Musnad Ahmad

It is narrated from Hazrat Bara’ (may Allah be pleased with him) that we were ordered (on the occasion of the Battle of Ahzab) to dig a trench. While digging the trench, we reached a place where there was such a rock that the pickaxe would not affect it at all. The noble companions (may Allah be pleased with them) complained about it to the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) himself came, climbed onto the rock, took the pickaxe in his hand, and, saying “Bismillah,” struck it once, breaking one third of it. The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) raised the slogan of “Allahu Akbar” and said, “The keys of Syria have been given to me. By Allah! I can see its red palaces from this very place.” Then, saying “Bismillah,” he struck it again, breaking another third, and the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said “Allahu Akbar” and said, “The keys of Persia have been given to me. By Allah! I can see the city of Madain and its white palaces from this very place.” Then, saying “Bismillah,” he struck it again, and the remaining part also broke off, and the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said “Allahu Akbar” and said, “The keys of Yemen have been given to me. By Allah! I can see the gates of Sana’a from this very place.” The previous hadith is also narrated through this second chain.