the Muslims would reside there to guard the frontier in Allah’s cause. The same was true of other places of this kind, such as Mount Lebanon, Alexandria, ‘Abbādān and similar places in Iraq, and Qazwīn and other towns that were frontier strongholds. The righteous would travel to these places to guard the frontier in Allah’s cause. It is established in Sahīh Muslim, on the authority of Salmān al-Fārisī, that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“Guarding the frontier for a day and a night in Allah’s cause is better than fasting and praying at night for a month. Whoever dies while guarding the frontier dies as one striving in Allah’s cause. The reward for his deeds continues to accrue to him, his provision from Paradise continues to reach him, and he is kept safe from the one who puts him to trial.”

In Sunan Abī Dāwūd and elsewhere, ‘Uthmān reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“Guarding the frontier for one day in Allah’s cause is better than a thousand days spent in any other place.”

Abū Hurayrah said: “I would rather spend one night guarding the frontier in Allah’s cause than spend the Night of Decree in prayer beside the Black Stone.”

For this reason, the scholars said that guarding the frontier strongholds is better than residing near the Two Noble Sanctuaries, because guarding the frontier is a form of jihad, whereas residing near the sanctuaries is a form of Hajj. By the consensus of the Muslims, jihad as a category is superior to Hajj as a category. As Allah Most High says:

“Do you consider providing water to pilgrims and maintaining the Sacred Mosque equal to the deeds of one who believes in Allah and the Last Day and strives in Allah’s cause? They are not equal in Allah’s sight, and Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people.”

“Those who believe, emigrate, and strive in Allah’s cause with their wealth