As salaamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu wa maghfiratuh! I
have noticed that most masjids I have attended over the years that many Muslims
arrive for Jumu'ah Salat after the Khutbah has started! Ignorance is costly!
The person who arrives after the Khutbah has started will not receive any of
the many blessings for attending. They are not even listed as having being
there! When they perform the salat with those who came early they will receive
only the blessing of performing Zuhr salat. Wow! I want to receive as many
blessings I can - not just one!
Going
To Masjid Early:
In the Jumu'ah salat, the Khutbah is before the prayer and the
more early a person goes for prayer, the greater the chances of him listening
more of the remembrance of Allah Almighty. In this regard, Prophet Muhammad
(SAW) said in a hadith:
“On
the day of Jumu'ah, the angels stand at the entrance of the Masjid in which
Jumu'ah Salat is to be offered. They write down the name of the person who
enters the Masjid first, and thereafter the name of the person who follows, and
they continuing doing this. The person who entered first will receive the
reward of sacrificing a cow, thereafter a chicken, thereafter the reward of
giving an egg as charity in the path of Allah. Once the Khutbah commences, the
angels close the register and begin listening to the Khutbah.”
(Muslim)
This hadith of Prophet (SAW) tells of a variety of things about
Jumu'ah salat. The first thing is that those who come to the prayer earlier
receive a higher or greater reward compared to those who arrive later.
Secondly, if one enters the masjid once the Khutbah has started then one does
not receive any special reward, rather at that time the reward left for a
person is of a regular Zuhr salat. Therefore, if you wish to attain
greater reward, then you must ensure that you arrive at the masjid as early as
possible and listen to Khutbah prior to offering salat.
May Allah (SWT) bless
every Muslims to attend Jumu'ah Salat early! Ameen!
