Source: Fatāwā Muḥammadiyyah, Vol. 1, p. 526
In the ḥadīth, the words "طووا صحفهم" are mentioned. Does this mean that the person arriving after the khuṭbah begins is not recorded at all, or that his reward is not recorded?
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd!
إِذَا كَانَ يَوْمُ الجُمُعَةِ بَعَثَ اللَّهُ مَلَائِكَةً بِصُحُفٍ مِن نُورٍ وَأَقْلَامٍ مِن نُورٍ
“On the day of Jumuʿah, Allah sends angels with scrolls of light and pens of light.”
Even after the scrolls of early arrival are closed, the guardian angels continue recording:
From Sunan Ibn Mājah:
فَمَنْ جَاءَ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ فَإِنَّمَا يَجِيءُ بِحَقٍّ إِلَى الصَّلَاةِ
“Whoever comes after that, comes only for the obligation of the prayer.”
Another narration:
ثُمَّ إِذَا سَمِعَ وَأَنْصَتَ غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا بَيْنَ الْجُمُعَتَيْنِ وَزِيَادَةُ ثَلَاثَةِ أَيَّامٍ
“Then if he listens attentively, his sins between two Jumuʿahs are forgiven, plus an additional three days.”
From Ibn Khuzaymah:
فَيَقُولُ بَعْضُ الْمَلَائِكَةِ لِبَعْضٍ مَا حَبَسَ فُلَانًا؟ فَيَقُولُونَ: اللَّهُمَّ إِنْ كَانَ ضَالًّا فَاهْدِهِ، وَإِنْ كَانَ فَقِيرًا فَأَغْنِهِ، وَإِنْ كَانَ مَرِيضًا فَعَافِهِ
“The angels ask one another: ‘What kept so-and-so from attending?’ Then they supplicate: ‘O Allah, if he is misguided, guide him; if poor, enrich him; if ill, grant him health.’”
(Fatḥ al-Bārī, vol. 2, pp. 367–368)
ھذا ما عندي واللہ أعلم بالصواب
❖ Question
In the ḥadīth, the words "طووا صحفهم" are mentioned. Does this mean that the person arriving after the khuṭbah begins is not recorded at all, or that his reward is not recorded?
✿ Answer
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ammā baʿd!
The Meaning of "طووا صحفهم"
- In Ḥilyat al-Awliyāʾ by Abū Nuʿaym, the mرفوع narration from Ibn ʿUmar رضي الله عنهما states:
إِذَا كَانَ يَوْمُ الجُمُعَةِ بَعَثَ اللَّهُ مَلَائِكَةً بِصُحُفٍ مِن نُورٍ وَأَقْلَامٍ مِن نُورٍ
“On the day of Jumuʿah, Allah sends angels with scrolls of light and pens of light.”
- This shows that these angels are different from the guardian angels (kirāman kātibīn).
- The folding of the scrolls (ṭayy al-ṣuḥuf) refers specifically to the scrolls in which the virtues of those who arrive early for Jumuʿah are recorded.
Other Deeds Continue to Be Recorded
Even after the scrolls of early arrival are closed, the guardian angels continue recording:
- listening to the khuṭbah,
- offering ṣalāh,
- engaging in dhikr and duʿā’,
- showing humility and khushūʿ.
Supporting Ḥadīth
From Sunan Ibn Mājah:
فَمَنْ جَاءَ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ فَإِنَّمَا يَجِيءُ بِحَقٍّ إِلَى الصَّلَاةِ
“Whoever comes after that, comes only for the obligation of the prayer.”
Another narration:
ثُمَّ إِذَا سَمِعَ وَأَنْصَتَ غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا بَيْنَ الْجُمُعَتَيْنِ وَزِيَادَةُ ثَلَاثَةِ أَيَّامٍ
“Then if he listens attentively, his sins between two Jumuʿahs are forgiven, plus an additional three days.”
From Ibn Khuzaymah:
فَيَقُولُ بَعْضُ الْمَلَائِكَةِ لِبَعْضٍ مَا حَبَسَ فُلَانًا؟ فَيَقُولُونَ: اللَّهُمَّ إِنْ كَانَ ضَالًّا فَاهْدِهِ، وَإِنْ كَانَ فَقِيرًا فَأَغْنِهِ، وَإِنْ كَانَ مَرِيضًا فَعَافِهِ
“The angels ask one another: ‘What kept so-and-so from attending?’ Then they supplicate: ‘O Allah, if he is misguided, guide him; if poor, enrich him; if ill, grant him health.’”
(Fatḥ al-Bārī, vol. 2, pp. 367–368)
Conclusion
- “طووا صحفهم” means that the special scrolls recording the virtues of early arrival for Jumuʿah are closed once the imām begins the khuṭbah.
- This does not mean that nothing is recorded thereafter. The guardian angels continue to write the deeds of listening to the khuṭbah, offering ṣalāh, dhikr, and other acts of devotion.
ھذا ما عندي واللہ أعلم بالصواب
