It was narrated that Abu’d-Dardaa’ said: The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Whilst I was sleeping, I saw the pillar of the Book being taken from beneath my head, and I thought that it was being taken away, so I followed it with my gaze, and it was taken to ash-Shaam. Verily faith, when tribulations come, will be in ash-Shaam.”
Narrated by Imam Ahmad in al-Musnad (36/62); classed as saheeh by the commentators on al-Musnad. It was classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Takhreej Ahaadeeth Fadaa’il ash-Shaam wa Dimashq (p. 13)
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
The pillar of the book and Islam – this refers to something that acts as a support; what is referred to here is those who learn the Qur’an and adhere to it]
This is similar to the words of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him): “The heartland of the believers is ash-Shaam.”
End quote from Majmoo‘ al-Fataawa (27/42)
The hadith “The heartland of the believers is ash-Shaam” was narrated by Imam Ahmad and classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Silsilat al-Ahaadeeth as-Saheehah (1935).
It was narrated that Ibn Hawaalah said: The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “This matter will end with you becoming massed troops: troops in ash-Shaam, troops in Yemen, and troops in Iraq.”
Ibn Hawaalah said: Choose for me, O Messenger of Allah, if I should live to see that.
He said: “You should go to ash-Shaam, for it is Allah’s chosen land, to which He will gather His chosen slaves. But if you refuse, then go to Yemen and draw water from your ponds, for Allah has promised me that He will take care of ash-Shaam and its people.” Narrated by Abu Daawood (2483). Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Sunan Abi Daawood (2483).
The reports concerning this support one another.
