Jumu'a for a shepherd four miles from the city

Question

A certain man is literate and religious; he has household goats which he grazes himself. To graze the goats he has to go into the wilderness, 4 miles from the city. This man is regular in prayer and fasting. It is difficult for him to leave the goats alone in the wilderness and come to the small town to perform the Jumu'a prayer, since he is alone. In such a situation, what is the ruling of the Shari'a regarding performing the Jumu'a prayer?

Answer

If, because of grazing the goats, he stays at a distance of 4 miles from the city, then it is not wajib upon him to come for Jumu'a; he should pray Zuhr right there. Thus it is in “[Kitab] al-Fiqh”, p. 513.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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