When it is Friday, the angels stand at the door of the mosque and keep on writing the names of those coming in order of their arrival
Authentic hadithعن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه قال: قال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم : «إذا كان يوم الجمعة وقَفَتِ الملائكةُ على باب المسجد يَكْتُبون الأوّلَ فالأوّلَ، ومَثَلُ المُهَجِّر كمثل الذي يُهْدي بَدَنةً، ثم كالذي يُهْدي بقرة، ثم كَبْشا، ثم دَجاجة، ثم بَيضة، فإذا خرج الإمام طَوَوُا صُحُفَهم، ويسْتَمعون الذِّكرَ».
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "When it is Friday, the angels stand at the door of the mosque and keep on writing the names of those coming in order of their arrival. The example of the one who enters the mosque in the earliest hour is that of the one offering a camel (as a sacrifice). The one coming next is like the one offering a cow, then a ram, then a chicken, then an egg respectively. When the Imām comes out (for the Friday prayer), they (i.e. the angels) fold their scrolls and listen to the sermon.”
Explanation
Angels stand at the door of the mosque on Fridays writing the comers in order of their arrival. The reward of the earliest comer to prayer is like the reward of the one offering a camel as a sacrifice seeking closeness to Allah, the Exalted. Next, the reward of the one coming after him is like that of the one offering a cow to seek closeness to Allah, the Exalted. The reward of the one coming after him is like that of the one offering a ram to seek closeness to Allah, the Exalted. Furthermore, the reward of the one coming after him is like that of the one offering a chicken to seek closeness to Allah, the Exalted; and the reward of the one following him is like offering an egg. When the Imām comes out, ascends the pulpit, and starts the sermon, the angels fold their sheets where they wrote the names of those who came early to the Friday prayer. The reward varies depending on how early they come. At last, the angels sit and listen to the sermon with people.
Source · Narrated by Bukhari & Muslim
From the Hadith Encyclopedia (hadeethenc.com).