In the Name of Allāh.
The virtue of going early to Jumu’ah prayer is well established in Islam. As recorded in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 887 and Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 850, Abu Hurayrah (RadiyaLlāhu ‘Anhu) reported: The Messenger of Allāh (ﷺ) said, “When Friday arrives, angels are over the door of every mosque to record those who arrive one by one. When the Imam sits to begin, they close their scrolls and come to listen to the reminder. The parable of one who comes early is that of one who offers a fine camel, the next like one who offers a cow, the next like one who offers a ram, the next like one who offers a chicken, the next like one who offers an egg.”
To the above, the worshippers vary as to how early they arrived and their corresponding reward. You should assess yourself; when do you arrive at the Masjid for the Jumu’ah prayer? More so, the one who gets early to the Masjid should take benefits by engaging in various acts of worship.
Shaykh Ṣāliḥ al-Fawzān (Hafiẓahullāh) said: “It is recommended to leave early to go to the Masjid on the day of Jumu’ah and when one enters pray two units of prayer for Tahiyyat al-Masjid.” [Al-Mulakhas al-Fiqhi 1/196] Also, Shaykh al-Islām Ibn Taymiyyah (Raḥimahullāh) said: “It is more right for the one who comes on Jumu’ah that he busies himself with prayer up until the Imām comes out (to give the khutbah)…” [Majmoo al-Fatāwā 42/189]
Go early for Jumu’ah, observe Tahiyyat al-Masjid and more Nawafil (as Allāh enables you), do Adhkār, read the Qur’ān, send Ṣalawāt upon the Prophet (ﷺ), and make a lot of Du’ā’.
I beseech Allāh to bless us with doing more and better acts of worship and reward us immensely. (Aameen)
