Aslaam o Allaikum, If some 5 or 6 people missed the JUMA prayer by some reason, is it permissible to have Zoher prayer JAMA'A or each of them has to pray alone. Thanks in advance for your help. Ma' Salam.

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

Whoever missed the Friday prayer for a sound reason or without having a sound reason and is not able to reach it in another mosque, is obliged to pray Thuhr instead of Friday prayer according to the agreement of the scholars .

If they are a group, they have the choice either to perform the Thuhr prayer individually or in congregation.

If they can perform the prayer in congregation outside the mosque, then this is better, because by doing so they follow the Sunnah of performing the prayer in congregation. If they are unable to perform the prayer outside the mosque, then some scholars disliked making a second congregation in the same mosque after the Imaam has concluded the prayer, while some other scholars are not of the view that this is disliked.

However, some scholars are of the view that it is desirable to perform it in congregation. If they have an apparent reason for missing the Friday prayer, it is better for them to show the congregation, and if their reason is hidden, they should not pray in congregation.

Allaah knows best.