Jumu’ah prayer is not obligatory for women

The scholars
are agreed that Jumu’ah prayer is not obligatory for women, and that they
may pray four rak’ahs of Zuhr in their homes. 

Ibn
al-Mundhir (may Allaah have mercy on him) says in al-Ijmaa’ (no. 52):

 They are
unanimously agreed that Jumu’ah is not obligatory for women. End quote. 

The evidence
for that is the hadeeth of Taariq ibn Shihaab (may Allaah be pleased with
him) according to which the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be
upon him) said: “Jumu’ah is a duty that is required of every Muslim in
congregation, except four: a slave, a woman, a child or one who is sick.”
Narrated by Abu Dawood 91067). Al-Nawawi said in al-Majmoo’ (4/482):
its isnaad is saheeh according to the conditions of the two Shaykhs
(al-Bukhaari and Muslim). Ibn Rajab said in Fath al-Baari (5/327):
its isnaad is saheeh. Ibn Katheer said in Irshaad al-Faqeeh (1/190):
its isnaad is jayyid. It was also classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in
Saheeh al-Jaami’ (3111). 

The reason
why Jumu’ah is not obligatory for women is that sharee’ah does not encourage
women to attend places where men gather, because of the negative
consequences to which that may lead, as happens nowadays in many workplaces
where men and women mix. See also Badaa’i’ al-Sanaa’i’ (1/258). 

If a woman
adheres to the shar’i conditions for her going out to the mosque, such as
not wearing adornments and perfume, then there is nothing wrong with her
attending Jumu’ah prayers in the mosque and praying two rak’ahs behind the
imam, in which case she does not need to pray Zuhr. 

Ibn
al-Mundhir (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in al-Ijmaa’ (no. 52,
53): 

They are
unanimously agreed that if women join the imam and pray with him, that is
sufficient for them. End quote. 

Ibn Qudaamah
(may Allaah have mercy on him) said in al-Mughni (2/88): 

But if she
prays Jumu’ah it is valid, because for women to pray in congregation is
valid, as the women used to pray with the Prophet (peace and blessings
of Allaah be upon him) in congregation. End quote. 

With regard
to praying Jumu’ah in the home on one’s own, this is not valid for either a
man or a woman, because Jumu’ah prayer is only valid when done in
congregation, as stated in the hadeeth of the Messenger (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) quoted above:  “Jumu’ah is a duty that is
required of every Muslim in congregation.” 

If a group
wanted to pray Jumu’ah in the house, this is also not valid, because Jumu’ah
prayer is prescribed in order for the Muslims to gather together in one
place for prayer and to listen to the khutbah and benefit from it. Hence it
is not permissible for there to be numerous Jumu’ah prayers in one city
unless there is a need for that, such as if the city is very large or there
is no jaami’ mosque that can hold all the people. 

Based on
this, if you do not go to the mosque to pray Jumu’ah, then you should pray
Zuhr at home.  

It says in
Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah (7/337): 

If a woman
prays Jumu’ah with the imam, that is sufficient and she does not have to
pray Zuhr; it is not permissible for her to pray Zuhr that day. But if she
prays on her own then she can only pray Zuhr, and she cannot pray Jumu’ah.
End quote. 

It is better
for a woman to pray Zuhr in her house, because of the general meaning of the
words of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him): “Do
not prevent your women from going to the mosques, although their houses are
better for them.” Narrated by Abu Dawood (567); classed as saheeh by
al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood. 

If she wants
to go to Jumu’ah, then she has to avoid perfume and adornments, and not
crowd together with men in the streets. 

And Allaah
knows best.