What is the ruling on neglecting the Friday prayer without a valid excuse?

The Friday prayer is one of the most important religious rites, and it is impermissible to neglect it without a legitimate excuse. Almighty Allah says, “O you who believe! When the call is proclaimed for the prayer on Friday, hasten to the remembrance of Allah and leave off trade”
(Quran, 62:9).

Jabir Ibn ‘Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with them both) narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “It is obligatory for anyone who believes in Allah and the Last Day to attend the Friday prayer, except for the sick, travelers, women, children, or slaves. Whoever dispenses with it for amusement or trade, Allah has no need of them; Allah is Self-Sufficient and Praiseworthy” (recorded by al-Daraqutni in his Sunan).

Therefore, whoever neglects to attend the Friday prayer without an excuse commits a sin, based on the above-mentioned evidences and due to the hadith recorded by Muslim in his Sahih that reports that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “People must cease to neglect the Friday prayers, lest Allah place a seal on their hearts and they become among the heedless.”

Based on this, Muslims must be diligent in performing the Friday prayer, both to earn reward and to protect themselves from incurring Allah’s punishment for neglecting it.

And Allah the Almighty knows best.