Jumu’ah prayer - Are those who are appointed to guard important places excused for not praying Jumu’ah?

I am a man working in the military. I am often asked by soldiers and
others who are appointed to guard places (which may be sensitive) and
they may be rebuked or disciplined if they abandon their posts. Are
they excused from attending Jumu'ah and can they pray Zuhr instead?
What is the ruling if the mosque is close to them?.
Praise be to Allaah.
The one who is appointed to guard some important places isexcused for
staying away from Jumu'ah, even if the mosque is close by, and he may
pray Zuhr instead, but inthis case the smallest number of guards that
will suffice should be appointed, because Jumu'ah is very important
and it is not permissible to neglect it.
The Standing Committee for Issuing Fatwas, under the leadership of
Shaykh 'Abd al-'Azeez ibn Baaz (may Allaah have mercy on him) was
asked about telegraph and telephone facilities which are in constant
use throughout the week, including Friday, and there are employeeswho
supervise the phone systems and wireless systems and their work does
not allow them to leave, even for a minute, because that may cause a
breakdown in the wireless and telephone systems. Can these employees
leave their work and go to pray?
They replied:
The basic principle is that Jumu'ah is obligatory for all individuals,
because Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"O you who believe (Muslims)! When the call is proclaimed for the
Salaah (prayer) on Friday (Jumu'ah prayer), come to the remembrance of
Allaah [Jumu'ah religious talk (Khutbah) and Salaah (prayer)] and
leave off business (and every other thing). That is better for you if
you did but know!"
[al-Jumu'ah 63:9]
And Ahmad and Muslim narrated from Ibn Mas'ood (may Allaah be pleased
with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)
said concerning some peoplewho stayed away from Jumu'ah prayer: "I was
thinking of telling a manto lead the people in prayer, then I would
burn down the houses of men who stayed awayfrom Jumu'ah."
And Muslim narrated from Abu Hurayrah and Ibn 'Umar (may Allaah
bepleased with them) that they heard the Messenger of Allaah (peace
and blessings of Allaah be upon him) say from his minbar:
"Peopleshould stop staying away from prayers in congregation or else
Allaah will put a seal on their hearts, then they will be among the
heedless."
And the scholars are unanimously agreed on that. But if there is a
legitimate shar'i excuse for one who is obliged to pray Jumu'ah, such
as if he is directly responsible for work that has to do with national
security or protecting national interests, which requireshim to do
that work at the time of Jumu'ah prayer, such as those who are in
charge of security, traffic, and wireless and telephone
communications, etc, who are in charge at thetime of the second call
toJumu'ah prayer or whenthe iqaamah is given for prayer in
congregation, then they and others likethem are excused for notpraying
Jumu'ah or offering prayers in congregation, because Allaah says
(interpretation of the meaning):
"So keep your duty to Allaah and fear Him as much as you can"
[al-Taghaabun 64:16].
And the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon
him) said: "Whatever I forbid to you, avoid it, and whatever I enjoin
upon you, do as much of it as you can."
And it is no less an excuse than that of the one who is excused
because he fears for himself or his property, etc., who the scholars
said is excused for not attending Jumu'ah or prayers in
congregation,so long as the excuse is there. But that does not mean
that the obligationto pray Zuhr is waived, rather he must pray Zuhron
time, and if he is ableto offer it in congregation then he must do so,
as with the other five daily obligatory prayers. End quote.
Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa'imah (8/188).
They were also asked about the owner of a gas station that is
approximately two kilometres away from the city. Is it permissible for
him to appoint someone to guard the gas station at the time ofJumu'ah
prayer to protect it against arson and theft, and is Jumu'ah prayer
waived for the guard and can hepray Zuhr instead – knowing that the
gas station has been set on fire and the store robbed before that? The
owner of the gas station lives there with his children and family, and
the guard also lives there with his children and womenfolk.
They replied: If the situation is as described, it is permissible for
the guard to pray Zuhr instead of Jumu'ah, so that he may guard the
people and property mentioned, because of the general meaning of the
evidence which indicates that one may be excused from prayingJumu'ah
in such cases. End quote.
Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa'imah (8/192).
And Allaah knows best.