Jumua

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On Friday, the benevolent angels head towards the mosques, taking up their positions from dawn until Jumuah.

Their task — to record the mosque's attendees, commencing with the earliest arrivals.

The earlier the believer reaches for Jumuah, the greater their reward.

The first attendee is likened to someone who sacrifices a camel for Allah.

Those who arrive in the succeeding hours are likened to those who sacrifice a cow, then a Ram.

The reward decreases with time, with the last attendees comparable to those who sacrifice a hen or egg.

However, when the imam ascends the pulpit, the angels roll up their scrolls and listen attentively, reminding us to remain engaged and mindful during the sermon.

Unfortunately, the congregation tends to have two spurts of rush, one right before the Azaan and another just before Salah.

In doing so, we barely meet the obligation of “Jumua” and miss out on the profound reward of early attendance.

The goal is to arrive early to get into the spiritual presence of Allah (SWT).

Jumua is more than just a moment of prayer—it’s a haven for mercy, tranquility, and spiritual nourishment. The mosque is a place of prostration, sujood, and remembrance of Allah, which is why it holds such a sacred place in His heart.

Extending beyond the physical walls of the mosque, engaging in spaces where Allah is remembered blesses our gatherings.

It’s not the physical space but the spirit of jumua that matters.

We can aspire to practice the essence of jumua each friday, expressing our desire not just to be a part of the angels’ record for that particular Friday but to be as near to Allah (SWT) as possible every Friday.