the believers with him were better than their residence in Mecca, because Medina was the land to which they had migrated. Thus, standing guard at the frontiers was better than residing in Mecca or Medina, as established in the authentic hadith collection:

“Standing guard for a day and a night in Allah’s cause is better than fasting and praying at night for a month. Whoever dies while standing guard dies striving in Allah’s cause; the reward of his deeds continues to accrue to him, his provision from Paradise continues to be granted, and he is safe from the one who tests him.”

The Sunan collections also relate from ‘Uthmān that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“One day spent standing guard in Allah’s cause is better than a thousand days spent in any other place.”

Abū Hurayrah said: “I would rather stand guard for one night in Allah’s cause than spend the Night of Decree praying beside the Black Stone.”

Thus, the best land for each individual is the land in which he is most obedient to Allah and His Messenger. This varies according to circumstances; there is no single land in which residing is best for everyone. Rather, what is best for each individual depends on his fear of Allah, obedience, humility, submission, and attentiveness of heart.

Abū al-Dardā’ once wrote to Salmān: “Come to the Holy Land.” Salmān wrote back: “The land does not sanctify anyone; rather, it is a servant’s deeds that sanctify him.”

“The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, had established a bond of brotherhood between Salmān and Abū al-Dardā’.”

Salmān had a deeper understanding than Abū al-Dardā’ in several matters, including this one. Allah Most High said to Moses, peace be upon him:

“I will show you the abode of the defiantly disobedient.”

This was the land inhabited by those Amalekites, which subsequently became the land of the believers. It is the land referred to in the Quran, comprising the Holy Land