Imam of Prophet's Mosque delivers Friday sermon at Istiqlal Mosque

Imam Besar Masjid Nabawi, Syekh Ahmad bin Ali Al Hudhaify, led Friday prayers and delivered a sermon at Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta on October 11, 2024. His visit to Indonesia is part of a Saudi Arabian initiative aimed at fostering closer diplomatic and religious relations with Muslim-majority nations, particularly Indonesia.

During his time in the country, Syekh Al Hudhaify engaged with various high-ranking officials, prominent Islamic organizations, and educational institutions. This engagement underscores the significance of Indonesia in the global Islamic community and Saudi Arabia's commitment to strengthening bilateral ties.

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Whoever bathes on Friday and washes (cleanses his body), he hastens and departs early (to the mosque), walks and does not ride, approaches the imam, listens to the sermon, and does not talk (play around), then for each of his steps will be the reward of a year of fasting and prayer.

The sermon itself focused on the virtue of punctuality for Friday prayers. Citing a book titled 'Rajin Shalat tapi Masih Keliru' (Diligent in Prayer but Still Mistaken) by Syekh Muhammad Shiddiq Al Minsyawi, the article highlights that arriving late for Friday prayers has become a common practice for some. This contrasts with the diligent approach of early scholars (salaf).

The text includes two hadiths illustrating the immense rewards for those who arrive early. The first, narrated by Tirmidhi, states that each step taken towards the mosque by someone who bathes, goes early, walks, approaches the imam, and listens attentively without distraction, is equivalent to a year of fasting and prayer. The second hadith compares the rewards of arriving in the first five 'hours' of the day to offering sacrifices like a camel, cow, sheep, chicken, or egg, emphasizing that after the imam emerges, the scrolls of deeds are closed, and only the prayer itself is fulfilled without additional merit.

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Whoever goes to Friday prayer in the first hour, it is as if he sacrificed a camel. Whoever goes in the second hour, it is as if he sacrificed a cow. Whoever goes in the third hour, it is as if he sacrificed a horned ram. Whoever goes in the fourth hour, it is as if he gifted a chicken. Whoever goes in the fifth hour, it is as if he gifted an egg. When the imam comes out, the scrolls are closed, and the pens are raised, and the angels gather at the minbar to listen to the remembrance. Whoever comes after that, then he comes only for the right of prayer, he has no merit.