He who performs ablution properly and then comes to the Friday prayer and listens to it attentively and keeps silent, his sins between that Friday and the following Friday will be forgiven, with the addition of three more days

Explanation

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) informs that if a Muslim performs ablution properly, fulfilling its obligatory elements and observing its Sunnahs and etiquettes, and then goes to the Friday prayer and listens attentively to the preacher, refraining from idle activity, Allah will forgive for him the minor sins committed in ten days, from this Friday prayer to the next Friday prayer, in addition to three days. This is because the reward for a good deed is multiplied tenfold. Then, he (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) warned about the lack of attention to the admonitions given in the sermon and any physical diversion, like touching the pebbles and so on, saying that whoever does so has engaged in idle activity, and whoever engages in idle activity does not attain the complete reward of Friday prayer.

Lessons

• The Hadīth urges us to perform ablution completely and perfectly, and regularly observe the Friday prayer.
• It highlights the merit of the Friday prayer.
• It is obligatory to listen attentively to the Friday sermon and not be distracted from it by talking or anything else.
• If a person engages in idle activity during the sermon, the Friday prayer remains valid and the obligation has been fulfilled, though the reward is deficient.