عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ جُبَيْرِ بْنِ نُفَيْرٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا رَجُلٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ مُحَمَّدٍ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ ”سَتُفْتَحُ عَلَيْكُمُ الشَّامُ فَإِذَا خُيِّرْتُمُ الْمَنَازِلَ فِيهَا فَعَلَيْكُمْ بِمَدِينَةٍ يُقَالُ لَهَا دِمَشْقُ فَإِنَّهَا مَعْقِلُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ مِنَ الْمَلَاحِمِ وَفُسْطَاطُهَا مِنْهَا بِأَرْضٍ يُقَالُ لَهَا الْغُوطَةُ“
It is narrated from a Companion of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Soon you will conquer Syria, and when you are given the opportunity to choose a place to settle, select the city called Damascus. In bloody battles, it will be the abode of Muslims, and one part of it, the city of Ghouta, will be like a tent of safety for the Muslims.