Jumma Prayers - Jumu’ah prayer is not obligatory for women

Is Jumu'ah prayer obligatory for women too, or only for men? How
should a woman pray? I am a woman andI do not have any place in the
mosque. Can I pray Jumu'ah at home by myself? Will I attain the reward
for Jumu'ah?.
Praise be to Allaah.
The scholars are agreed that Jumu'ah prayer is not obligatory for
women, and that they may pray four rak'ahs of Zuhr in their homes.
Ibn al-Mundhir (may Allaah have mercy on him) says in al-Ijmaa' (no. 52):
They are unanimously agreed that Jumu'ah is not obligatory for women.
End quote.
The evidence for that is the hadeeth of Taariq ibn Shihaab (may Allaah
be pleased with him) according to which the Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "Jumu'ah is a duty that
isrequired of every Muslimin congregation, except four: a slave, a
woman, achild or one who is sick."Narrated by Abu Dawood 91067).
Al-Nawawi said in al-Majmoo' (4/482): its isnaad is saheeh according
to the conditions of the two Shaykhs (al-Bukhaari and Muslim). Ibn
Rajab said in Fath al-Baari (5/327): its isnaad is saheeh. Ibn Katheer
said in Irshaad al-Faqeeh (1/190): its isnaad is jayyid. It was also
classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami' (3111).
The reason why Jumu'ahis not obligatory for women is that
sharee'ahdoes not encourage women to attend places where men gather,
because of the negative consequences to which that may lead, as
happens nowadays in many workplaces where men and women mix. See also
Badaa'i' al-Sanaa'i' (1/258).
If a woman adheres to the shar'i conditions for her going out to the
mosque, such as not wearing adornments and perfume, then thereis
nothing wrong with her attending Jumu'ah prayers in the mosque and
praying two rak'ahs behind the imam, in which case she does not need
to pray Zuhr.
Ibn al-Mundhir (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in al-Ijmaa' (no. 52, 53):
They are unanimously agreed that if women join the imam and pray with
him, that is sufficient for them. End quote.
Ibn Qudaamah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in al-Mughni (2/88):
But if she prays Jumu'ah it is valid, because for women to pray in
congregation is valid, as the women used to pray with the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) in congregation. End
quote.
With regard to praying Jumu'ah in the home on one's own, this is not
valid for either a man or a woman, because Jumu'ah prayer is only
valid when done in congregation, as stated in the hadeeth of the
Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) quoted above:
"Jumu'ah is a duty that is required of every Muslim in congregation."
If a group wanted to pray Jumu'ah in the house, this is also not
valid, because Jumu'ah prayer is prescribed in order for the Muslims
to gather together in one place for prayer and to listen to the
khutbah and benefit from it. Hence it is not permissible for there to
be numerous Jumu'ah prayers in one city unless there is a need
forthat, such as if the city is very large or there is no jaami'
mosque that can hold all the people.
Based on this, if you do not go to the mosque to pray Jumu'ah, then
you should pray Zuhr at home.
It says in Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa'imah (7/337):
If a woman prays Jumu'ah with the imam, that is sufficient and she
does not have to pray Zuhr; it is not permissible for her to pray Zuhr
that day. But ifshe prays on her own then she can only pray Zuhr, and
she cannot pray Jumu'ah. End quote.
It is better for a woman to pray Zuhr in her house, because of the
general meaning of the words of the Prophet (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him): "Donot prevent your womenfrom going to the
mosques, although their houses are better for them." Narrated by Abu
Dawood (567); classed assaheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood.
If she wants to go to Jumu'ah, then she has toavoid perfume and
adornments, and not crowd together with men in the streets.
And Allaah knows best.