It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The beginning of this matter was Prophethood and mercy, then there will be Caliphate and mercy, and then kingship and mercy. After that, people will fall upon it like donkeys biting each other. You must hold fast to Jihad; the best Jihad is Ribaat (stationing oneself at the frontier), and the Ribaat of (the coastal city of) Asqalan (in Syria) is the most virtuous."