The Angels Await Those Who Attend Friday Prayers

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِذَا كَانَ يَوْمُ الْجُمُعَةِ كَانَ عَلَى كُلِّ بَابٍ مِنْ أَبْوَابِ الْمَسْجِدِ الْمَلَائِكَةُ يَكْتُبُونَ الْأَوَّلَ فَالْأَوَّلَ فَإِذَا جَلَسَ الْإِمَامُ طَوَوْا الصُّحُفَ وَجَاءُوا يَسْتَمِعُونَ الذِّكْرَ

Abi Hurairah narrated:

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “On every Friday, angels wait at every door of the mosque to take the names of attendees in order of their arrival. When the imam sits (in preparation for the sermon), they fold up their scrolls and listen to him.”

Narrated in Sahih Bukhari, hadith no. 3211

Grade: Sahih (authentic)

Reflections:

1. It is mandatory for every male Muslim who has come of age to attend Friday prayers.

2. Those attending Friday prayers are strongly encouraged to be at the mosque early as there is less reward for latecomers, elaborated in a more extensive version of the aforementioned hadith:

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ مَنْ اغْتَسَلَ يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ غُسْلَ الْجَنَابَةِ ثُمَّ رَاحَ فَكَأَنَّمَا قَرَّبَ بَدَنَةً وَمَنْ رَاحَ فِي السَّاعَةِ الثَّانِيَةِ فَكَأَنَّمَا قَرَّبَ بَقَرَةً وَمَنْ رَاحَ فِي السَّاعَةِ الثَّالِثَةِ فَكَأَنَّمَا قَرَّبَ كَبْشًا أَقْرَنَ وَمَنْ رَاحَ فِي السَّاعَةِ الرَّابِعَةِ فَكَأَنَّمَا قَرَّبَ دَجَاجَةً وَمَنْ رَاحَ فِي السَّاعَةِ الْخَامِسَةِ فَكَأَنَّمَا قَرَّبَ بَيْضَةً فَإِذَا خَرَجَ الْإِمَامُ حَضَرَتْ الْمَلَائِكَةُ يَسْتَمِعُونَ الذِّكْرَ

Abu Hurairah narrated:

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “Whoever on Friday takes the ghuslal janabah (the ceremonial bath for purity), then goes to the mosque during the first hour, he will be rewarded as if he offered a female camel for sacrifice. Whoever goes during the second hour, it is as if he offered a cow. Whoever goes during the third hour, it as if he offered a horned ram. Whoever goes during the fourth hour, it is as if he offered hen. Whoever goes during the fifth hour, it is as if he offered an egg. And when the imam appears for the khutbah (sermon), the angels (stop recording attendance) and listen.”

Narrated in Sahih Muslim

Grade: Sahih (authentic)

3. Thus, Muslim men should strive to come early for Friday prayers in hopes of reaping the most reward from what the angels record.