Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) (p.b.u.h) said, "Any person who takes a bath on Friday like the bath of Janaba and then goes for the prayer (in the first hour i.e. early), it is as if he had sacrificed a camel (in Allah's cause); and whoever goes in the second hour it is as if he had sacrificed a cow; and whoever goes in the third hour, then it is as if he had sacrificed a horned ram; and if one goes in the fourth hour, then it is as if he had sacrificed a hen; and whoever goes in the fifth hour then it is as if he had offered an egg. When the Imam comes out (i.e. starts delivering the Khutba), the angels present themselves to listen to the Khutba."
The Excellence of Early Arrival for Friday Prayer
This noble hadith from Sahih al-Bukhari (881) establishes the immense spiritual reward for attending Friday prayer early. The Prophet ﷺ illustrates this through a descending scale of sacrificial animals, demonstrating how the reward diminishes as one arrives later, yet remains significant until the Imam's appearance.
Scholarly Commentary on Ritual Purification
The phrase "bath like the bath of Janaba" refers to the major ritual purification (ghusl) required after sexual impurity. Scholars like Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani explain that this emphasizes the importance of complete purification for Friday prayer, though it remains recommended (mustahabb) rather than obligatory.
Imam al-Nawawi clarifies that this purification, combined with wearing clean clothes and using perfume, constitutes the complete preparation befitting this sacred weekly congregation.
Understanding the Graduated Rewards
The descending scale from camel to egg symbolizes both the virtue of early attendance and Allah's boundless mercy. Even the latest comer receives reward, as noted by Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali: "This demonstrates Allah's generosity in multiplying good deeds."
Qadi 'Iyad explains that these timings refer to hours of daylight, with the first hour beginning at sunrise. The tremendous reward for early arrival reflects one's eagerness to worship and the sacrifice of worldly pursuits.
The Sanctity of the Khutbah
The final portion emphasizes the gravity of the Imam's sermon. When the Imam ascends the pulpit, angels descend to record the proceedings and listen to the remembrance of Allah.
As Imam al-Bukhari arranges this hadith in his chapter on "Listening Attentively to the Imam," scholars conclude that once the Khutbah begins, conversation becomes prohibited and complete attention is required, mirroring the angels' reverence.