Ibn Yukhamir, from Mu'adh ibn Jabal, who said: "And they are in al-Sham." It was narrated by al-Bukhari in his "Sahih" (19). In a report from Abu Hurayrah, from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), he said: "A group will continue to be victorious in Damascus." It was recorded by al-Bukhari in his "Al-Tarikh" (20). Many reports have been narrated regarding al-Sham, including the hadith of Abd Allah ibn Hawalah al-Azdi, that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "You will be formed into armies; an army in al-Sham, an army in Iraq, and an army in Yemen." I said: "Choose for me, O Messenger of Allah." He said: "You must go to al-Sham, for it is Allah's chosen land from His earth, to which He gathers His chosen ones among His servants. Whoever refuses, let him join Yemen and drink from its basins (21), for Allah has guaranteed to me al-Sham and its people." It was narrated by Abu Dawud with the same meaning (22). Abu Idris (23) used to say when he narrated this hadith (24): "Whoever Allah has guaranteed, no loss shall befall him." It is narrated from al-Awza'i, who said: "I came to Medina and asked: 'Who among the scholars is here?' It was said: 'Muhammad ibn al-Munkadir, Muhammad ibn Ka'b al-Qurazi, Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Abd Allah ibn al-Abbas, and Muhammad ibn Ali ibn al-Husayn ibn Ali ibn Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with them all) (25).' I said: 'By Allah, I will begin with this one before them.' I entered upon him, and he took my hand and said: 'From which of our brothers are you?' I said: 'From the people of al-Sham.' He said: 'From which of them?' I said: 'From the people of Damascus.' He said: 'My father narrated to me, from my grandfather, from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), that he said: "The Muslims will have three strongholds; their stronghold during the Great Battle (al-Malhama al-Kubra) which will be at the depths of Antioch (26) will be Damascus, and their stronghold"
(19) In: The Chapter of Hadathani Muhammad ibn al-Muthanna..., from the Book of Virtues (al-Manaqib), and in: The Chapter of the Prophet's statement (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him): "A group will continue...", from the Book of Adherence to the Book and the Sunnah. Sahih al-Bukhari 4/252, 9/125. It was also recorded by Muslim, in: The Chapter of his statement (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him): "A group will continue...", from the Book of Leadership (al-Imarah). Sahih Muslim 3/1523. And by al-Tirmidhi, in: The Chapter of what has come regarding al-Sham, from the Book of Tribulations (al-Fitan). Aridat al-Ahwadhi 9/45. And by Imam Ahmad, in: Al-Musnad 4/101, 5/279. (20) Recorded by al-Bukhari, in: The Chapter of Hassan. Al-Tarikh al-Kabir 2/1/35. (21) In [M]: "wa-yashuq" (and it is difficult), while it is a command to drink from the basins. (22) In: The Chapter on residing in al-Sham, from the Book of Jihad. Sunan Abi Dawud 2/4. And by Imam Ahmad, in: Al-Musnad 4/110. (23) He is likely: 'A'idh Allah ibn Abd Allah ibn 'Amr al-Khawlani, a Tabi'i, who was the scholar of al-Sham after Abu al-D Abu al-Darda'. He died in the year 80 AH. Tahdhib al-Tahdhib 5/85-87. (24) In [M]: "the report". (25) In [M]: "him". (26) In the manuscripts: "Antakiya" (with a variant spelling). Antioch is one of the cities of al-Sham. See: Mu'jam al-Buldan 1/382.
