Fath al-Rabbani

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: Whoever performs a bath on Friday like the bath of major ritual impurity, then proceeds towards the mosque (and arrives in the first hour), it is as if he has offered a camel as a sacrifice. Whoever arrives in the second hour, it is as if he has offered a cow as a sacrifice. Whoever arrives in the third hour, it is as if he has offered a ram with horns as a sacrifice. Whoever arrives in the fourth hour, it is as if he has offered a chicken as a sacrifice. And whoever arrives in the fifth hour, it is as if he has offered an egg as a sacrifice. When the Imam comes out for the sermon, the angels also come forward and begin to listen to the remembrance. In another narration: When the Imam comes out for the sermon, the angels fold up their scrolls and enter the mosque to begin listening to the remembrance.

(Second chain) The Noble Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: The one who hastens early towards Friday is like one who offers a camel in sacrifice; the one who comes after him is like one who offers a cow in sacrifice; and the one who comes after him is like one who offers a ram in sacrifice. Then, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, also mentioned a chicken and an egg.

It is also narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: The sun neither rises nor sets on any day better than Friday. Every creature is anxious on the day of Friday, except for two groups: the jinn and mankind. On this day, at every door of the mosque, there are two angels who record those who arrive first. The one who comes first is like one who offers a camel in sacrifice; the one who comes after him is like one who offers a cow in sacrifice; the one who comes after him is like one who offers a goat in sacrifice; the one who comes after him is like one who offers a bird in sacrifice; and the one who comes after him is like one who offers an egg in sacrifice. When the Imam sits (on the pulpit), the records are folded up.

Sayyiduna Abu Sa'id Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: When the day of Friday comes, the angels sit at the doors of the mosques and begin to record the people according to their order of arrival. The one who comes first is like one who offers a camel as a sacrifice, the one who comes after him is like one who offers a cow as a sacrifice, the one who comes after him is like one who offers a goat as a sacrifice, the one who comes after him is like one who offers a chicken as a sacrifice, the one who comes after him is like one who offers a sparrow as a sacrifice, and the one who comes after him is like one who offers an egg as a sacrifice (i.e., they receive reward equivalent to these sacrifices). Then, when the muezzin calls the adhan and the imam sits on the pulpit, the records are closed and the angels enter the mosque to listen to the (sermon's) remembrance.

Sayyiduna Ali bin Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him) says: When the day of Friday comes, the devils go out carrying their flags and stop people towards the markets, while the angels sit at the doors of the mosques and begin to write the people according to their ranks, that is, the one who comes first, then the one who comes second, then the one who comes after him, (this sequence continues) until the Imam comes out. So whoever sits close to the Imam, listens to the sermon attentively and silently, and does not engage in any idle act, for him there are two rewards. And whoever sits far from the Imam, but listens to the sermon attentively, remains silent, and does not engage in any idle act, for him there is one reward. And whoever sits close to the Imam, but engages in idle acts and neither remains silent nor listens to the sermon attentively, upon him are two portions of sin. And whoever sits far from the Imam, engages in idle acts, neither remains silent nor listens to the sermon attentively, upon him is one portion of sin. And whoever says to someone, "Be silent," then he has spoken, and whoever has spoken, his Friday (Jumu'ah) is not valid. Then Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I heard the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) say this in the same way.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: Indeed, the angels sit at the doors of the mosques on the day of Jumu’ah and record the people according to their ranks, that so-and-so person came at such-and-such hour and so-and-so at such-and-such time, and so-and-so came when the Imam was delivering the sermon, and so-and-so caught the prayer but did not attain Jumu’ah, because he missed the sermon.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Amr bin al-As (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Three types of people attend the Friday (prayer): One man attends with supplication and prayer (during the sermon), (the ruling for such a person is that) he has supplicated to his Lord; if He wills, He will grant it, and if He wills, He will not grant it. The second man attends with silence and quietness, and that is his due. And the third man attends with idle talk, so his share is only that (idle act) itself.

(Second chain of narration) And there is a person who attends the sermon with silence and calmness, and neither steps over any Muslim’s neck nor causes harm to anyone, then such a Friday becomes an expiation for his sins until the next Friday and for three more days. Indeed, Allah Almighty says: Whoever does a good deed will receive ten times its reward.

Abu Ayyub says: I entered the mosque on Friday with Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him). He saw a boy and said to him: O boy! Go and play. But he replied: I have come towards the mosque. He again said: Boy! Go and play. But he again replied: I have come towards the mosque. He asked: Will you remain seated until the Imam comes out? He said: Yes. Upon hearing this, Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) say that on Friday, the angels come and sit at the doors of the mosques, and they write down the people who come first, then those who come second, and then those who come third, according to their ranks, until the Imam comes out. When the Imam comes out, the records are folded up.

Abu Ghalib reports that Sayyiduna Abu Umamah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: On the day of Jumu’ah, the angels sit at the doors of the mosque. They have scrolls with them, in which they record the names of the people. When the Imam comes out for the sermon, the scrolls are rolled up. I asked: O Abu Umamah (may Allah be pleased with him)! If someone comes after the Imam has come out, does his Jumu’ah not count? He replied: Why not, but he is not among those who are recorded in the scrolls.

Yazid bin Abi Maryam says: I was walking towards the mosque for Friday prayer when Abayah bin Rafi met me while he was on a mount. He said: Rejoice! I heard Sayyiduna Abu Abs (may Allah be pleased with him) say that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Whoever's feet become dusty in the path of Allah, Allah will make them forbidden for the fire of Hell.