What is the minimum number of people required to perform the Friday prayer (Jumu'ah)?

Although all scholars agree that a congregation is required for the validity of the Friday prayer, there are differing opinions regarding the minimum number of people necessary.

According to Imam Abu Hanifa, at least three people besides the imam are required for the Friday prayer to be valid; according to Imam Abu Yusuf and Imam Muhammad, at least two people besides the imam are sufficient. (Ibn al-Humam, Fath al-Qadir, 2/60)

While Imam Shafi'i, in his later opinion (qawl jadid), stipulated that forty people must be present for the Friday prayer to be valid, in his earlier opinion (qawl qadim), three people including the imam were deemed sufficient. According to the Hanbali school, at least forty people are required. (Nawawi, al-Majmu‘, 4/502; Zakariyya al-Ansari, al-Ghurar, 2/8; Ibn Qudamah, al-Mughni, 2/242) The Maliki school requires the presence of twelve people. (Harashi, Sharh Mukhtasar, 2/76-77)

Before the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) migration to Medina, forty people were present at the Friday prayer performed at Naqī‘ al-Hadamat. (Ibn Majah, Iqamat al-Salawat, 78 [1082]) However, it is also known that the Friday prayer was performed with fewer people. For example, Mus‘ab ibn ‘Umayr led the Friday prayer for twelve people in Medina by the order of the Prophet (peace be upon him). (Bayhaqi, al-Sunan al-Kubra, 3/255 [5617])

There are also authentic hadith sources reporting that, while the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) was leading the Friday prayer, all but twelve people left the congregation upon hearing that a trade caravan had arrived. (Bukhari, Jumu‘ah, 38 [936]) On the other hand, the Prophet (peace be upon him) stated that even if there are only four people in a settlement, the Friday prayer is obligatory. (Bayhaqi, al-Sunan al-Kubra, 3/255 [5617])

As can be seen, the narrations from the Prophet (peace be upon him) indicate that the Friday prayer can be performed in a place where there are at least four people, including the imam. This sets the lower limit for the number of people required to perform the Friday prayer.

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