadiths emphasizing that Friday prayer is a strong obligation and that neglecting it without a valid excuse is considered a major sin. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever neglects three Friday prayers out of indifference, Allah will seal his heart.” (Ebû Dâvûd, Salât, 209 [1052]; Tirmizî, Cum‘a, 7 [500]); “Let those people who neglect Friday prayer either stop doing so, or Allah will seal their hearts and they will be among the heedless.” (Muslim, Cum‘a, 40 [865]). These hadiths are sufficient to show how serious it is for a Muslim to neglect the Friday prayer.

Except for those who are ill, traveling, or performing duties of vital importance during the time of Friday prayer, it is obligatory for every sane and pubescent Muslim man to perform the Friday prayer. The right to worship is within the scope of religious and conscientious freedom. Anyone who believes in a religion also has the right to fulfill the requirements of that religion as a continuation of their freedom of belief. Employers should provide employees who wish to pray with the opportunity to perform Friday and the five daily prayers. It is not appropriate to deny employees permission for obligatory prayers. Employees in such situations should seek their legal rights and, on the other hand, try to find an alternative job. For someone who cannot find this opportunity and has no other means of livelihood, this situation is considered a temporary excuse until they find a new job.

Source: T.C. Diyanet İşleri Başkanlığı, Din İşleri Yüksek Kurulu