Praise be to Allaah.

Listening attentively to the khateeb 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 ahaadeeth have been narrated concerning the virtues of listening attentively to the khutbah.  

1 – Expiation for sins committed between this Friday and the previous Friday. 

It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: 

“Whoever does ghusl, then comes to Jumu’ah, 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 Jumu’ah, and three days more.” 

Narrated by Muslim (857); a similar report was narrated from Salmaan al-Faarisi by al-Bukhaari (883). 

2 – For every step he takes to the mosque, the reward of fasting and praying qiyaam for one year will be recorded for him. 

It was narrated that Aws ibn Aws said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: 

“Whoever 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 for one year.” 

Narrated by al-Tirmidhi (496) who said: it is a hasan hadeeth. It was classed as saheeh by al-Bayhaqi in al-Sunan al-Kubra (3/227) and by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi. 

3 – The reward for praying Jumu’ah depends on listening attentively. 

It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: 

“If you say to your companion, ‘Listen attentively’ on a Friday, when the imam is delivering the khutbah, then you have engaged in idle speech.” 

Narrated by al-Bukhaari (934) and Muslim (851). 

4 – The one who listens attentively will have two kafl of reward. 

‘Ali 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.” 

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 (1051) and classed as da’eef (weak) by al-Albaani. A similar report was narrated from Abu Umaamah in a marfoo’ report in al-Mu’jam al-Kabeer (8/165) and in a mursal report from Yahya ibn Abi Katheer in Musannaf ‘Abd al-Razzaaq (3/223). 

See the ruling on listening attentively to the Jumu’ah khutbah in the answer to question no. 45651. 

And Allaah knows best.