In earlier times there was in Mecca no structure that rose higher than the House (1); nor (2) was there any building atop (3) al-Safa, al-Marwa, or al-Mashʿar al-Ḥarām, and there were no mosques in Mina or ʿArafāt (4), nor any prayer-places beside the Jamarāt. Rather, all (5) of these were introduced after the era of the Rightly Guided Caliphs; some were erected after the Umayyad dynasty and others later still (6). Thus the House could be seen before one even entered the Mosque.

Ibn Jurayj (7) reports that whenever the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—(8) caught sight of the House he would raise his hands and say: “O Allah, increase this House in honor, exaltation, distinction, awe, and righteousness; and increase those (9) who honor and ennoble it—among those who perform Hajj or ʿUmrah—(10) with yet more honor.”