Allah (may He be glorified and exalted) has instructed His believing slaves to hasten to do good deeds, and He praises those who do that, as He says: {Indeed, they used to hasten to good deeds} [al-Anbiya’ 20:19]. Because coming early to prayer is a good deed, especially in the case of Jumu‘ah prayer, the one who comes early to the prayer attains greater reward and virtue than others. In this hadith, the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) tells us of the virtue of coming early to Jumu‘ah prayer. First he encourages the Muslim to do ghusl for this prayer, and tells us that for the one who does a complete ghusl, like that done in the case of janabah, then goes to Jumu‘ah prayer early, at the beginning of the day, it is as if he sought to draw close to Allah (may He be exalted) by giving a camel in charity. For the one who goes at the second hour, it is as if he gave a cow in charity for the sake of Allah (may He be exalted). For the one who goes at the third hour, it is as if he gave a horned ram in charity; this description emphasizes how beautiful and perfect it is. For the one who goes at the fourth hour, it is as if he gave a chicken in charity, and for the one who goes at the fifth hour, it is as if he gave an egg in charity. The hours referred to in the hadith begin at sunrise, and this division is done according to the length of time between sunrise and the time of the second adhan; the time is divided into five parts, each of which is what is referred to by the word “hour” in this hadith. Then the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) tells us that when the imam comes out and ascends the minbar to deliver the khutbah, the angels come in and do not write down the names of those who come in after that, so that they can listen to the Jumu‘ah khutbah and what it contains of remembrance of Allah (may He be exalted). Thus those who come after that miss out on the virtue of coming early, but they do not miss out on the reward for Jumu‘ah. This hadith highlights the virtue of coming early for Jumu‘ah prayer. It also urges the Muslim to do ghusl for Jumu‘ah..