Listening attentively to the Imam on Friday is an obligation, and it is not permissible for the Muslims to be careless about that and fidget, talk or ignore the khutbah. The following Hadiths have been narrated concerning the virtues of listening attentively to the khutbah.
Expiation for sins committed between this Friday and the previous Friday.
It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
โWhoever does ghusl (bath), then comes to Jumuโah, and prays what is decreed for him, then listens attentively until the khutbah is over, then prays with him (the imam), will be forgiven (his sins) between that and the next Jumuโah, and three days more.โNarrated by Muslim
For every step he takes to the mosque, the reward of fasting and praying in the night for one year will be recorded for him.
It was narrated that Aws ibn Aws said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
โWhoever washes his head and his body (ghusl) on Friday, then sets out early, is present at the beginning of the khutbah and is close (to the imam), then listens attentively, for every step he takes he will have the reward of fasting and praying qiyaam (in the night) for one year.โNarrated by al-Tirmidhi
The reward for praying Jumuโah depends on listening attentively.
It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
โIf you say to your companion, โListen attentivelyโ on a Friday, when the imam is delivering the khutbah, then you have engaged in idle speech.โNarrated by al-Bukhaari and Muslim
The one who listens attentively will have two kafl of reward.
โAli ibn Abi Taalib delivered a khutbah in Kufah and said in his khutbah:
If a man sits in a place where he can hear and see (the imam) and listens attentively and does not engage in idle speech or fidgeting, he will have two shares of reward. If he stays far away and sits in a place where he cannot hear but he listens attentively and does not engage in idle speech or fidgeting, he will have one share of reward. If he sits in a place where he can hear and see but he engages in idle speech or fidgets and does not listen attentively, then he will have one share of sin.โ
And at the end of that he said: I heard the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) say that. Narrated by Abu Dawood.
Allah knows best.
