Ibn Hawala reported God's messenger as saying, "It will turn out tha t you will be armed troops, one in Syria, one in the Yemen, and one in al-`Iraq." Ibn Hawala said, "Choose for me, messenger of God, if I reach that time." He replied, "Go to Syria, for it is God's chosen land to which His best servants will be gathered; but if you are unwilling, go to your Yemen and draw water from your tanks, for God who is great and glorious has on my account taken special charge of Syria and its people." Ahmad and Abu Dawud transmitted it.
Hadith Referenceمشكوة المصابيح / كتاب المناقب / 6276
Hadith Gradingالألبانی:صَحِيح | زبیر علی زئی:حسن
Hadith Takhrij´تحقيق و تخريج: محدث العصر حافظ زبير على زئي رحمه الله` «حسن، رواه أحمد (4/ 110 ح 17130) و أبو داود (2483)»