1/131. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 351 — Early Arrival and the Angels on Friday
Performing Ghusl For The Friday Prayer
Early Jumuah Hadith: Angels Record and Listen to the Khutbah
Sunan Abi Dawud : 351
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 351
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مَسْلَمَةَ، عَنْ مَالِكٍ، عَنْ سُمَىٍّ، عَنْ أَبِي صَالِحٍ السَّمَّانِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " مَنِ 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 الإِمَامُ حَضَرَتِ الْمَلاَئِكَةُ يَسْتَمِعُونَ الذِّكْرَ " .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
Abu Hurairah reported the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) as saying: Whoever takes bath due to sexual defilement on Friday and goes out (for Friday prayer), is treated like one who offers a camel as sacrifice; he who goes out in the second instance as one who offers a cow; he who goes out in the third instance is treated as one who offers horned cow; he who goes out in the fourth instance is treated as one who offers hen; he who goes out in the fifth instance is treated as one who offers an egg. When the Imam comes out (for sermon), the angels too attend to listen to the sermon.
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 351In-book reference : Book 1, Hadith 351English translation : Book 1, Hadith 351
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 351
This hadith is a key text for the search phrase “early Jumuah reward hadith.” It says that whoever takes a bath on Friday like the bath of janabah and goes out is like one who offers a camel. The second, third, fourth, and fifth instances are compared to a cow, a horned ram, a hen, and an egg. When the Imam comes out, the angels attend and listen to the sermon. The hadith teaches the value of early arrival, but it says it through examples, not through a dry rule. It also connects ghusl, going to the mosque, and the special attention given to the khutbah. The main message is to come prepared and not delay without need.
What we learn from this hadith
- Going earlier to Jumu‘ah is linked with greater reward examples.
- Friday ghusl is mentioned before going out.
- When the Imam comes out, the angels listen to the sermon.
