Is it obligatory for a traveling merchant to leave his work on Friday to perform the prayer on time, or is it permissible for him to delay joining it if possible, knowing that his brothers prevent him from going, claiming fear of theft of the goods?

If a Muslim arrives in his country and hears the call to the Friday prayer, it becomes obligatory for him to hasten to it, and buying and selling become forbidden, as Allah the Almighty says: "O you who have believed, when [the adhan] is proclaimed for the prayer on the day of Friday, then hasten to the remembrance of Allah and leave trade. That is better for you, if you only knew." (Al-Jumu'ah: 9). It is not permissible to abandon it except for a legitimate excuse, such as fear of harm to oneself, one's family, or one's property. Any job that necessitates abandoning the Friday prayer always or most of the time must be left, and one should seek another job that does not cause him to miss it. Furthermore, congregational prayer is obligatory according to the more preponderant opinion. One must hasten to the Friday prayer with sufficient time to catch the khutbah (sermon) and the prayer. Whoever misses the Friday prayer must make it up as Dhuhr prayer, four rak'ahs. If he had a valid excuse, there is no sin upon him. If he had no valid excuse, he is sinful for his negligence, according to the saying of the Prophet (peace be upon him): "Whoever leaves three Friday prayers out of negligence, Allah will seal his heart." Narrated by At-Tirmidhi.