for battle and forming their ranks, the prayer will be established, whereupon Jesus son of Mary, peace and blessings be upon him, will descend.” (1)
Abū al-Dardā’, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “The Muslims’ headquarters (2) on the day of the Great Battle will be in the land of al-Ghūta (3), in a city called Damascus, one of the finest cities of Syria.” (4)
Ibn al-Munīr (5) said, “As for the account concerning the Romans, its events have not yet all come to pass, nor have we heard of them waging a land campaign in such numbers. It therefore concerns events that have yet to occur. It contains both glad tidings and a warning, for it indicates that the ultimate victory will belong to the believers despite the vast size of that
(1) *Sahīh Muslim*, “The Book of Tribulations and Portents of the Hour” (18/21–22, with al-Nawawī’s commentary).
(2) *Al-fustāt*, also vocalized *al-fistāt*: a city in which people congregate; indeed, every city is a *fustāt*. See *Al-Nihāya fī Gharīb al-Hadīth* (3/445).
(3) *Al-Ghūta*: the initial *ghayn* bears a *damma* and is followed by a quiescent *wāw* and an unpointed *tā’*. The name derives from *al-ghā’it*, meaning low-lying ground. It is a place in Greater Syria encircled by high mountains, with rivers and unbroken groves; the city of Damascus lies within it. See *Mu‘jam al-Buldān* (4/219).
(4) *Sunan Abī Dāwūd*, “The Book of the Great Battles,” chapter “The Stronghold During the Great Battles” (11/406, with *Awn al-Ma‘būd*). The hadith is authentic. See *Sahīh al-Jāmi‘ al-Saghīr* (2/218, hadith no. 2112).
(5) He was the hadith master Zayn al-Dīn Abd al-Latīf ibn Taqī al-Dīn Muhammad ibn Munīr, originally of Aleppo and later of Egypt. He died in 804 AH. May Allah have mercy on him. See *Shadharāt al-Dhahab* (7/44).