prices of which he deposited in the treasury of al-Kaʿbah until they took them later.[1] Moreover he raised around the mosque a low wall not higher than a man's stature. On this wall the lamps were put. When ʿUthmân ibn-ʿAffân became caliph, he purchased certain dwellings and thereby enlarged the mosque. Certain people whose dwellings he seized after depositing their prices, met him near the "House" with loud protests, upon which ʿUthmân addressed them as follows: "It is only my compassion on you and my leniency in dealing with you that made you venture to do this against me. ʿUmar did exactly what I am doing but ye kept silent and were satisfied." He then ordered them to jail where they remained until ʿAbdallâh ibn-Khâlid ibn-Asîd[2] ibn-abi-l-ʿÎṣ spoke to him on their behalf and they were released.
It is reported that ʿUthmân was the first to erect the porches of the mosque, which he did on the occasion of enlarging it.
In the days of Abraham, Jurhum and the ʿAmâlîḳ, the bottom of the door of the Kaʿbah was level with the ground until it was built by Ḳuraish, at which time abu-Ḥudhaifah ibn-al-Mughîrah said, "Raise, people, the door of the Kaʿbah, so that no one may enter without a ladder. Then would no man whom ye do not want to enter be able to do so. In case some one ye hate should come, ye may throw him down, and he will fall injuring those behind." The suggestion was followed by Ḳuraish.
When ʿAbdallâh ibn-az-Zubair ibn-al-ʿAuwâm fortified himself in the Ḥaram-mosque, taking refuge in it against al-Ḥuṣain ibn-Numair as-Sakûni who was fighting with a Syrian army, one of ʿAbdallâh's followers carried one day
