ANSWER:

The hadeeth is authentic. This can’t be decided except after the prophecy has taken place and not during or before it. 

Sheikh, Is this hadith referring to a future army. Narrated Abu al-Darda’: The Prophet (ﷺ) said: The place of assembly of the Muslims at the time of the war will be in al-Ghutah near a city called Damascus, one of the best cities in Syria.

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