Missing Jumu'ah Prayer three times.

Q; What if one misses Jumu'ah three times.

A; All-Praise is due to Allah,
Missing out on Jumu'ah with no excuse is among the grievous sins of Islam and abounding it completely is Kufr. Without no doubt the Scholars have come to consensus that it is compulsory to attend the Jumu'ah Prayers unless you are among those whom the Sharia' has excused such as the ill, the traveler, and some say those whom are far distance from the Jumu'ah congregation are excused such as the one that lives in the desert and others that are similar. Other then those that are mentioned one has fallen into major sin and is required to repent from such an action.

Narrated from Ibn ‘Umar and Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with them both) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “People should stop neglecting Jumu’ah prayers or else Allaah will place a seal over their hearts, then they will be among the negligent.” Narrated by Muslim, 865.

And the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever misses Jumu’ah three times out of negligence, Allaah will place a seal over his heart.” Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 500; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani.

Al-Iraaqi (may Allah have mercy said: What is meant by : "negligent", is leaving it without any excuse, and what is meant by: "place a seal over his heart", that his heart becomes like that heart of a hypocrite.

Sheikh Abdul-Huqq said in Al-Lama'aat: The meaning to negligence (in the Hadith) is being lazy and not taking it seriously in its performance (attending Jumu'ah), and not by considering it as insignificant or unworthy for verily this is Kufr, thus the point to this all is its a great sin.

Ibn Al-Arabi (may Allah have mercy on him) said: What is meant by : "place a seal over his heart", is that there will be no good that enters his heart.

In conclusion one must strive to attending the weekly Jumu'ah Prayers to avoid such a grievous sin to be recorded on his behalf especially if one is abounding it and the five daily Prayers for verily this falls into the areas of Kufr and we seek refuge in Allah from that.

And Allah knows best...