another narration, “from the people of Najd.”

For this reason, Ahmad ibn Hanbal said that “the people of the West” are the people of Syria—meaning that they are the people of the West—just as Najd and Iraq mark the beginning of the East. Everything east of that region belongs to the East, while everything west of Syria, including Egypt and other lands, falls within the West.

The two Sahīh collections record that Mu‘ādh ibn Jabal said of the victorious group: “They are in Syria.” Syria is the starting point of the West, and its people conquered the rest of the West, including Egypt, al-Qayrawān, al-Andalus and other lands. Since the west of the Prophet’s city consists of whatever lies west of it, al-Bīrah and nearby places lie in line with the Prophet’s city, just as Harrān, al-Raqqah, Samosata and nearby places lie in line with Mecca. Thus, whatever lies west of al-Bīrah belongs to the West whose people received the promise of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, for the reasons already explained.

Another hadith describes the victorious group as follows:

“They are in and around Jerusalem.”

This group is the one that is in and around Jerusalem today.

Anyone who reflects on the state of the world at this time knows that this group is the most steadfast of all groups in upholding the religion of Islam through knowledge, practice and jihad on behalf of the lands of the east and west. They are the ones who fight the powerful forces of the polytheists and the People of the Book. Their campaigns against the Christians, against the polytheists among the Turks, and against the heretical hypocrites belonging to the Rāfidah (Rejectionists) and other groups—such as the Ismā‘īlīs and similar Qarmatians—are well known, both in earlier and recent times. The strength and honour enjoyed by Muslims throughout the east and west depend upon their strength and honour. Thus, when they were defeated