This excerpt is taken from Sheikh Zubair Ali Zai Rahimahullah's Book on the Rules and Issues of Qurbani.
Camel Sacrifice is Superior to Cow Sacrifice
عن أبى هريرة أن رسول الله قال من اغتسل يوم الجمعة غسل الجنابة ثم راح فى الساعة الأولى فكأنما قرب بدنة ومن راح فى الساعة الثانية فكأنما قرب بقرة ومن راح فى الساعة الثالثة فكأنما قرب كبشا أقرن ومن راح فى الساعة الرابعة فكأنما قرب دجاجة ومن راح فى الساعة الخامسة فكأنما قرب بيضة فإذا خرج الإمام حضرت الملائكة يستمعون الذكر
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah Radi Allahu Anhu that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "Whoever performs the ritual bath of janabah on Friday and then goes to the Friday prayer at the earliest time, it is as if he has offered the sacrifice of a camel; and whoever goes at the second time, it is as if he has offered the sacrifice of a cow; and whoever goes at the third time, it is as if he has offered the sacrifice of a horned ram; and whoever goes at the fourth time, it is as if he has offered the sacrifice of a chicken; and whoever goes at the fifth time, it is as if he has offered an egg as a sacrifice. Then when the Imam comes out (for the sermon), the angels come to listen to the sermon (closing their registers)."
Authentication:
The chain is authentic.
References:
Agreed upon
Reference: (Al-Muwatta: 10, Hadith 223; Al-Bukhari: 881; Muslim: 850)
Explanation:
➊ Taking a bath like the janabah bath on Friday is highly recommended.
Reference: See the previous hadith in Itḥāf al-Bāsim: 271, 204
➋ Going to the mosque for Friday prayer at the earliest time is a deed of great reward.
➌ In this hadith, the sermon is referred to as "dhikr," which indicates that the sermon is not the prayer itself but rather the act of admonishing and advising the people; therefore, delivering the sermon in languages other than Arabic is also permissible.
For details, see the book "Rūḥ al-Khuṭbah" by Shaykh Abū ʿUmar ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz Nūrastānī, may Allah have mercy on him.
➍ Sacrificing a camel is superior to sacrificing a cow, and sacrificing a cow is superior to sacrificing a ram. And Allah knows best.
➎ Even offering a small thing as charity in the way of Allah will be rewarded according to the intention.
➏ From this hadith, it is also understood that a person who arrives at the mosque exactly at the time of prayer and misses listening to the Friday sermon loses the aforementioned reward and merit.
➐ Sacrificing an egg means giving an egg as a gift or charity to a poor needy person.
➑ The egg of a lawful bird is lawful.
Reference: (Muwatta narrated by Ibn al-Qasim, pp. 507-508)
