Hazrat Jaabir who is a famous Sahabi reports that once Prophet Muhammad addressed the people saying:
“O people! Repent to Allah before you die and hasten to do good deeds before you become too busy to do so.
Join the ties between yourselves and your Rabb by engaging in abundant Dhikr (remembrance) and by giving Sadaqah (charity) in abundance. You will then be given sustenance, assistance and you will be compensated for your losses.
Take note that Allah has made the Jumu’ah salaah (Friday Prayer) compulsory for you in this place, on this day, in this month and in this year until the Day of Qiyaamah (Hereafter).
Whoever regards it as trivial and rejects it and therefore neglects it during my lifetime or after my death in the presence of a just or unjust Imaam (leader), then may Allah not set his affairs in order and may Allah not bless him in anything.
No salaah, zakaah, Hajj, fast or good deed of his will ever be accepted until he repents and Allah will certainly forgive anyone who repents to Him.
Take note that no woman may lead a man in salaah, no Bedouin may lead a Muhaajir and no sinner may lead a righteous person unless forced to do so by a tyrannical ruler whose sword to lash is feared.”1
Hadhrat Jaabir bin Abdullaah narrates that it was on a Friday that Prophet Muhammad stood up and addressed them saying,
“When a person lives a mile away from Medina and does not attend the Jumu’ah salaah, Allah will seal his heart (so that no good can ever enter).”
On the next Friday, Prophet Muhammad said:
“When a person lives two miles away from Medina and does not attend the Jumu’ah salaah, Allah will seal his heart.”
On the Friday after that, Prophet Muhammad said:
“When a person lives three miles away from Medina and does not attend the Jumu’ah salaah, Allah will seal his heart.” 2
1. Ibn Maajah (Pg.172).
2. Abu Ya’la, as quoted in Targheeb wat Tarheeb (Vol.2 Pg.31).