This excerpt is taken from Sheikh Abu Hamza Abdul Khaliq Siddiqi's book Sahih Fazail-e-Amaal.
Allah Almighty says:
﴿يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا نُودِيَ لِلصَّلَاةِ مِن يَوْمِ الْجُمُعَةِ فَاسْعَوْا إِلَىٰ ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ وَذَرُوا الْبَيْعَ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ . فَإِذَا قُضِيَتِ الصَّلَاةُ فَانتَشِرُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَابْتَغُوا مِن فَضْلِ اللَّهِ وَاذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ كَثِيرًا لَّعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ .﴾
"O you who have believed, when [the adhan] is called for the prayer on the day of Jumu'ah [Friday], then proceed to the remembrance of Allah and leave trade. That is better for you if you only knew. And when the prayer has been concluded, disperse within the land and seek from the bounty of Allah, and remember Allah often that you may succeed."
Reference: (62-Al-Jumu'ah:9,10)
﴿إِنَّ الْمُنَافِقِينَ يُخَادِعُونَ اللَّهَ وَهُوَ خَادِعُهُمْ وَإِذَا قَامُوا إِلَى الصَّلَاةِ قَامُوا كُسَالَىٰ يُرَاءُونَ النَّاسَ وَلَا يَذْكُرُونَ اللَّهَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا﴾
"Indeed, the hypocrites [think to] deceive Allah, but He is deceiving them. And when they stand for prayer, they stand lazily, showing [themselves to] the people and not remembering Allah except a little."
Reference: (4-An-Nisa:142)
From these noble verses, it is understood that one should hasten towards performing the prayer. It is not correct to be lazy or sluggish in it because this is the way of the hypocrites. Surely, when a person hastens in performing the prayer, he will, God willing, find a place in the first row behind the Imam. And the reward of the first row is very great.
عن أبى هريرة رضى الله عنه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: لو يعلم الناس ما فى النداء والصف الأول ثم لم يجدوا إلا أن يستهموا عليه لاستهموا، ولو يعلمون ما فى التهجير لاستبقوا إليه، ولو يعلمون ما فى العتمة والصبح لأتوهما ولو حبوا.
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: "If people knew the virtue of giving the adhan and being in the first row, and they had no other way but to draw lots for it, they would surely draw lots for it. And if they knew the virtue of coming early for the prayer, they would surely race to it. And if they knew the virtue of the Isha and Fajr prayers, they would surely attend them even if they had to crawl."
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of Adhan, Chapter on Competing in the Adhan, No: 615. Sahih Muslim, Book of Prayer, Chapter on Aligning the Rows, No: 437.
From this blessed hadith, it is understood that the reward of the first row is very great. But Muslims are deprived of this reward and come late and stand in the last rows, even though the hadith states that Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) said that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
خير صفوف الرجال أولها، وشرها آخرها، وخير صفوف النساء آخرها، وشرها أولها.
"The best row for men is the first row, and the worst row is the last row, while the best row for women is the last row and the worst row is the first row, meaning the row behind the men."
Reference: Sunan an-Nasa'i, Book of Imamah, Chapter on Mentioning the Best Rows for Women and the Worst Rows for Men, No: 820.
Al-Albani (may Allah have mercy on him) declared it authentic.
