Ascalon, for when the millstone (of calamity) rotates within my Ummah, its people will be in comfort (34) and safety (35).
Section: The madhhab of Abu 'Abd Allah (Ahmad ibn Hanbal) is the disapproval of relocating women and children to dangerous frontier zones (thughur). This is also the view of al-Hasan and al-Awza'i, based on what Yazid ibn 'Abd Allah narrated, saying: Umar said, "Do not settle the Muslims on the seashore." Recorded by al-Athram with his chain of narration (36). This is because in dangerous frontier zones, the enemy's victory over them, and those within them, and their seizure of the women and children cannot be ruled out. It was said to Abu 'Abd Allah: "Do you fear sin for the one who relocates with his family to a frontier?" He replied: "How could I not fear sin, when he exposes his offspring to the polytheists?" He also said: "I used to encourage relocating with one's family and dependents to al-Sham before today, but I now forbid it, because the affair has drawn near." He further stated: "These people must face a day [of trial]." It was said: "Is that at the end of time?" He replied: "This is the end of time." It was said: "The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to cast lots among his wives, and whomever the lot fell upon, he would take her with him (37)." He replied: "This is for one person (38), not for offspring." This statement of Ahmad is interpreted to mean that for those who are not residents of the frontier, it is not recommended for them to relocate with their families to a dangerous frontier. As for the residents of the frontier, they must live with their families, for were it not (39) for that, the frontiers would become desolate and fall into neglect. He specified dangerous frontiers, evidenced by the fact that he chose to reside in Damascus and similar places, despite it being a frontier, because generally it and its people are safe.
Section: It is recommended for the people of the frontier to gather in the Great Mosque for all their prayers, so that it may be more conducive to their unity. Thus, when the call for mobilization (nafir) comes, it finds them gathered, the news reaches all of them, and if news arrives that they need to hear, or an order is intended to be conveyed to them, they learn of it, and the eyes (40) of
(34) In [A]: "rakhiyah" (relaxed/easy). In al-La'ali' al-Masnu'ah: "khayr rakha'" (best of ease). (35) Cited by al-Suyuti in: Al-La'ali' al-Masnu'ah fi al-Ahadith al-Mawdu'ah 1/463. (36) 'Abd al-Razzaq recorded something similar in: The Chapter on Expeditions by Sea, from the Book of Jihad. Al-Musannaf 5/283, 284. (37) Its documentation was previously provided in: 9/430. (38) In [M]: "lil-wahida". (39) In [A]: "wa law la". (40) Omitted from: [A].
عَسْقَلَانَ، فَإنَّها إذَا دَارَتِ الرَّحَى فِي أُمَّتِى، كَانَ أهْلُهَا في رَاحَةٍ (٣٤) وعافِيَةٍ" (٣٥).
فصل: ومذهبُ أبي عبد اللَّه كَراهةُ نَقْلِ النِّساء والذُّرِّيَّةِ إلى الثُّغُورِ المَخُوفَةِ. وهو قولُ الحَسَنِ، والأَوْزاعِيِّ؛ لما روَى يزيدُ بن عبدِ اللَّه، قال: قال عمرُ: لا تُنْزِلُوا المسلمينَ ضَفَّةَ البَحْرِ. روَاه الأَثْرَمُ بإسْنادِه (٣٦). ولأَنَّ الثُّغورَ المَخُوفَةَ لا يُؤْمَنُ ظَفَرُ العَدُوِّ بها، وبمَنْ فيها، واسْتِيلاؤُهم على الذُّرِّيَة والنِّساء. قيل لأبي عبد اللَّه: فتخافُ على المُنْتَقِلِ بعيالِه إلى الثَّغْرِ الإِثْمَ؟ قال: كيف لا أخافُ الإِثْمَ، وهو يُعَرِّضُ ذُرِّيَتَه للمُشْرِكينَ؟ وقال: كُنْتُ آمُرُ بالتَّحَوُّلِ بالأَهْلِ والعيالِ إلى الشامِ قبلَ اليَوْمِ، فأنا أنْهَى عنه الآنَ؛ لأنَّ الأمرَ قد اقْتَرَبَ. وقال: لا بُدَّ لهؤلاء القومِ من يومٍ. قيل: فذلك في آخرِ الزَّمانِ. قال: فهذا آخِرُ الزَّمانِ. قيل: فالنَّبِىُّ -صلى اللَّه عليه وسلم- كان يُقْرِعُ بين نسائِه، فأَيَّتَهَنَّ خرجَ سَهْمُها خرجَ بها (٣٧). قال: هذا الْواحِدَةَ (٣٨)، ليس الذُّرِّيَّةَ. وهذا من كلام أحمد محمولٌ على أنَّ غيرَ أهلِ الثَّغْرِ، لا يُسْتَحَبُّ لهم الانْتقالُ بأَهْلِهم إلى ثغْرٍ مَخُوفٍ، فأمَّا أهلُ الثَّغْرِ، فلا بُدَّ لهم من السُّكْنَى بأَهْلِهم, لولا (٣٩) ذلك لخَرِبَتِ الثُّغورُ وتَعَطَّلَت. وخَصَّ الثُّغورَ المَخُوفةَ، بدليلِ أنَّه اخْتارَ سُكْنَى دِمَشْقَ ونَحْوِها، مع كَوْنِها ثَغْرًا؛ لأنَّ الغالبَ سلامَتُها، وسلامةُ أهْلِها.
فصل: ويُسْتَحَبُّ لأَهْلِ الثَّغْرِ أنْ يجْتَمِعوا في المسجدِ الأَعْظَمِ لصَلواتِهم كلِّها، ليكونَ أجْمَعَ لهم، وإذا حضرَ النَّفِيرُ صادَفَهُم مُجْتَمِعين، فيبلُغُ الخبرُ جميعَهم، وإنْ جاءَ خبرٌ يحْتاجون إلى سَماعِه، أو أمرٌ يُرادُ إعلامُهم به، يَعْلَمُونَه، ويراهُم عينُ (٤٠)
(٣٤) في أ: "راخية". وفي اللآلىء المصنوعة: "خير رخاء".(٣٥) وأورده السيوطى، في: اللآلىء المصنوعة في الأحاديث الموضوعة ١/ ٤٦٣.(٣٦) وأخرج عبد الرزاق. نحوه، في: باب الغزو في البحر، من كتاب الجهاد. المصنف ٥/ ٢٨٣، ٢٨٤.(٣٧) تقدم تخريجه، في: ٩/ ٤٣٠.(٣٨) في م: "للواحدة".(٣٩) في أ: "ولولا".(٤٠) سقط من: أ.
