Going to Jumu'ah Salat early!

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!