The Forty Precious Hadiths Pertaining to Jerusalem.
The Prophet's glad tidings regarding the conquest of the Levant (al-Sham).
On the authority of Sufyan Ibn Abi Zuhayr (may Allah be pleased with him), who said:
I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) say:
"The Levant will be conquered,
and some people will come urging their mounts onward,
departing with their families and whoever obeys them;
yet Medina would have been better for them, if they only knew."
Narrated by al-Bukhari and Muslim.
Vocabulary of the Hadith:
"The Levant will be conquered"—meaning it shall be conquered in the future, which indeed came to pass.
Today, it encompasses Jordan, Palestine, Syria, and Lebanon,
as well as parts of Turkey and Iraq.
"Urging onward" (yabussun):
Meaning they drive their riding beasts and journey forth.
"Departing with their families and whoever obeys them":
That is, relocating from Medina to these newly conquered lands
in pursuit of an easier and more prosperous life.
"Yet Medina would have been better for them, if they only knew":
Referring to the immense virtue of residing in it,
and the virtue of praying in his Mosque (peace be upon him),
which is better than a thousand prayers elsewhere.
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) gives glad tidings of the conquest of the Levant,
which extends lengthwise from al-Arish in Egypt to the Euphrates River,
and across its breadth from the Mediterranean Sea
to the Shammar Mountains.
Palestine is the very heart of the Levant,
and Jerusalem (Bayt al-Maqdis) is the heart of Palestine.
He (peace be upon him) also foretells
that a group of harsh people
will aggressively disregard the boundaries of others,
taking along their households and those who follow them,
migrating there in search of material abundance and worldly gains,
even though Medina would be far better for them, if they only knew;
for it is the abode of blessing and honor.
Jerusalemite Reflections:
The glad tidings of the conquest of the Levant, including Palestine,
are a miraculous sign of the truthfulness of the Prophet's mission and message.
Galvanizing the Ummah and uniting efforts to prevent the usurpation of any part of the Levant,
especially Jerusalem.
The land of the Levant
serves as the fortified stronghold and protective sanctuary preserving Jerusalem
and safeguarding it from all harm.
The Forty Jerusalemite Hadiths.