al-Hakam bin 'Utayba الحكم بن عتيبة · The Book of the Times (of Prayer)

"If the people knew what (virtue) there was in the call to prayer and the first row, and they not find any way to get to do that other than by drawing lots, they would do that. If they knew what (virtue) there was in coming early to prayer, they would compete to be first in the Masjid. If they knew what (virtue) there was in Al-'Atamah and Subh, they would come to them even if they had to crawl."…