“Attend the remembrance (of Allah) and draw close to the Imām, for a man will continue to keep distant until he is delayed in Paradise—even if he enters it.”
Narrated by Aḥmad (no. 20118) and Abū Dāwūd (no. 1108), from the ḥadīth of Samurah ibn Jundub (may Allah be pleased with him).
Authenticated in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Jāmiʿ (no. 200) and Mishkāt al-Maṣābīḥ (no. 1391).
Brief Explanation of the Hadith
The Friday khuṭbah holds a position of great importance. The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) encouraged attending it and drawing close to the Imām so that one’s listening may be more attentive and the benefit more complete. For this reason, he said: “Attend the remembrance (al-dhikr).” That is, attend the Friday sermon. It was called dhikr because it is based upon the remembrance of Allah—praising and extolling Him, reciting His Book, sending blessings upon His Prophet, and reminding people of what benefits them in their religion and worldly life. Hence, the command to hasten to it appears in the statement of Allah, exalted is He: {O you who believe, when the call is made for prayer on Friday, then hasten to the remembrance of Allah} (al-Jumuʿah: 9).
Then he urged drawing near to the Imām, saying: “and draw close to the Imām,” meaning: come near to him as much as possible so that you may hear the sermon fully. Do not deliberately remain distant, for that results in missing the virtue of the front rows and diminishing the benefit gained from the khuṭbah. He then warned against this by saying: “For a man will continue to keep distant…”—that is, he becomes accustomed to staying far from the Imām, habitually remaining in the back rows despite being able to come forward—“…until he is delayed in Paradise,” meaning: he will be delayed from entering it with the foremost, or he will be delayed in its ranks. His statement, “even if he enters it,” removes any possible misunderstanding that such delay would prevent entry into Paradise altogether. Rather, what is intended is the loss of complete virtue and the loftiness of rank. If this is the case for one who merely keeps distant from the Imām or delays attending Jumuʿah, then what about the one who abandons Jumuʿah altogether?
In the ḥadīth there is encouragement to hasten to attend the Friday khuṭbah, to draw near to the Imām, and a warning against negligence and delay. It also clarifies that recompense is of the same nature as one’s deeds: whoever lingers behind in the position of obedience will be delayed in the position of reward.