How sound is the Hadith: "The beginning of this matter is prophecy and mercy, then there will be a caliphate and mercy, then there will be kingship and mercy, then they will fight over it like donkeys; so, عليكم بالجهاد and the best of your jihad is ribat, and the best of your ribat is Ashkelon"? And in which of the Sahih books was it narrated, if it is sound?

The aforementioned Hadith was narrated by Al-Tabarani in his Al-Mu'jam Al-Kabir, and its wording is: "The beginning of this matter is prophethood and mercy, then it will be a caliphate and mercy, then it will be a monarchy and mercy, then it will be an emirate and mercy. Then they will bite each other over it like donkeys. So, عليكم بالجهاد (you must engage in jihad), and the best of your jihad is ribat (guarding the frontiers), and the best of your ribat is Ashkelon." The Hadith is authentic, as stated by Al-Albani.