What is the ruling regarding the Friday prayer for security staff? In our institution, there are Muslim and Christian employees, both men and women. During the Friday prayer:

1. The administration gives Muslim employees one hour or more of paid time to go to the mosque and perform the Friday prayer; the mosque is a five-minute walk away.
2. Work at the factory and warehouses continues for the rest of the staff, including Christians and the Muslims who have valid excuses for not attending the prayer.

We request a fatwa regarding the security and gate guards, and whether they should leave their posts to attend the Friday prayer?

It is established in Islamic law that the Friday prayer is obligatory for every Muslim male who is adult, sane, and a resident, and that whoever is unable to perform it for a valid reason should pray Dhuhr instead.

In light of the scenario in the question, the factory workers who are able to attend the Friday prayer must do so, and whoever is unable due to an excuse, must perform Dhuhr instead. As for the security and gate guards, they should not leave their posts to perform the Friday prayer, since protecting the factory and maintaining its security is also a binding obligation.

It is the management’s responsibility to ensure that these duties are carried out by only the essential minimum number of employees and to rotate staff on successive Fridays so that no one misses the Friday prayer for an extended period.

And Allah Almighty knows best.