Short answer
Not alone. Jumuah needs a khutbah and a congregation, so a person praying alone, or a husband and wife alone, pray four rakats of Dhuhr instead. In the Hanafi school a Jumuah at home is valid only with an imam and at least three adult men behind him, a khutbah, in Dhuhr time, and with others free to join.
Jumuah has conditions beyond those of other prayers: a town or city, Dhuhr time, a khutbah before the prayer, a congregation of at least three men besides the imam, and general permission for others to attend (idhn 'amm). Without these it is not Jumuah, and those present pray Dhuhr.
Other madhhabs
- Shafi'i
- Jumuah needs forty resident men and must be held within the buildings of the town.
- Maliki
- Jumuah must be held in a masjid, with about twelve men besides the imam.
- Hanbali
- Forty men are required in the main view.
Explanation
Jumuah is not an ordinary prayer that you can pray anywhere. It is a public gathering with a khutbah, and the Hanafi school sets conditions for it: Dhuhr time, a khutbah before the prayer, an imam and at least three adult men behind him, and the gathering open to anyone who wants to come. Women and children may attend but do not count towards the three.
- Alone: no Jumuah. Pray four rakats of Dhuhr.
- Husband and wife, or a family with one man: no Jumuah. Pray Dhuhr, in congregation if you like.
- Women at home: pray Dhuhr; Jumuah is not required of them.
- Four or more men at home: one gives a short khutbah and leads two rakats, with the door open to others.
During the lockdowns of 2020 many Hanafi institutions issued fatwas along these lines, allowing men to hold Jumuah in homes when the masjids were closed. That was for a time of real need. If you can get to a masjid, a home gathering is not a replacement, and missing the masjid's Jumuah without an excuse is a serious sin; see what happens if you miss Jummah.
Who must attend is covered in who has to pray Jummah, and the method in how to pray Jummah.
The evidence
Quran, Surah Al-Jumu'a 62:9
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِذَا نُودِىَ لِلصَّلَوٰةِ مِن يَوْمِ ٱلْجُمُعَةِ فَٱسْعَوْا۟ إِلَىٰ ذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ وَذَرُوا۟ ٱلْبَيْعَ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ خَيْرٌۭ لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ ﴿٩﴾
O you who have believed, when [the adhan] is called for the prayer on the day of Jumu'ah [Friday], then proceed to the remembrance of Allah and leave trade. That is better for you, if you only knew.
Jumuah is a gathering people go out to, not a private prayer.
Sunan Abi Dawud 1067
Graded sahih... الجمعة حق واجب على كل مسلم في جماعة إلا أربعة ...
"Jumuah is a binding duty on every Muslim in congregation, except four."
Jumuah is prayed in congregation; those excused pray Dhuhr.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Hidaya, Kitab al-Salah, chapter on Jumuah. Sets out the conditions of Jumuah: town, time, khutbah, congregation and public access.
- Radd al-Muhtar (Ibn Abidin), Kitab al-Salah, chapter on Jumuah. Discusses general permission to attend (idhn 'amm) and the minimum number.
- Minhaj al-Talibin, Chapter on Jumuah. The Shafi'i school requires forty residents.
This answer is pending review by the scholars on our team. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.