❖ Virtue and Reward of Arriving Early for Jumu‘ah Prayer
✍ Written by: Imran Ayyub Lahori
❖ Arriving Early for Jumu‘ah is Recommended (Mustahabb)
➊ Narration of Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه)
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
من اغتسل يوم الجمعة غسل الجنابة ثم راح فكأنما قرب بدنة…
“Whoever performs ghusl on the day of Jumu‘ah as if for major ritual impurity and then proceeds to the mosque, it is as though he has offered a camel in sacrifice in the path of Allah.
Whoever goes in the second hour, it is as if he has offered a cow.
Whoever goes in the third hour, it is as if he has offered a horned ram.
Whoever goes in the fourth hour, it is as if he has offered a chicken.
Whoever goes in the fifth hour, it is as if he has offered an egg.
But once the Imam comes out (to deliver the khutbah), the angels close their registers and begin listening to the reminder.”
[Bukhari: 881; Kitab al-Jumu‘ah: Bab Fadl al-Jumu‘ah | Muslim: 850 | Muwatta: 1/101 | Abu Dawud: 351 | Tirmidhi: 499 | Ibn Majah: 1092 | Nasa’i: 3/99 | Ahmad: 2/239 | Ibn Khuzaymah: 3/133]
➋ Narration of Aws ibn Aws (رضي الله عنه)
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“Whoever bathes his wife and then bathes himself on the day of Jumu‘ah, comes early and walks (rather than rides), draws close to the Imam, listens to the khutbah and refrains from any idle speech — then for every step he takes, he will receive the reward of one year’s worth of good deeds: fasting that year and standing in prayer at night.”
[Sahih: Sahih Abu Dawud: 333; Kitab al-Taharah: Bab on Ghusl on the Day of Jumu‘ah | Abu Dawud: 345 | Mishkat: 1388]
✅ Key Points from These Narrations:
❖ Arriving early for Jumu‘ah brings immense spiritual reward, with varying degrees based on how early one arrives.
❖ The registering angels stop recording once the Imam ascends the minbar.
❖ Walking to Jumu‘ah, sitting near the Imam, and maintaining silence during the khutbah are acts that multiply reward greatly.
❖ The rewards mentioned are symbolic of great sacrifice and devotion — equivalent to a full year of fasting and qiyām for each step taken.
