Friday (Jumu‘ah) is the most blessed day of the week, a day chosen by Allah ﷻ for His Ummah. It is a day of congregation, reflection, and renewal. On this day, Muslims gather to remember Allah, listen to the khutbah, and pray together in unity. But beyond the general importance of Jumu‘ah, there lies a special Sunnah that carries tremendous reward: arriving early to the masjid for Jumu‘ah prayer.
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF JUMU‘AH
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“The best day the sun has risen upon is Friday. On it Adam was created, on it he was admitted into Paradise, and on it he was expelled from it. And the Hour will not be established except on Friday.”
(Sahih Muslim)
This hadith alone shows why Jumu‘ah holds such a high rank. It is a day linked to the creation of mankind, the test of our father Adam, and the ultimate end of time. Every Friday is therefore a reminder of our origin, our purpose, and our final return to Allah.
THE HADITH OF SACRIFICES
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ gave a vivid description of the rewards of going early:
“Whoever does ghusl on Friday and then goes early, arriving early, it is as if he had sacrificed a camel. Whoever comes at the second hour, it is as if he had sacrificed a cow. Whoever comes at the third hour, it is as if he had sacrificed a ram. Whoever comes at the fourth hour, it is as if he had sacrificed a chicken. Whoever comes at the fifth hour, it is as if he had offered an egg. When the Imam comes out, the angels present themselves to listen to the khutbah.”
(Sahih al-Bukhari & Muslim)
This narration is remarkable for several reasons:
It compares arrival times to sacrifices, which were among the most beloved deeds to Allah.
The earlier one arrives, the greater the reward symbolizing that eagerness for worship is valued by Allah.
Once the khutbah begins, the angels no longer record the names; the register of early arrivals is closed.
This shows that Jumu‘ah is not simply about praying two rak‘ahs. It is about honoring the entire day and treating it as a weekly Eid.
THE PRESENCE OF ANGELS
The Prophet ﷺ informed us that angels sit at the doors of the masjid on Jumu‘ah. They write down the names of people in order of their arrival, like an honored guest list. Imagine your name being written by angels because you came early for Allah’s sake! Once the Imam steps onto the minbar, the angels themselves close their scrolls and sit to listen to the khutbah.
This raises a profound question: Where will our names be recorded? Early among the eager? Or missing because we delayed, distracted by dunya?
BENEFITS OF GOING EARLY
Going early to Jumu‘ah is not only about rewards; it also carries practical and spiritual benefits:
SPIRITUAL PREPARATION: Arriving early allows one to pray sunnah prayers, recite Qur’an, and make du‘a in a calm state of mind.
FRONT ROWS: The Prophet ﷺ encouraged sitting close to the Imam, where one can listen attentively without distraction.
THE HOUR OF ACCEPTANCE: On Friday, there is a special hour in which du‘as are certainly answered. Being early increases one’s chances of catching this blessed moment.
REVIVING A SUNNAH: In a time when many Muslims arrive at the masjid late sometimes even after the khutbah going early becomes an act of reviving a neglected Sunnah.
A REMINDER FOR OUR TIMES
In today’s busy world, many of us treat Jumu‘ah as just another appointment to squeeze into the day. Some rush in just before the iqamah, others even after the khutbah begins. Yet the Prophet ﷺ taught us to honor this day with ghusl, wearing clean clothes, using fragrance, reciting Surah Al-Kahf, sending abundant salawat upon him ﷺ, and most importantly—going early.
Every Friday is an opportunity to recharge our faith. It is a weekly reset, reminding us of the Akhirah while we live in the dunya. By arriving early, we show Allah that His remembrance is our priority over business, meetings, and worldly concerns.
CONCLUSION
Arriving early to the masjid on Friday is a small effort with immense reward. It is a reflection of one’s love for Allah, eagerness for worship, and respect for the most blessed day of the week. The earlier we go, the greater the reward, and the higher our rank with Allah.
May Allah grant us the tawfiq to honor Jumu‘ah as it deserves, to arrive early, and to be among those whose deeds shine on the Day of Judgment.
