the Noble Mosque. Nevertheless, even though the expansion was unavoidable, they exercised caution: the grave was completely isolated from the mosque by the construction of raised walls, thereby forestalling any potential objection, as al-Nawawi has already mentioned. Allah knows best.

Fifth: The number of pillars inside should be reduced as far as possible, along with anything else that cuts the rows of worshippers, in view of the earlier prohibition on forming rows between the columns.

Sixth: A separate doorway should be allocated for women, because the Prophet ﷺ said, “If we were to leave this door for the women….”

Abu Dawud recorded the hadith through the chain of ʿAbd al-Warith: “ʿAbd al-Warith narrated to us; Ayyub—from Nafiʿ—from Ibn ʿUmar—traced back to the Prophet ﷺ.” Nafiʿ added, “Ibn ʿUmar never entered through that door until he died.”

This isnād is sound; all of its transmitters are trustworthy narrators used by al-Bukhari and Muslim. Abu Dawud commented, “Others besides ʿAbd al-Warith reported it as ‘ʿUmar said,’ and that wording is more correct.” He then presented it through the route of Ismaʿil—from Ayyub—from Nafiʿ, who said: “ʿUmar ibn al-Khattab—may Allah be pleased with him—…,” conveying the same meaning, and that version is sounder.

He also transmitted, through Bukayr—from Nafiʿ, that ʿUmar ibn al-Khattab used to forbid people to enter through the women’s door, and its chain is likewise authentic.