Shaykh Muqbil رحمه الله تعالى
What appears to be correct is that it is obligatory, for Allah the Exalted says:
“O you who believe, when the call is made for prayer on the Day of Jumuʿah (Friday), then hasten to the remembrance of Allah.”
And the continual practice of the Prophet ﷺ of delivering the khutbah is proof of its obligation, for he never prayed Jumuʿah on any occasion without a khutbah.
As for one who prays in his home, or in a masjid where Jumuʿah is not established, or women who do not attend Jumuʿah, then they pray Ẓuhr as four rakʿahs. This is what has been transmitted from the Salaf, and it has not been reported that they ever prayed two rakʿahs in a masjid without a khutbah, or in their homes.
It is reported in the hadith of ʿUmar: “The prayer of travel is two rakʿahs, and the prayer of Jumuʿah is two rakʿahs—complete, not shortened—on the tongue of our Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.” But this hadith is defective in the chain that goes through ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn Abī Laylā from ʿUmar, because ʿAbd al-Raḥmān did not hear from ʿUmar.
And it also comes through the route of ʿAbd al-Raḥmān from Kaʿb ibn ʿUjrah from ʿUmar, but this route which contains Kaʿb ibn ʿUjrah is defective, as al-Dāraqutnī mentioned in his Kitāb al-ʿIlal.
So Jumuʿah is prayed with the Muslims, and whoever catches one rakʿah has attained the prayer, even if he did not hear anything from the khutbah. But one who prays in his house, or in another masjid by himself, or two or three praying alone, or those who pray Ẓuhr instead—then they pray four rakʿahs.
The scholars have differed regarding whether a specific number is required for Jumuʿah, but no condition for a minimum number has been established. Likewise, it has not been proven, as al-Ṣanʿānī and al-Shawkānī mentioned, that a single person ever prayed Jumuʿah alone. Thus, Jumuʿah carries the same ruling as the congregational prayer.
For the Prophet ﷺ said to Mālik ibn al-Ḥuwayrith:
“When the time for prayer comes, let one of you give the adhān, and let the elder among you lead.”
So Jumuʿah is valid with a khatīb (one who delivers the khutbah) and at least one listener. And Allah is the One whose help is sought.
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Refer to Qam3ʿ al-Muʿānid (2/367–368).