Is it permissible for brothers who are incarcerated to conduct Jumu'ah on Fridays?

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

If the prisoners are in sufficient numbers for the quota needed for the Jumu'ah prayer to be valid, then they are obliged to perform the Jumu'ah prayer. The Muslim scholars have various opinions concerning the number of people required for the validity of the Jumu'ah prayer.

The followers of Imams Ash-Shaafi'i and Ahmad believe that the Jumu'ah prayer requires forty people. According to the Maaliki School of jurisprudence, twelve people are enough.

The Hanafi School of jurisprudence is of the opinion that three people other than the Imam are sufficient.

Some righteous predecessors believe that the Jumu'ah prayer needs only two persons other than the Imam. Imam Ibn Taymiyyah supported this opinion and gave preponderance to it. The scholars who act according to the apparent meaning of Islamic texts are of the view that if there are two persons including the Imam, then they are obliged to perform the Jumu'ah prayer. Imam Ash-Shawkaani supported this opinion.

It is evident for us – Allah knows best – that if there are only three persons, they have to perform the Jumu'ah prayer. But, if they are in prison and not permitted to perform the Jumu'ah prayer, or they are not permitted to go out for this prayer; then, in this case, there is no blame on them since they are among those who have lawful excuses.

Allah knows best.